Battle of Cibecue Creek

Battle of Cibecue Creek
Part of Geronimo's War, Apache Wars

An Apache warrior by William F. Farny
DateAugust 30, 1881
Location
Result Apache strategic victory, United States tactical victory.
Belligerents
 United States Apache
Commanders and leaders
United States Eugene Asa Carr Nock-ay-det-klinne †
Strength
86 cavalry ~125 warriors
Casualties and losses
8 killed
2 wounded
18 killed[1]

The Battle of Cibecue Creek was an engagement of the Apache Wars, fought in August 1881 between the United States and White Mountain Apaches in Arizona, at Cibecue Creek on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. After an army expedition of scouts, U.S. Army soldiers 'arrested' a prominent Cibecue Apache medicine man named Nock-ay-det-klinne. The U.S. Army soldiers were taking Nock-ay-det-klinne back to the fort when they were ambushed by Apache warriors. During the conflict, the U.S. Army soldiers killed Nock-ay-det-klinne. Most of the 23 Apache scouts mutinied, in the largest such action of its kind in U.S. history. The soldiers retreated to Fort Apache. The following day, the White Mountain Apache mounted a counter-attack. The events sparked general unrest and led to White Mountain Apache warriors leaving the Fort Apache Indian Reservation to join forces with the Apache leader of the Bedonkohe band of Chiricahua Apache named Goyahkla, better known as Geronimo.

  1. ^ Kessel, William B.; Robert Wooster (2005). Encyclopedia of Native American wars and warfare. Infobase Publishing. p. 28. ISBN 0816033374.