One day Geronimo, a young Apache of the time, left with his family from their homeland, which is now located in southeastern Arizona, for a trade mission to Mexico. Many other families also left with him. The men went to the city to trade every day, leaving their families behind. On that memorable evening, they returned home to find that Mexican soldiers had viciously attacked their camp. They had killed their women and children and stolen their supplies and their horses. The dead were scattered everywhere. Geronimo's wife, three children and his mother were among those massacred. He found their bodies lying in a pool of blood. “I had lost everything,” Geronimo said. His heart was broken. He would never be the same again. The loss of his family led Geronimo to hate all Mexicans throughout his life. He was filled with hatred and would spend his life seeking revenge for all that he and his people had lost. He became one of the most feared Apache warriors of all time. The career and successes of the Apache warrior Geronimo were indicative of the struggle for a Native American way of life that conflicted with that of progressive American frontiersmen and Mexican soldiers. "I couldn't call my loved ones back, I couldn't bring the dead back to life." Apaches, but I could rejoice in this revenge.” (Geronimo) This quote from Geronimo sums up his feelings and actions perfectly. Revenge was, without a doubt, a primary factor in the struggle for the Apache people. The quote means that Geronimo could do nothing to bring back his family and his fellow Apaches. The only thing he could do was fight. Everyone he fought and fought with after the murders of his tribe and family were in the name of his wife and children. Geronimo realized that the only way he could fix it... middle of paper... was a sorcerer with special powers given to him by God. After the “Cut Through the Tent” incident, ferocious clashes between Apaches and whites were got worse. Then, in early 1863, a group of gold prospectors entered Apache territory and camped at Fort McLane in southern New Mexico. The prospectors, fearing attack by the Apache, decided to kidnap Mangas Coloradas and hold him hostage. Only when they had safely completed their gold-hunting expedition would the Coloradas be released. Many of the gold seekers set out on horseback towards Pinos Altos, where they knew Mangas and his followers would be found. They were joined by an army unit under the command of Brigadier General James Carleton, who was no friend of the Indians. In reality, it was exactly the opposite. He had issued an order to those serving under his command “to kill all Indian men wherever found.”