The attempt to make Navajos farmers at Bosque Redondo failed due to several factors, including a lack of understanding of the land and agricultural practices suited to the area. The soil was poor, and the climate was harsh, making farming unfeasible. Additionally, the abrupt transition from a nomadic lifestyle to settled agriculture created significant cultural and practical challenges for the Navajos, who were not accustomed to farming in such conditions. The combination of environmental limitations and cultural dislocation ultimately led to the failure of the farming initiative.
The Union general who put Indians at Bosque Redondo was W. T. Sherman. He was actually one of the signers of the Treaty of Bosque Redondo.
New Mexico
New Mexico!
It is not known exactly how many died on the actual walk but it is thought that during the walk and the four years internment at Bosque Redondo about 1/3 of the 10,000 died. It was a very traumatic experience for the Navajo people.
Bosque Redondo was a large reservation established in the mid-19th century in New Mexico, primarily for the relocation of the Navajo and Mescalero Apache peoples. Created by the U.S. government in 1863, it aimed to confine these tribes to a specific area, often leading to harsh living conditions and significant suffering. The policy was part of a broader effort to control and assimilate Native American populations. Ultimately, the reservation was deemed a failure, and many Navajos were allowed to return to their ancestral lands in 1868.
The Bosque Redondo Memorial in New Mexico is a monument to commemorate the persecution and imprisonment of Navajo and Apache Native Americans by the United States military. More than 9,000 Navajo and 500 Apache Indians were so imprisoned.
The Bosque Redondo Reservation, established in 1863 in New Mexico, originally covered approximately 40,000 acres. It was created to forcibly relocate the Navajo and Apache peoples. The harsh conditions and inadequate resources led to significant suffering and a high mortality rate among the inhabitants. Ultimately, the reservation was abandoned in 1868 when the Navajo were allowed to return to their homeland.
This was a 450 mile trek that lasted about 22 days . At least 200 Navajos died of cold and starvation. 53 different groups of Navajo made the trip there. Each group walked a slightly different route. Between 8,000 and 9,000 people traveled the route with a peak population of 9,022 in Bosque Redondo by the spring of 1865. After they arrived at the Fort Sumner New Mexico, many more died. The land was not suitable to agriculture and neither were the Navajos so four years later, the government allowed the Navajo to return to their homes. Actually more than 3,500 navajos died of starvation, cold weather, no food or water, no medicines. but the trip actually took 18 days because some of the army 'privates' forced the navajos to walk 20 miles a day or in some cases more.
The address of the Bosque Farms Public Library is: 1455 W. Bosque Loop, Bosque Farms, 87068 9077
Navajos started surendering to Kit Carson in July 1863. In January 1864 the 450 miles forced marches to Fort Sumner in New Mexico Territory in the area called Bosque Redondo. The Navajo call this place Hwéeldi. About 9000 people made this trip. About 50 groups over about 7 trails made this trip. In 1865 there were 9,022 people there. On the walk back, in June 18, 1868, they walked in one group that was 10 miles long.
Tall Boy gets shot in the leg during an encounter with soldiers near the Navajo Reservation while he and Bright Morning are trying to escape from Bosque Redondo.
BOSQUE was created in 1975.