Raiders of a Lost Art? Apache War and Society

Watt, Robert

doi:10.1080/09592310208559195

Cited by 6 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…This is not to dismiss the Apaches as fearsome opponents; their principles of war made them very effective insurgents. 125 However, while the New Mexico troops were a component of a much wider collection of actors and institutions whose attitudes, organization, and actions usually served to impede rather than facilitate the army's efforts to combat the hostile Apaches, the military were by no means powerless. Therefore an understanding of the constraints facing the army should be tempered with the awareness that a political obstacle, whether it be a law or an institution created by one group of actors, can be challenged by other groups of actors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Apaches Without and Enemies Within: The US Army in New Mexico, 1879—1881

Watt

2011

War in History

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When attempting to confront hostile Apache guerrillas in New Mexico between 1879 and 1881, the US Army encountered a style of warfare which took merciless advantage of its weaknesses. However, the failure of the army to defeat its enemies can be only partially ascribed to this factor. Its efforts were further hampered by the political context within which it had to operate. Nevertheless, these factors occasionally worked in the army’s favour. When these political constraints did undermine efforts to defeat the Apaches, the US Army demonstrated that it was sometimes capable of turning this political context to its advantage.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%