Cochise's demeanor clearly took both Howard and Sladen by surprise.  They had had a good deal of anxiety about the prospect of walking into his territory uninvited, and rightfully so.  Cochise's hatred of Americans had become by then a common theme in newspaper accounts and the Army had been chasing him and his band all over the southwest for over ten years.  It was well known that this powerful chieftain had been responsible for many raids, costing many American lives, and that he had once told the Apache leader Victorio that he would never be friendly to the whites.

     So it must have come as a pleasant shock when Cochise took Howard's hand in a warm grasp and said pleasantly, "Buenas dias". 

     Howard's account of this first meeting is fascinating.  He makes a point to comment on Cochise's regal stature and that he always carried himself with great dignity, and yet there was a warmth and charm about him that came through instantly.  We can read between the lines that Howard became instantly comfortable in Cochise's presence and was convinced from the first moment that the two men would be able to find common ground.

     When we combine Howard's and Sladen's writings, we are treated to a most intimate account of the meeting in the Dragoon heights -- a talk that lasted only a short time, but one that was filled with meaning, as the two men, with Jeffords and one of Cochise's men acting as translators, got right down to business.

     Sladen tells us in his journal that Cochise spoke Apache to his personal translator who then passed along to Jeffords in Spanish what the Chief wished to say.  He tells us that Cochise and most of the other Apaches were fairly well acquainted with Spanish, but that Cochise preferred to use his native tongue during important talks.  Jeffords, of course, translated the English to Spanish and the process proceeded accordingly.  Sladen and Howard both comment that at no time did anyone speak Cochise's name, and they point out that Jeffords, to Cochise's people, was called "Shicache", meaning "my brother."  We can assume with some confidence that Jeffords most likely referred to Cochise in a like manner.  There was another name for Jeffords amongst the band, one that was obviously used informally and in good humor:  Tyazaliton, meaning roughly "sandy whiskers".
 
 

In Howard's 1872 newspaper article he writes that Cochise had ridden in to meet the group with a small contingent of Indians that included his brother Juan, his sister (name not known), his young son Naiche (known to Americans at that time as Na-Chise and who would be reviled by American newspapers as Natchez in later years when he would ride with Geronimo), and Cochise's wife (almost certainly Dos-Teh-Seh, the mother of both Naiche and Taza, the latter being Cochise's eldest son who was out raiding at the time of Howard and Sladen's arrival).

DOS-TEH-SEH, COCHISE'S PRINCIPLE WIFE, MOTHER OF TAZA AND NAICHE

     Sladen's journal records that Cochise's sister was an important figure and was treated with much respect.  It is unfortunate that we do not know more about this woman, as she was obviously someone Cochise confided in and conferred with.  As a side note, giving depth to Sladen's account, this sister of Cochise had apparently received bad news from Ponce during this meeting as she was seen to be weeping violently.  When asked about it, Jeffords told Sladen that the news was evidently of the death of someone close to her. 

      A circle was formed in the shade of an oak and the entire camp, men, women and children, gathered around to take in what was about to occur. 

     "Will the General tell me why he has come to me?" Cochise asked.

     "The President has sent me to make peace between you and the whites."

     "Nobody wants peace more than I do.  I have done no mischief since I came from the Canada Alamosa, but I am poor, my horses are poor, and I have but few.  I might have got more by raiding on the Tucson road, but I did not do it."

     Howard then presented Cochise with the plan in which he had invested so much faith and hope:  To move Cochise's people to a new reservation that would be formed for both the Chiricahua and Mimbres Apaches, somewhere along the Rio Grande.  He detailed for the Chief how many fine rivers run in the area, and how the land there is rich and fertile (a point that would have been largely lost on Cochise, as his people were not farmers and would not likely be interested in becoming such).

    Cochise's response was to immediately counter with this suggestion:

     "I have been there and like the country, and rather than not have peace will go and take such of our people as I can, but I am sure it will break my band.  Why not give me a reservation here or at Apache Pass?  Give me that and I will make peace, protect all the roads, and see that no property is taken by the Indians."  Howard reports in his 1872 article that he immediately thought to himself that perhaps Cochise was desirous of obtaining a controlling point, and that to give in might be hazardous.  He again pressed for his own plan, and tried further to convince Cochise that the land he had in mind would be much better for the Apaches.  At that point Cochise asked the General how long he would stay. 

     Sladen recorded in his journal that at this point he instantly grew anxious, not warming to the thought of staying in such a hazardous situation any longer than necessary.  Cochise explained that he would have to discuss this matter with his "captains", many of whom were out "making a living" -- a euphemism that must have sounded odd to Howard and Sladen.  Cochise explained that it would take some time to send word to these scattered men, and expressed a desire that the party stay until such could be accomplished.

     Howard did not hesitate to agree.