While at Fort Tularosa, Howard met with important leaders of two Apache groups -- the Chihennes and the Bedonkohes.  He showed compassion and, more importantly, deep interest in their concerns, making impressions that were sometimes almost too startling to the deeply suspicious Indians.  His often passionate displays of religious fervor did little to comfort them until it was carefully explained to them that Howard's falling to his knees in boisterous prayer was not tantamount to casting spells upon them.  In short order, he and Sladen won their trust. 

     It was while here at Tularosa that Howard first laid eyes on the tall, affable man of which he had heard cryptic rumors.  Thomas J. Jeffords was returning from a long scout with a Company of soldiers.  Sladen wrote in his journal:
 

     Sladen's habit of keeping daily journal entries was to ultimately give the world an incredibly rare glimpse, from a wonderfully intimate vantage point, of life in the encampment of Apaches during a time of war -- and not just any Apache encampment; but that of Cochise himself.

     It is my opinion that the book that came of this, "Making Peace With Cochise" by Edwin R. Sweeney, is perhaps one of the most important volumes ever written about America's west.  Historians and history buffs alike owe a tremendous debit of gratitude to both Mr. Sweeney and, no less, to the grandson of Joseph Alton Sladen, Mr. Frank Sladen, Jr., who was gracious enough to allow Sweeney full access to his family's precious records, which included Joseph Sladen's original journal.   In this powerfully absorbing book we feel we are there alonside Howard, Jeffords and Sladen every day of their incredible journey.  We nearly hear the words spoken and we can almost smell the dust of the desert, the smoke of their carefully controlled campfires, and feel the sweat on our brows as they draw closer and closer to Cochise's presumed encampment -- feeling, too, their great anxiety at not knowing how they will be received.

    Sladen is one of precious few Whites to ever meet the great Apache leader Cochise, and he spent three weeks in close contact with him -- riding at one point behind Cochise on the same horse when he was taken to a remote lookout camp in the Dragoon Mountains.  Cochise seems to have taken a liking to the quiet young man, joking with him and engaging him in thoughtful conversation.  This book is an opportunity for the reader to travel back in time and see Cochise as only three or four Americans ever did.
 

MAKING PEACE WITH COCHISE by Edwin R. Sweeney click the cover  to order from our Amazon.com affiliated bookstore