A Fort That Survived Apache Sieges Now Preserves Arizona’s War-Torn History

Fort Verde, Arizona

Fort Verde began as Camp Lincoln in December 1865 when the U.S. Army replaced volunteer forces guarding Verde Valley settlers.

Regular troops built a permanent fort at the current location in 1871, completing 22 buildings by 1873. The military renamed it Camp Verde in 1868, then Fort Verde in 1879.

General George Crook used the fort as his headquarters during campaigns against Apache and Yavapai tribes throughout the 1870s. The post housed infantry and cavalry troops until 1891.

Four original structures still stand today: the administration building and three officers’ quarters.

When Settlers Sparked Conflict

Anglo farmers arrived in the Verde Valley during the 1860s, planting crops along the fertile riverbanks.

Their farms encroached on lands used by Tonto Apache and Yavapai people who hunted and gathered food across the region for generations. The newcomers disrupted wildlife patterns and took over water sources.

Hungry tribal members began raiding farms for crops and livestock when traditional food sources dwindled. Settlers fought back.

By May 1865, the violence prompted settlers to demand military protection. Arizona Volunteers established the first tent camp at West Clear Creek in August.

Crook’s Unconventional Strategy

General George Crook arrived in Arizona in 1871 with experience fighting tribes in the Northwest.

Unlike other commanders, Crook recruited Apache scouts from rival bands to track hostiles through rugged terrain. He equipped troops with mule trains instead of slow-moving wagons, allowing them to pursue Apache deep into mountain strongholds.

The Apache called him “Gray Wolf” for his cunning. During winter 1872-73, Crook launched the Tonto Basin Campaign, wearing down resistance through constant pressure.

His forces engaged in over 20 skirmishes, killing 200 warriors and forcing many bands to surrender.

The Trail That Changed The War

Infantry troops from Fort Verde built a crucial supply road in 1871 under Crook’s direction.

The route stretched west to Fort Whipple near Prescott and east to Fort Apache, spanning 200 miles across the Mogollon Rim. Soldiers carved the path through pine forests, steep canyons, and rocky terrain.

This road transformed military operations by allowing rapid movement of troops and supplies to remote locations. Mule trains could follow the route in any weather.

The pathway became known as the General Crook Trail, parts of which still exist today.

Brief Peace At Rio Verde

The Rio Verde Reservation covered 800 square miles along the river when established in 1873.

Within two years, nearly 1,500 Yavapai and Apache people settled there under military supervision. Army officers helped them dig irrigation ditches connecting to the Verde River.

By 1874, tribal farmers cultivated 56 acres of vegetables, melons, and hay. Their harvests proved so abundant that they sold surplus crops to soldiers at Fort Verde.

Unlike other reservations where tribes depended on government rations, Rio Verde Indians achieved self-sufficiency through their agricultural success.

The Winter March To San Carlos

On February 25, 1875, soldiers forced 1,500 Yavapai and Apache from the Rio Verde Reservation.

Women carried children and whatever possessions they could hold during the 180-mile trek to San Carlos. Army troops pushed the group through mountain passes still covered in winter snow.

Elders and children struggled across the rugged Mazatzal Mountains. The ten-day journey lacked adequate food and shelter.

About 100 people died from exposure, starvation, or exhaustion. The tribes call this forced relocation “The Exodus” – their own Trail of Tears through central Arizona.

The Medicine Man Of Cibicue

In August 1881, Apache medicine man Nakaidoklini claimed he could resurrect dead warriors on the White Mountain Reservation.

His growing influence alarmed reservation authorities. On August 30, Colonel Eugene Carr led troops to arrest him at Cibicue Creek, assuring tribal leaders the medicine man would return after questioning.

During the arrest, someone fired a shot. In the chaos, six soldiers and Nakaidoklini died as his followers attacked the troops.

The next day, warriors assaulted Fort Apache in retaliation. Through the winter, Army and Apache leaders worked to maintain fragile peace.

Na-tio-tish Breaks The Peace

On July 6, 1882, Na-tio-tish led 50 White Mountain Apache warriors away from San Carlos.

The group included men angered by the Cibicue Creek incident who had recently killed four tribal police officers. They headed northwest, crossing the Salt River into Tonto Basin.

Na-tio-tish’s band attacked ranches throughout the region. They killed Charles Meadows and his son Henry at their Diamond Valley Ranch near present-day Whispering Pines.

Reports of raids reached Fort Verde. Army commanders dispatched fourteen cavalry companies from forts across Arizona to find the hostiles.

The Trap That Failed

On July 17, 1882, Na-tio-tish spotted Captain Adna Chaffee’s cavalry following his band.

The Apache leader positioned warriors in a deep canyon at Big Dry Wash, seven miles north of General Springs. They prepared to ambush the soldiers from across the gorge.

Chief scout Al Sieber discovered the trap before Chaffee’s troops rode into it. During the night, Major Andrew Evans brought four more companies from Fort Apache to reinforce Chaffee.

At dawn, soldiers took positions on both sides of the canyon, surrounding the Apache fighters who had failed to post lookouts.

Four Hours That Ended A War

The Battle of Big Dry Wash began at 3:00 p.m. when soldiers opened fire from the canyon rim.

Lieutenant George Morgan led the first engagement despite taking a bullet through his arm. Troops crossed upstream and downstream to attack the Apache from three sides.

Lieutenant Thomas Cruse led four men across the canyon to capture the Apache camp. A warrior sprang up just two yards away, shooting Private Joseph McLernon, who died within the hour.

The fighting continued until nightfall when a thunderstorm struck. The surviving Apache fled into darkness toward the reservation.

Medals For The Last Battle

The Battle of Big Dry Wash marked the final major conflict of the northern Apache Wars.

Na-tio-tish died along with at least 16 other warriors. The Army lost only Private McLernon and an Apache scout named Pete.

Ten years later, four men received the Medal of Honor for their actions: Lieutenants Thomas Cruse, George Morgan, Frank West, and First Sergeant Charles Taylor.

After this defeat, no large-scale Apache resistance occurred in the Verde Valley region. The battle demonstrated how effectively Crook’s military strategy had worked against tribal fighters.

Buffalo Soldiers At The Verde

Troop I of the 10th Cavalry arrived at Fort Verde in 1885 after fighting in earlier Apache campaigns.

These soldiers belonged to the all-Black cavalry regiments formed in 1866 when Congress authorized African Americans to serve in the peacetime Army. Many had previously fought for the Union during the Civil War.

Native tribes called them “Buffalo Soldiers” because their dark, curly hair resembled buffalo fur. The nickname became a badge of honor for all Black troops.

At Fort Verde, Buffalo Soldiers patrolled reservation boundaries and maintained order as the Indian Wars wound down.

Visiting Fort Verde

Fort Verde State Historic Park stands at 125 East Hollamon Street in Camp Verde.

Exhibits detail the Apache Wars, Buffalo Soldiers, and daily military routines on the frontier. The parade ground remains much as it appeared when soldiers drilled there.

The park opens daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission costs $7 for adults and $4 for youth ages 7-13.

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