Page "Chiricahua" Paragraph 12

Although they had lived peaceably with most Americans in the New Mexico Territory up to about 1860, the Chiricahua became increasingly hostile to American encroachment in the Southwest after a number of provocations had occurred between them.

In 1835, Mexico had placed a bounty on Apache scalps which further inflamed the situation.

In 1837, the American John ( aka James ) Johnson invited the Chihenne in the area to trade with his party ( near the mines at Santa Rita del Cobre, New Mexico ).

When they gathered around a blanket on which pinole ( a ground corn flour ) had been placed for them, Johnson and his men opened fire on the Chihenne with rifles and a concealed cannon loaded with scrap iron, glass, and a length of chain ).

They killed about 20 Apache, including the chief Juan José Compá.

Mangas Coloradas is said to have witnessed this attack, which inflamed his and other Apache warriors ' desires for vengeance for many years.

The historian Rex W. Strickland argued that the Apache had come to the meeting with their own intentions of attacking Johnson's party, but were taken by surprise.