Geronimo and a band of just 38 Apache warriors evaded 5,000 US Army soldiers and 3,000 Mexican troops for over a year — the largest military manhunt in American history up to that point.
The Story of Geronimo (Goyaałé)
Born in 1829 in what is now New Mexico, Goyaałé — called Geronimo by Mexican soldiers — was a Bedonkohe Apache who became one of the last major leaders of Native American resistance to the United States. His motivation was personal as well as political: Mexican soldiers massacred his mother, wife, and three children in 1851, turning him into an implacable warrior.
For decades, Geronimo led raids across Arizona, New Mexico, and northern Mexico, demonstrating extraordinary tactical skill, endurance, and knowledge of desert terrain. He was captured twice and escaped both times. By 1886, he had become the US government's most wanted fugitive — a symbol of undefeated Native resistance.
In 1885-1886, with just 38 followers — men, women, and children — Geronimo eluded over 5,000 US soldiers (one-quarter of the entire US Army) and 3,000 Mexican troops for over a year across the most brutal desert terrain in North America. It was the largest military manhunt in American history to that point. The US military used heliographs — a system of mirrors flashing sunlight — across hundreds of mountaintops to coordinate the search.
Geronimo finally surrendered in September 1886, the last leader of a significant armed resistance force against the United States. He was imprisoned as a prisoner of war — never freed despite multiple requests — and died at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in 1909. He remains one of the most recognizable symbols of Indigenous resistance worldwide.
Color Geronimo's Portrait
The Alphabet Book of Generals — Who Resisted White Supremacy and Won features a full-page coloring portrait of Geronimo with a color guide and fun fact. Perfect for children ages 4–12 and Black history education.
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