Ox-wagons roll north through the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico toward the colonies and missions along the Rio Grande. The convoy is entering Apache country, and armored men are on the alert against ambush. They are also keeping close watch on their guide, who might well be one of that tribe himself.

From the days of the conquistadores until almost the end of the nineteenth century, Spanish, Mexican, Confederate and U.S. armies used Apaches to fight Apaches. The tribesmen seemed to feel surprisingly little resentment against what we would call treason. A warrior might take the white man’s pay for a while and give good money’s worth in guiding and fighting. Then he might drift back to the mountains, and appear next leading a raid on the settlements.

The Apaches usually took these switches quite casually. The whites considered them outrageous, but they couldn’t get along without their Apache scouts.

Convoy North

Ox-wagons roll north through the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico toward the colonies and missions along the Rio Grande. The convoy is entering Apache country, and armored men are on the alert against ambush. They are also keeping close watch on their guide, who might well be one of that tribe himself.

From the days of the conquistadores until almost the end of the nineteenth century, Spanish, Mexican, Confederate and U.S. armies used Apaches to fight Apaches. The tribesmen seemed to feel surprisingly little resentment against what we would call treason. A warrior might take the white man’s pay for a while and give good money’s worth in guiding and fighting. Then he might drift back to the mountains, and appear next leading a raid on the settlements.

The Apaches usually took these switches quite casually. The whites considered them outrageous, but they couldn’t get along without their Apache scouts.

Convoy North