From the 1840s onward, United States military forces clashed with the Apache, a group of Native American peoples living in the southwestern part of North America. US territorial expansion and conflict - first with Mexico and then during the Civil War - led to an escalation of hostilities that culminated in the defeat of the Apache leader Geronimo in 1886. Examining the tactics, equipment, and training available to each side for over four decades of evolving conflict, Sean McLachlan assesses how the Apache were able to pose such a grave threat to US forces and how their initial advantages were gradually negated by the cavalry. Featuring contemporary accounts and specially commissioned artwork, this is a revealing combatant's-eye view of one of history's most intriguing campaigns.

Introduction -- The opposing sides : Motivation and morale -- Mobility and logistics -- Weapons -- Conduct in battle --Cieneguilla, March 30, 1854 -- First Adobe Walls, November 25, 1864 -- Cibecue Creek, August 30, 1881 -- Analysis -- Aftermath -- Unit organizations -- Bibliography -- Index.