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Lipan Apache Chief [name unknown] Biographical Sketch

The Apaches dominated almost all of West Texas and ranged over a wide subject to raiding from the even more fearsome Comanches. Eventually,
area from Arkansas to Arizona. Two groups of Apaches, the Lipans and the they entered an on-again, off-again relationship with the Spanish,
Mescalaros, were of primary importance in Texas. Apaches were among the sometimes warring and raiding and escaping slavery at the San Antonio
first Indians to learn to ride horses and lived a nomadic existence following missions, other times allying with the Spanish against the Comanches and
the buffalo. They also farmed, growing maize, beans, pumpkins, and other enemies.
watermelons. During the era of Spanish rule, the Apaches staged constant
raids against the Spanish missions. The problems culminated with a Nothing more is known about the Lipan Apache chief and what happened to
latenight raid on San Antonio by 350 Apache, led by their Lipan Apache his daughter.
Chief [name unknown] on June 30, 1745. The inhabitants of the presidio and The following resources were used in creating this sketch of the Lipan
the surrounding villa were awakened by the shouts of a young Spanish boy, Apache Chief:
running through the streets screaming, “Apaches!” The Lipan chief
questioned an Apache prisoner during the battle, inquiring about the chief’s Texas State Library and Archives Commission:
seven year-old daughter, who was among the prisoners being held at the https://www.tsl.texas.gov/exhibits/indian/intro/page2.html
mission. The chief was told that his daughter was being treated kindly by
The Lipan Apache: http://www.lipanapache.org/
the missionaries and the Spanish only wanted friendship with the Apaches.
“Upon hearing of this, the chief repented of his hostility and ordered his Peace Came in the Form of a Woman:
followers to give up the attack. The chief of the Natages (another tribe who https://books.google.com/books?isbn=080786773X
was allied with the Lipan Apache) opposed this plan…, but was finally
persuaded to [retreat].” A History of the Lipan Apaches of Texas and Northern Mexico:
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0761848606
The attack on the Béxar presidio failed because of a father’s concern for his
daughter, who was being held as a lure by Spanish missionaries hoping to
draw her father’s tribe into the mission. It worked. The Lipan chief sought
peace with the Spanish at San Antonio, ending his relationship with the
Natages chief who wished to continue the fight. Soon, the Lipan chief began
to request that the Spanish establish a mission for the Lipan Apaches,
probably hoping to be reunited with his daughter. The chief’s request
played perfectly into the ambitious plan of the Spanish missionaries, who
were seeking to spread missions to the Apaches throughout Texas, but
needed proof that the indigenous were willing to convert.

The 1745 defection of the Lipan chief had far-reaching consequences. The
decisions of one Lipan father, made out of concern for his hostage daughter,
would break the Lipan tribe into several bands. The found themselves

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