From FACT AND FOLKLORE OF OWEN COUNTY, VOL I
by Dixie Kline Richardson, Spencer, Indiana, ©1976
Marsh Huffman and Geronimo
“I told General Henry W. Lawton I would just as leave see my coffin as to accompany him to interview Geronimo”, is the way “Marsh” Huffman began the story of his experiences in the West which took place in the 1880’s. He told his story to a reporter in 1927 who talked with him at his home two miles west of Cataract in Owen County [Indiana]. He was born there December 1, 1850 in a log cabin.
I enlisted in the army at Indianapolis in 1886 and it wasn’t long until I was marching under the colors in Arizona.
You know the government had been having a lot of trouble with the Apaches out there. General Lawton was commissioned to round up Geronimo and his band of Indians who had been doing a lot of mischief in Arizona and it happened I was chosen for the expedition.
General Leonard Wood was then in the party serving as a line officer and doctor. He had been offered $250 a month if he could stand the job and he fought and looked after our medical wants without a hitch.
There was one time he came under my personal care, even though I didn’t know one medicine from another. The general was lying in his tent when a centipede (probably scorpion) poisoned him. It wasn’t long until he became almost unmanageable and I had to sit on him to keep him in the tent. He told me what applications to make and I must have been a good student for it was only a few days until he was up and going. General Wood was a real man.
I suppose there must have been several thousand men under Lawton when we began to get on Geronimo’s tracks. We chased the bunch out of Arizona and they fled to Mexico where they made frequent raids on Sonora. One morning, General Lawton called for me. After I saluted him, he said, “do you see that white flag over there?” I certainly did. “Well, that’s that old Indian and I guess he’s ready to give up. Anyway, you go over there — I judge it’s about a league and a half away. See what the old devil wants and leave your gun here”.
I started out rather light-hearted but when I approached within a hundred yards of Geronimo’s white flag, I saw several Indians in ambush with their guns across their arms. This was in contrary to all fighting principles you know.
I began to lose control of my knees. It wasn’t long until the stout. tough looking chief emerged from his dog tent. His head was covered with feathers. He cracked his heels together meaning for me to salute him. I don’t remember whether I did or not.
In good English he asked. “do you know me?”
I was to go back and tell General Lawton that Geronimo wanted to see him. He was to bring only one man, both unarmed.
Returning to camp. I delivered the message to General Lawton. I was pretty hungry and after a good meal of deer and antelope. I anticipated a little rest but Lawton sent for me again and wished to know whether I wanted to go with him. It wouldn’t do me any good good to say I didn’t want to, and that’s when I told him I’d just as leave see my coffin.
But together we went and as we drew close to Geronimo, General Lawton said to him. “I have a notion to kill you”.
After General Lawion learned Geronimo would not surrender unless Genera Miles, stationed 200 miles back, would talk with him, we returned to headquarters expecting to hear a bullet whizzing in our direction.
The next day messengers were sent to General Miles through territory infested with rattlesnakes, tarantulas and scorpions with the news that Geronimo had agreed to surrender if the Apaches would be sent to Florida. This the government agreed to to, and a guard was placed around the band. It was some days before General Miles appeared in our camp. It wasn’t long before the Indians were loaded on trains bound for the southern forts. Geronimo and his men turned over all their guns and blankets. They were burned in a huge fire.
There were 40 women and children with the old Indian chief.
Mr. Huffman ended his Geronimo story by saying “when we got through with that Geronimo mess I had served five days overtime but I wasn’t caring much for I was making $4 a day.”
What Mr. Huffman did after leaving the Army is another story.
With many thanks to Dixie Kline Richardson for granting us permission to reprint this story. You may contact Mrs. Richardson directly at RBRICKROOM@aol.com.
FACT AND FOLKLORE OF OWEN COUNTY is an anthology, from the thousands of stories that can be told from Owen County, Indiana’s rich and colorful past. Collected, compiled, edited, or written from scratch by Mrs. Richardson in a labor of love for those people, places and events. She is a former Owen County historian and still send out lots of info although she now lives in Indianapolis.
The General Lawton, Spanish-American War Photo Album