Abstract

REYES GUTIERREZ, Amparo Angélica; ALMADA BAY, Ignacio  and  CONTRERAS TANORI, David. Offensive and defensive measures taken by the vecinos of Sonora in response to Apache incursions, 1854-1890. The deployment of a limited self-defense strategy. Hist. mex. [online]. 2016, vol.65, n.3, pp.1193-1269. ISSN 2448-6531.

The intermittent conflict between the Apaches and the vecinos of Sonora, the so-called Apache War of the traditional historiography, intensified following the loss of Mesilla in 1854, which gave the Apaches a safe refuge and allowed them to return with their booty to the U.S. territory of Arizona, where there were merchants who encouraged this practice.

As the vecinos lacked the support of the army and didn’t dare to carry out reprisal attacks against the Apache encampments on the other side of the border, a series of offensive and defensive measures were implemented by the National Guard, which was composed of the vecinos from the affected towns. Thanks to a database with almost 4 092 entries, composed of firsthand testimony by vecinos and low-level authorities, these measures and their characteristics can be identified.

Keywords : Sonora; Apaches; defense; 19^th Century.

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