Apache leader Victorio killed by Mexican soldiers (1880)

Victorio, a prominent Apache military strategist, was killed by Mexican soldiers at the Battle of Tres Castillos in October 1880. This engagement concluded his war, which began in 1879. The battle resulted in the death or capture of most of his followers, marking the end of his campaign in northern Mexico.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Victorio led a band of Apaches in a running battle with U.S. and Mexican armies from September 1879 to October 1880. His force, never exceeding 200 men, fought numerous skirmishes. By October 1880, Victorio was in north-eastern Chihuahua, having sent allies to raid for supplies. He faced a diminished force with limited ammunition, setting the stage for his final confrontation.

Battle of Tres Castillos. Mexican Colonel Joaquín Terrazas surrounded Victorio's band in north-eastern Chihuahua. The engagement resulted in the death of Victorio and most of his followers. Specifically, 62 men, including Victorio, were killed, along with 16 women and children. Another 68 women and children were captured. The battle effectively ended Victorio's War.

Aftermath. Following the battle, Nana led the surviving Apaches to a refuge in the Sierra Madre Occidental. In 1881, he undertook a long and successful raid into the United States.

Controversy. Scholar Dan L. Thrapp characterized Tres Castillos as a massacre rather than a battle due to the Apaches' severe shortage of ammunition. Contemporaneous records credit the Tarahumara scout Mauricio Corredor with killing Victorio, highlighting the specific circumstances of the engagement's conclusion.

People involved

Sources

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