Battle of Big Dry Wash The Battle of Big Dry Wash was fought on July 17 , 1882 , between troops of the United States Army ' s 3rd Cavalry Regiment and 6th Cavalry Regiment and members of the White Mountain Apache tribe . The location of the battle was called " " Big Dry Wash " " in Major Evans ' official report , but later maps called the location " " Big Dry Fork " " , which is how it is cited in the four Medal of Honor citations that resulted from the battle . Background . In the spring of 1882 , a party of about 60 White Mountain Apache warriors , coalesced under the leadership of a warrior called Na - tio - tish . In early July some of the warriors ambushed and killed four San Carlos policemen , including the police chief . After the ambush , Na - tio - tish led his band of warriors northwest through the Tonto Basin . Local Arizona settlers were greatly alarmed and demanded protection from the army which immediately sent out fourteen companies of cavalry from forts in the region . In the middle of July , Na - tio - tish led his band up Cherry Creek to the Mogollon Rim , intending to reach General Springs , a well - known water hole on the Crook Trail . The Apaches noticed that they were trailed by a single troop of cavalry and decided to lay an ambush seven miles north of General Springs where a fork of East Clear Creek cuts a gorge into the Mogollon Rim . The Apaches hid on the far side and waited . The cavalry company was led by Captain Adna R . Chaffee . However , Chaffee ' s chief scout , Al Sieber , discovered the Apaches ' trap and warned the troops . During the night , Chaffee ' s lone company was reinforced by four more from Fort Apache under the command of Major A . W . Evans . Battle . Early in the morning of July 17 , one company of cavalry opened fire from the rim facing the Apaches . Meanwhile Chaffee sent two companies upstream and two downstream to sneak across the canyon and attack the Apaches . Na - tio - tish failed to post lookouts and the troops crossed over undetected . From sixteen to twenty - seven warriors were killed , including Na - tio - tish . On the ridge overlooking the wash , Lieutenant George H . Morgan commanded the first major engagement of the battle . As he exposed himself to enemy fire , a bullet ripped through his arm and into his body . About two hours into the battle , Lieutenant Thomas Cruse spotted an encampment site of the Apaches which appeared to be deserted . He took command of four men and dashed across the ravine to capture the camp . Upon reaching the site , several hidden warriors fired upon Cruse and his men , mortally wounding the soldier to Cruse ' s immediate right , Private Joseph McLernan . Cruse dragged Pvt . McLernan to back to the safety of their previous position . As the battle pitched in intensity , Lieutenant Frank West took command of Chaffee ' s cavalry troop while Chaffee was engaged with commanding the battle . The first shots were fired around 3 : 00pm and the battle lasted until nightfall , when a heavy thunderstorm struck , bringing rain and hail . Under the cover of darkness and the storm , the remaining Apache warriors slipped away on foot and retreated to a nearby Apache reservation , about 20 miles away . The site of the battle is now a historical park , in Coconino County , Arizona . Aftermath . Four men received the Medal of Honor for actions at this battle : Thomas Cruse , George H . Morgan , Charles Taylor , and Frank West . Cruse , Morgan , and West were all Lieutenants and West Point graduates . Taylor was a career soldier and troop First Sergeant at the time of the battle . This engagement was the last major battle between the United States Army and Apache warriors , the wars were not over yet however . The U . S . army would soon begin the Geronimo Campaign which ended with Geronimo ' s capture in 1886 . Even then Apache attacks on white settlers in Arizona continued as late as the year 1900 .