Chiricahua

by Will Henry

Led by the dreaded Geronimo and Chatto, a band of Chiricahua Apache warriors swept up out of Mexico in a red deathwind. Their vow -- to destroy every white life in their bloody path across Arizona Territory. But between the swirling forces of white and red, hatred history sent a lone Indian rider named Pa-nayo-tishn, The Coyote Saw Him, crying peace -- and the fate of the Chiricahuas, and all free Apaches, was altered forever.

The white men called him "Peaches." He always maintained that he was not a Chiricahua but was considered one of them through marriage. He had lived in peace in the White Mountains of Arizona harboring but one ambition, cherishing but one dream -- to be an enlisted scout for the United States Cavalry. The Chiricahua raids gave him his opportunity. He had been forced to ride with Chatto until he managed to escape and volunteer to scout for the cavalry. Now he would use his knowledge of the Chiricahua and their ways in an attempt to stop the brutality.

Genres: Westerns, Historical Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Also wrote westerns as Clay Fisher.

Henry Wilson Allen (September 12, 1912 – October 26, 1991) was an American author and screenwriter. He used several different pseudonyms for his works. His 50+ novels of the American West were published under the pen names Will Henry and Clay Fisher. Allen's screenplays and scripts for animated shorts were credited to Heck Allen and Henry Allen.

Allen's career as a novelist began in 1952, with the publication of his first Western No Survivors. Allen, afraid that the studio would disapprove of his moonlighting, used a pen-name to avoid trouble.[3] He would go on to publish over 50 novels, eight of which were adapted for the screen. Most of these were published under one or the other of the pseudonyms Will Henry and Clay Fisher. Allen was a five-time winner of the Spur Award from the Western Writers of America and a recipient of the Levi Strauss Award for lifetime achievement.

Henry Wilson Allen was born in Kansas City, Missouri. Allen died of pneumonia on October 26, 1991 in Van Nuys, California. He was 79.

Reviews

[Jeff Tankersley · Rating 2 out of 5]

An historical-in-spirit tale of the end of the Apaches resistance in occupied Arizona, "Chiricahua" (1972) stars a young Apache Army scout named Pa-nayo-tishn, aka The Coyote Saw Him, aka Peaches, a non-Chircahuan married into the Chiricahua clan of the Apache nation. His adventure here takes place during the Army's pursuit of the Apache war chief Chatto who is raiding the Arizona countryside.

Getting more pages than the scout Peaches is a drifting horse thief who helps a stagecoach carry payroll through Apache country. There are a lot of other characters: a local sheriff, his disloyal deputy, the gangs of Apache raiders, a pregnant woman who insists on making the journey, commanders and troops among the Army Cavalry, and some local denizens who attempt to keep this coach moving in spite of the danger and warning and tension among themselves.

Verdict: The author Will Henry has a number of these part-fiction part-nonfiction tales and I really enjoyed his "From Where the Sun Now Stands," against which this "Chiricahua" falls well short by comparison. Just not a well-told story.

Jeff's Rating: 2 / 5 (Okay)
movie rating if made into a movie: R

[Mike Grady · Rating 3 out of 5]

After an initial slow start the story gains both interest and momentum rather quickly. One of the things about Will Henry that I love is that he based his books on real people and events, and this book is no exception.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book about the Apaches. Told mostly from the Indian point of view. I enjoyed it.

[Cuchillo Lope · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was initially stoked as it’s a western book taking, what I thought would be, the Apache perspective with the character known as Peaches. Only it isn’t really. It’s a bunch of characters based on real life and the authors insert character known as The Drifter who is totally cool and awesome at everything.
What an annoying book. I came pretty close to just throwing it away. From the sloppy writing to the ever changing perspectives, it just gets old fast. On top of that, the use of hard R N-word is ridiculous. It won The Spur Award which I can only assume is a bunch of racist bullshit wrapped in a western outfit.
I don’t mind dime store westerns, but god damn some of them, like this one, are pretty awful.

[Robert Hepple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 1972, 'Chiricahua' is a Western novel set, like many novels by Will Henry, against the backdrop of a historic event and featuring some of the actual people who took part. The setting in this example is 1880s Arizona during a raid carried by Chiricahua Apache renegades lead by Geronimo and Chatto (aka Chato). A Chiricahua cavalry scout called Peaches is one of the main characters. The story is fictional, loosely based around these events, and much of it takes place from the native American viewpoint. It makes for an interesting and rich story, though grim at times and heavily laced with 1970s cynicism.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story about a drifter in pain from losing a wife and child from an Apache attack, an Apache army scout, a black teamster and other assorted characters, and their interactions with Chato or Chatto and other Chiricahua Apaches in Arizona. Only drawback is a lot of bad language, but it fits the time period. I think this story would make a good movie.

[Jwt Jan50 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spur award 1972. 4.5* Thinking maybe it's time to systematically finish reading all of Will Henry's backlist before 'riding off into the sunset.' The 'Epilogue' alone is worth the price of admission. Found this one on the shelf with Henry's 'One More River to Cross' at the used book store (The Book Shelf) in Eagle River, AK. Apparently, I'm not the only fan still out there :)

[Judith Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

It started slow and a little confusing; but the story builds to the point you don't want to put it down. Many unexpected events unfold right up to the end. Based on true characters, both known Indian chiefs and military leaders; but also on the common persons. Really enjoyed it after the first few chapters.

[Rick McNeely · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK Western, not Will Henry's best. A fun read if you like this sort of thing. Not horrible.