# XIX: A Prisoner of War explained — Geronimo’s Story of His Life

> Chapter companion for Geronimo’s Story of His Life by Geronimo.

## What happens

Geronimo recounts his imprisonment after surrender, including forced labor at Fort Pickens, violation of the Skeleton Canyon treaty, relocation to Alabama and later Fort Sill, personal losses and marriages, struggles with government mismanagement of Apache funds and livestock, and his eventual relief from labor by General Miles.

## Themes in this chapter

### Betrayal and Broken Treaties

Geronimo emphasizes that the government violated the Skeleton Canyon treaty by imprisoning him and his warriors, separating them from families, and failing to deliver promised land and supplies.

### Injustice and Oppression

The chapter details forced labor, lack of consultation, unfair handling of Apache funds, and the overall mistreatment of the Apache people by government officials.

### Displacement and Homeland

Geronimo describes being moved from Florida to Alabama to Oklahoma, longing for the promised land, and the health problems caused by unfamiliar climates.

### Family and Community

Geronimo discusses the separation from his wife and children, the death of his wife, his daughter Eva, and the struggles of the Apache community under confinement.

## Character check-ins

### Geronimo

Narrator and central figure; describes his imprisonment, labor, family separations, and interactions with officials.

### General Nelson A. Miles

Promised Geronimo land and implements; later visited Fort Sill and relieved Geronimo from labor.

### Mr. George Wratton

Superintendent of Indians; mistreated them and was stabbed by a drunken Indian.

### Lieutenant Purington

Officer in charge; Geronimo complained to him about cattle money being diverted to the Apache Fund.

### Eva Geronimo

Geronimo's daughter; lives with him after his wife's death.

## Key lines

> This treatment was in direct violation of our treaty made at Skeleton Canyon.

The government's actions broke the promises made in the Skeleton Canyon treaty.

_Geronimo asserts that the imprisonment and hard labor contradicted the surrender agreement._

> I looked in vain for General Miles to send me to that land of which he had spoken; I longed in vain for the implements, house, and stock that General Miles had promised me.

General Miles never fulfilled his promise of land, tools, a house, and livestock.

_Geronimo expresses disappointment over unkept promises from General Miles._

> The Indians understood that the cattle were to be sold and the money given to them, but instead part of the money is given to the Indians and part of it is placed in what the officers call the 'Apache Fund.'

The Apaches believed they would receive all proceeds from cattle sales, but the government diverted some into a fund without their consent.

_Geronimo highlights the lack of transparency and fairness in handling Apache earnings._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/xix-a-prisoner-of-war
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters