Captured By The Apache: Hermann's Tribe Battles The Comanche
Howdy folks and greetings from the Great Plains of North Texas! We're in a series about the Wild West and the story of an 11 year old German boy, Hermann, who was captured by an Apache war party from his family's farm in 1870 in Central Texas.
For Hermann it's been the Wild Wild West!
He's been with them now for several months and has been in training to become a warrior. In the last post he was forced to kill and scalp a man so he's proven himself to be a true Apache.
Today's story
Hermann and a young Apache went out hunting early one morning. The young companion's name was Bobo and he was on a nice pony. Hermann just had a stubborn mule that had been hit over the head one too many times. His mule didn't like to take orders or cooperate. (He WAS a Texas mule after all!)
In fact, whenever Hermann wanted that mule to run he would just spin around in circles. lol. So you can imagine Hermann's angst when he and Bobo saw a large war party of Comanches come over a hill. They were painted with war paint and didn't look happy to see them.
Here's a painting of a Comanche warrior just to give you an idea of what they probably looked like:
Not really the kind of person that you want to tease and make angry perhaps. The Apache had been at war with the Comanche for some reason so when the boys saw the war party they high-tailed it back toward camp.
Or at least Bobo did. Hermann's mule didn't like to run on command remember? Well, the arrows starting zipping by and a call for Bobo not to leave him went unheeded. All of a sudden that mule was struck in the butt with an arrow and he decided it was time to run.
Hermann's mule gets inspired
The mule lunged forward and it was all Hermann could do to hold on. The mule turned into a race horse and Hermann leaned down over his neck like a jockey to cut wind resistance and the mule roared past Bobo who shouted for Hermann to wait.
The was no waiting though, Hermann couldn't control the mule at all, he was now a race horse mule!
Even getting to the village he was uncontrollable..knocking squaws and kids out of the way with baskets flying as he charged right through the village to the other side where the horses were kept.
When they got to the horses the mule finally slowed down and started bucking and Hermann slid off, grabbed a pony and rode back to the village which by this time was engaged in a battle with the Comanches.
Bobo bites the dust
Racing out to the battle field Hermann saw warriors had gotten to Bobo's body who didn't quite reach the village. He'd been shot with arrows and scalped. The battle lasted all day long with the 40 Comanches.
Finally at sundown the Comanche withdrew, leaving many of their braves dead on the field.
Hermann's tribe lost 20 men and 8 more who were wounded. Four of those died that night and one died the next day. Three recovered.
They went out and gathered all the guns, bows, arrows, shields and horses that the Comanche had left on the battlefield. The dead Comanche they threw into a hole and left them uncovered.
The village was moved farther North in case they came back.
More battles with the Camanche are coming in the next post. With the encroaching settlements of the white man you'd think they'd bury the tomahawk and join forces against him but they don't.
Thanks for reading folks and God bless you all!
-jonboy
Texas
the gentleman redneck
PS- something you'll never hear a redneck say:
"I'll have the arugula and radicchio salad!"
Those Comanchees must have been a terrifying sight. Seeing Bobo, I imagine him having his life flash before his eyes, although I suppose that had already happened a slew of times by then, the poor kid.
Howdy ginnyanette! yeah I think he thought he was a goner about a dozen times before this!
But I would have been terrified of them or Apache either one!
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Hermann had a lucky day when the mule got the arrow in the rear to get it moving. Fascinating story Cowboy. U&R
Howdy redheadpei! Yes Hermann has had alot of close calls. And I love a story that has a mule as the hero! lol.
Honestly, why the hell they were finding these two tribes between each other. Especially, as you said while the whites were taking over their territories.
Nevertheless, I was laughing my but off while reading about the mule. Oh my gosh that was hilarious. Stubborn mule became a racehorse, lol. Lucky for Hermann, who otherwise would end up like poor Bobo.
haha! yes the mule was the hero! it's rare that a mule is the hero of a story so I thought it was great. lol.
Hermann has had some close calls!
Also, you deserve credit for describing it such an amusing way Janton. It's good to have funny moments while reading these intense stories.
Howdy this fine Saturday Miss Lena! I haven't forgotten about your post but I ran out of voting power last night so I stopped commenting and started working on another award-winning post! lol..no no no I'm just joking about the award-winning. lol.
I started looking for pictures that I might be able to use though. that takes hours.
Anyway thank you, it's not easy to find something humorous in these. lol.
It's okay Janton, even if you don't upvote, your comment means more to me. And you are welcome, I can only imagine how challenging it must be to find photos and write something funny.
Well janton, that was a sad little outing for Hermann and Bobo😐. At least the mule performed when the arrow hit his rump, haha.
Warring indigenous tribes is not uncommon janton, the many aboriginal tribes didn't get on either.
Howdy angiemitchell! oh that's so true, it's the same on every continent.
But yeah, not many stories have a mule as the hero!
Mules/donkeys are on their own when it comes to stubbornness. Not sure if it is a compliment when told "you are as stubborn as a mule!"
haha! Well, Mrs. J calls me that and I take it as a compliment! lol. But actually sometimes it helps and sometimes it hurts to be so stubborn.
A race horse mule! I can imagine them plowing through camp. At least the camp had some warning tbat something was wrong.
haha! howdy tonight Melinda! I was outside most of the day working and tonight we watched The Highwaymen and it was great! I love Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson! Knowing that it was a true story made it even better.
I knew you would like it! Sounds like it was a successful day, then. And now it's the weekend! Or is MrsJ working?
Well Mrs. J isn't working this weekend so she'll be working around the house and recovering! I had no idea that Bonnie and Clyde were idolized by the stupid public! what's wrong with those people?
I'm pretty sure the press would be to blame. They created headlines to sell papers, and just like today, people bought the propaganda.
that movie had more blood than Hostiles. lol. Hostiles had shootings but you just saw it from a distance and no blood. But I like the way those guys' story was told how they tracked them down and I thought it was interesting that they had orders to kill them and not arrest them!
The last sentence says the sad truth about how the Indians often weekend themselves their real enemy. Imagine that Comanche war party teemed up with Herman's Apaches...
I agree, I wonder if they saw the Comanches as much an enemy as the whites?
I don't get it, I guess we had to be there and have them explain the situation.
Wouldn't that be something to talk with them!
Most likely a really old conflict and typical human stubbornness. So we appear to be all very much the same? ;)
Howdy sir rossfletcher! yes sir, human nature. I'm sure some tribes had always been enemies and they might not have even known the reason it all started.But violence breeds violence and revenge breeds more revenge.
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It always amazes me that the people captured would adapt to the community. When I read about Cynthia Ann Parker I was totally amazed. Every time we visit Quanah, Texas, and Copper Breaks State Park I think about her and the pleas she made to not be taken back to her "white" family. She had made a life for herself that she apparently loved. Amazing how we humans can adapt and change.
Ren
Howdy Ren! good to hear from you. I know, it's so interesting. I have the Cynthia Ann Parker information and almost did a series on her but wasn't sure about doing it, the first part of her story is so traumatic and violent. But yes she wanted nothing to do with coming back to white society by the time she was taken back.
Thanks so much for all you do to help the community and new members!
Please tag me when doing the series. Actually, I would love to do some collaborating and do photos of the locations that were important to her life. Will definitely contact you via Discord.
Ren
Howdy Ren! ok that sounds great but I'm thinking a long time out like next year most likely.
Cool, gives me a chance to grab some great shots. Her house from Birdview is opening up soon at the Log Cabin Village in Fort Worth.
Howdy.
So much going on in the story. Myself, the whole story of our American Indians is the darkest part of our fair country's history. Their pride and love of the land has been demonstrated thoughout your series. We adopted their land but ignored these two most needed lessons.....you must respect and care for the earth. You get back what you put into it.
On the lighter side.....our neighbors growing up had the last name Bobo. We had some good times with the 'The Bobos' . Lots of stories!
Haha! Bobo is a great name, so that's interesting about your neighbors.
I agree that the way we dealt with the tribes is the federal governments biggest blunder and most shameful policies, behavior and sin. Just tragic. We need to give them reparations in the form of some of the rich lands we stole from them.
thanks so much for reading and commenting!