The first conflicts between the Apache (who call themselves "T`Inde, Inde, N`dee, N`ne", meaning the "people") and other people in the Southwest date to the earliest Spanish settlements, but the specific set of conflicts now known as the Apache Wars began during the Mexican–American War. The wars were sparked when American troops, in error, accused Cochise and his tribe of kidnapping a young boy during a raid. Cochise professed truthfully that his tribe had not kidnapped the boy, and offered to try and find him for the Americans, but the commander refused to believe him and instead took Cochise and his party hostage for the return of the boy. Cochise escaped, and a standoff developed as Cochise's tribe and allies surrounded the American forces, demanding the release of the rest of Cochise's party. After a standoff, during which 3 additional braves and a number of American soldiers and postmen were captured, the Apache retreated, believing they were being flanked, but in revenge for the continued holding of their people killed soldiers and postmen they had captured. The Americans in turn killed the 6 men they had captured, though allowed the women and children to go free. Unfortunately, three of the men killed were Cochise's brother and nephews, and Cochise gathered the Apache tribes and made war on the US for vengeance, sparking the century-long conflict.