Chiricahua

This novel by Will Henry was first published in hard cover by J.B. Lippincott Company in 1972, The book won a best western award and has been available in soft cover for over 30 years now. Special Note: The dust jacket on the hard cover edition had the added advantage of carrying a full-cover wrap around painting by Frank McCarthy. Since the Apaches left few if any written records, their tribal tales are preserved in the oral tradition common to most Indian tribes of the 19th century. This particular tale comes from the year 1883 in a raid up from Mexico by a war leader, Flat Nose, a fierce warrior aligned with Geronimo. Flat Nose attempts in his six-day raid to destroy as much as possible in Arizona Territory. A stagecoach gets caught up in this Apache country between Pima Bend on way to Tucson. A particular Apache, by name of Pa-nayo-tishn, whose name was shortened to "Peaches" by U.S. Army troopers, is caught in between the raid and the cavalry. All of this is somewhat reminiscent of Chatto's actual raid, and if one views the vhs tape Ulzana's Raid, some visual experience can be grained movie-wise of what these Apache lightning-like raids may have resembled. 'Peaches' was a real life person living in those warlike times, serving in and out of the Apache Scouts for General Crook during the U.S. Cavalry campaigns of the 1880's in old Arizona Territory. To confuse this novel with actual history though would be a mistake. Will Henry states up front this is not meant to document either the history of Apache Scouts nor the Arizona Territory. But Will Henry, disclaimers aside, was always able to write novels that were so parallel to actual history that much knowledge comes through by reading his books. And though he has been dead for a few years, his books yet remain highly popular. As true with all Will Henry/Clay Fisher books, this one is well worth the time spent reading it. Semper Fi.

A classic western scenario! A stagecoach that must reach its final destination. Apaches on the warpath. One hero with a score to settle. A wise old sheriff, a trigger-happy deputy, a glory-hungry cavalry Lieutenant, and a host of other frontier types, all drawn to confrontation at a deserted stage station. But there's an added twist to this wonderful tale of Southwestern Arizona - an Apache scout by the name of Peaches, who is always more than he seems. His presence, plus a rapid-fire story line, makes "Chiricahua" an excellent read. Winner of the 1973 Spur Award for Historical Novel, "Chiricahua" is marred only by the use at times of excessive bad language. Otherwise, it would be worthy of 5 stars.