Bill Proctor
alias Ottawa Creek Bill
Bill's Persona
My name is Eskinilay (Black Running Snake). I am a Chiricahua Apache Born 1830 in South –West New Mexico west of the Rio Grande River into the Eastern Chiricahua also known as the Mogollon Apaches because of the mountain range we inhabit ( Geronimo’s people the Bedonkohe). Prior to the so called Apache Wars, we primarily warred with the Mexicans and Texicans because of Geronimo’s (Gokhlayeh) hatred for them, particularly the Mexicans because they murdered his family. We warred with many other Indian tribes to the north such as the Comanche and other Apache tribes.
At age 42 I enlisted in the US Cavalry under General George Crooks 6th Cavalry. During the Apache wars from 1872 to 1886 I served as an Apache Scout under Generals Crook, Howard and Miles. I did this reluctantly after seeing the futility of warring against the United States Government as many of us did, working my way up to Sergeant of Indian Scouts.
After Gokhlayeh’s final surrender to General Nelson A. Miles on September 4th, 1886, we were told that the Apache Scouts were to be disbanded and the Chiricahua Scouts would be sent east to Fort Pickens Florida with the rest of Gokhlayeh’s Warriors, and our families would be sent to Fort Marion. Upon hearing this and not knowing the treatment or resentment we would receive from Gokhlayeh’s Warriors and not wanting to leave the land of our birth, a group of us along with our families decided to flee and escaped to the South-West Apacheria and lived with the Jicarilla Apache and to spend the rest of our lives here.
Eskinilay (Black Running Snake)
Bill's Apache Profile
Bill's Apache Journal
Bill Proctor's slideshow used at the recent NRA Convention in St Louis.