Taza (Chiricahua leader)

Taza (also Tazi; Tazhe; Tah-ze; Tahzi; Tahzay; Tazhay) (c. 1843 – 26 September 1876) was the son of Cochise, leader of the Chihuicahui local group of the Chokonen and principal chief of the Chokonen band of the Chiricahua Apache. His mother Dos-teh-seh (“Something-at-the-campfire-already-cooked”), was the daughter of Mangas Coloradas, leader of the Copper Mines and last leader of the Mimbreños local groups of the Chihenne band and principal chief of the Chihenne band of the Chiricahua Apache.^[1]

Tah-ze
Grave of Taza
Born	c. birth year – c. 1843 Chiricahua country
Died	(1876-09-26)September 26, 1876 Washington D.C.
Buried	Congressional Cemetery, Washington D.C.
Allegiance	Chiricahua Apache Indians
Years of service	1860–1876
Rank	Chief or Leader of Chiricahua Apaches
Battles / wars	Apache Wars
Relations	Cochise (father)

Chief Taza

Taza was the older full brother of Naiche (Natchez). Taza succeeded his father Cochise as chief of the Chiricahuas when the latter died in 1874, two years after the Chiricahua Reservation was established by General Howard.^[2]

John Clum, an Indian agent for the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, was sent to pursue Taza and the rest of the Chiricahua in May 1876. He had the goal of relocating the band to his reservation. Naiche and Taza argued with the brothers Skinya and Pionsenay about how to proceed.^[3] Skinya and Pionsenay wanted to continue the war, while Naiche and Taza sought to surrender.^[4] Skinya was killed when Naiche shot him in the head. Pionsenay was shot in the shoulder by Taza, critically wounding him. Pionsenay fled with those loyal to him and refused to follow the sons of Cochise to the reservation.^[3]

In 1876 the tribe was removed from the Chiricahua reservation to San Carlos, and in September of the same year Taza was one of a delegation of Apaches taken to Washington D.C. for a visit. He fell ill in Washington and died there of pneumonia on September 26, 1876, after only about two years as chief.^[5]

Taza is buried in Congressional Cemetery in Washington D.C.^{[6][self-published source]} Taza's mother Dos-teh-seh, his brother Naiche, and his half-sisters Dash-den-zhoos and Naithlotonz (Naiche-dos), lived through the prisoner-of-war period and went to Mescalero.^[7]

It is unknown if a portrait of Taza was ever made; an alleged "photograph" of Taza was actually made of a Native American named George Noche in 1886.^[8][9]

Legacy

The 1954 film Taza, Son of Cochise was directed by Douglas Sirk and stars Rock Hudson as Taza.^[10]

References

1. Thrapp, Dan L. (1 June 1991). Encyclopedia of Frontier Biography: A-F. U of Nebraska Press. p. 291. ISBN 0-8032-9418-2.
2. Sweeney, Edwin R. (21 November 2012). Cochise: Chiricahua Apache Chief. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 395. ISBN 978-0-8061-7156-2.
3. Clum, Woodworth (1978). Apache Agent: The Story of John P. Clum. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-0-8032-0967-1. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
4. Utley, Robert M. (1977). A Clash of Cultures: Fort Bowie and the Chiricahua Apaches (PDF). Office of Publications, National Park Service. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
5. Cozzens, Peter (25 October 2016). The Earth Is Weeping: The Indian Wars for the American West, 1866-1891. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. p. 382. ISBN 978-0-307-95804-4.
6. Miles, Robert A. (16 January 2014). A Growing Nation. Xlibris Corporation. pp. 129–130. ISBN 978-1-4836-3575-0.
7. Robinson, Sherry (January 2003). Apache Voices: Their Stories of Survival as Told to Eve Ball. UNM Press. p. 62. ISBN 978-0-8263-2163-3.
8. Indian Country Today Oct 12, 2016
9. Smithsonian Institution Record website (reference only)
10. Leonard, Suzanne; Tasker, Yvonne (20 November 2014). Fifty Hollywood Directors. Taylor & Francis. p. 278. ISBN 978-1-317-59393-5.