History
The Lipan are first mentioned in Spanish record in 1718 when they raided Spanish settlements in San Antonio. It seems likely that the Lipan became established in Texas during the latter half of the 17th century. They moved southward during the 18th century where one Spanish mission was built in Coahuila in 1754 and another on the San Sabá River in 1757. Both missions were burned and deserted; the San Saba mission was destroyed by the Comanches and their allies. During 1757 the Lipan Apaches were involved in fighting with the Hasinais.
Their territory ranged from the Colorado River to the Rio Grande. Two Lipan local group chiefs had a total of 700 people in 1762. Since there were at least 12 other local groups, Morris Opler estimates that the population was approximately 3,000-4,000. He estimates a total of 6,000 in 1700.
The Spanish and Lipan frequently were in conflict as Spain tried to invade and colonize the Texas territory. The Spanish tried to thwart the Lipan through alcohol, provoking conflict between the Lipan and Mescalero, making them economically dependent on Spanish trade goods, and through missionaries. It is not certain if the Lipan actually lived on the Spanish missions, but by 1767 all Lipan had completely deserted them. In the same year, Marquis of Rubí started a policy of Lipan extermination since in 1764 a smallpox epidemic had decimated the tribe. However, a little afterwards the Lipan entered an uneasy alliance with Spain in order to war against the Mescalero. The alliance fell apart before 1800. Another serious enemy of the Lipan was the Comanche, who incidentally was also an enemy of Spain. Many historians cite Comanche aggression as a factor leading to the Lipan's southernly migration. At the beginning of the 19th century the Lipan formed an alliance with the Comanche to attack the Spanish.
In 1869, Mexican troops from Monterrey were brought to Zaragosa to eliminate Lipan Apaches, who were blamed for causing trouble. Troops attacked many Lipan camps; survivors flee to the Mescaleros in New Mexico.
From 1875 to 1876, United States Army troops undertake joint military campaigns with the Mexican Army to eliminate Lipans from Coahuila.
In 1881, a large campaign by Mexican Army’s Díaz division (assisted by US troops) forced all Lipans out of Coahuila and into the state of Chihuahua.
Read more about this topic: Lipan Apache People
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