Geronimo’s Story of His Life

Geronimo spent the next years of his life leading raids against his foes the Mexicans, and, once the U.S. annexed Mexican territory at the end of the Mexican-American War, against the new American settlers as well. Only after the U.S. government began forcing Native Americans onto reservations and deployed over 5,000 troops to combat Apache resistance did Geronimo finally surrender. He remained a U.S. prisoner of war for the rest of his life.

This autobiography, narrated in the first person, was told by Geronimo to S. M. Barrett, the Superintendent of Education of Lawton, Oklahoma, after Barrett petitioned President Roosevelt to allow the story to be told. Geronimo, speaking through a translator, dictated his story precisely, refusing questions or to change what he had said. Since Geronimo was direct in expressing his low opinions of many of the U.S. officials he had dealt with (and who were still living at the time the book was published), Barrett often includes endnotes clarifying that these words are Geronimo’s and not his own opinions.

The story is a fascinating window into the lifestyle, beliefs, and motivations of one of the most recognizable figures in the history of the western U.S.

This book is part of the Standard Ebooks project, which produces free public domain ebooks.