But weariness of constant vigilance and the necessity to keep on the run had taken its toll on the great chief and it soon became evident even to the most pessimistic that perhaps the time was ripe for another peace mission into Chiricahua territory.   When significant time passed with no new Indian attacks -- none at least attributable to Cochise's band --  it seemed obvious that Cochise wanted nothing more than, as author Ed Sweeney put it in his landmark biography Cochise, Chiricahua Apache Chief, to be "left alone."   Ironically, even as Cochise sought distance from the goings-on at Cañada Alamosa and the impending forced removal of other Apaches to Tularosa, his trusted American friend Tom Jeffords was assisting the government in that very chore, helping to move members of Victorio's, Loco's and Gordo's band.  As Jeffords later revealed during an interview late in his life, this never seemed to negatively effect his close friendship with Cochise.

     It was now American policy that all Indians be forced to live on reservations, regardless of their affiliation.  This made Cochise and his small band of some 300 souls renegades (perhaps a meaningless designation since Cochise was still technically at war with U.S., having never officially surrendered.)  Cochise knew this and he also knew that no peace could come to his people unless something was done about it, but just what that would have to be was not an easy matter.  It was not within his nature to simply give up and present himself, without good terms, to the Americans.  The Mexicans, traditionally the enemies of all Apaches, could not be trusted and that country was no safer than north of the border.

     It remained for destiny to present Cochise with his way out, in the person of a one-armed general who would ultimately prove as powerful and brave a man as Cochise had ever met.