On this day in New Mexico History - February 4, 1864 – What would come to be called the Long Walks started in January 1864. On this day in New Mexico History bands of Navajo led by the Army from their traditional lands in eastern Arizona Territory and western New Mexico Territory started to arrive at Fort Sumner in the Pecos River Valley. The area was called the Bosque Redondo, means "round grove of trees" in the Spanish language. Between 8,000 and 9,000 people were settled on an area of 40 square miles with a peak population of 9,022 by the spring of 1865. Bosque Redondo had serious problems. About 400
Mescalero Apaches were placed there before the Navajos. The Mescaleros and the Navajo had a long tradition of raiding each other; the two tribes had many disputes during their encampment. Furthermore, the initial plan was for around 5,000 people, certainly not 10,000 men, women and children. Water and firewood were major issues from the start; the water was brackish and the round grove of trees was quite small. In 1865 Navajo began leaving. By 1867 the remaining Navajo refused to plant a crop. The Treaty of Bosque Redondo between the United States and many of the Navajo leaders was concluded at Ft. Sumner on June 1, 1868. On June 18, 1868, the once-scattered bands of people set off together on the return journey, the "Long Walk" home. This is one of the few instances where the U.S. government relocated a tribe to their traditional boundaries.
On This Day In New Mexico History -
On this day in New Mexico History - February 4, 1864 – What would come to be called the Long Walks started in January 1864. On this day in New Mexico History bands of Navajo led by the Army from their traditional lands in eastern Arizona Territory and western New Mexico Territory started to arrive at Fort Sumner in the Pecos River Valley. The area was called the Bosque Redondo, means "round grove of trees" in the Spanish language. Between 8,000 and 9,000 people were settled on an area of 40 square miles with a peak population of 9,022 by the spring of 1865. Bosque Redondo had serious problems. About 400 Mescalero Apaches were placed there before the Navajos. The Mescaleros and the Navajo had a long tradition of raiding each other; the two tribes had many disputes during their encampment. Furthermore, the initial plan was for around 5,000 people, certainly not 10,000 men, women and children. Water and firewood were major issues from the start; the water was brackish and the round grove of trees was quite small. In 1865 Navajo began leaving. By 1867 the remaining Navajo refused to plant a crop. The Treaty of Bosque Redondo between the United States and many of the Navajo leaders was concluded at Ft. Sumner on June 1, 1868. On June 18, 1868, the once-scattered bands of people set off together on the return journey, the "Long Walk" home. This is one of the few instances where the U.S. government relocated a tribe to their traditional boundaries.
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