Battle Of Sunset Pass:

Battle Of Sunset Pass:

It was 148 years ago to this very month in November of 1874 that a band of twenty Tonto Apache Warriors were raiding through the Tonto Basin capturing many horses, rifles, ammunition, food, clothing and leaving many bodies in their wake. Soon after reports came in of the active and deadly raiding party close by, First Lieutenant Charles King along with 40 5th Cavalry troopers out of Camp Verde along with some Apache scouts were sent out to bring in the Apache or destroy them in the field. 

On the very same day the soldiers departed Camp Verde they picked up on some signs of the raiding party and soon came to Sunset Pass late in the afternoon. King decided that this was a excellent place to make camp for the night before pressing hard the following day to apprehend the Apache band. After placing pickets and setting up his camp, First Lieutenant King and a few men began hiking up a nearby Mesa to get a better view and vantage of the surrounding terrain. 

As King and his hand full of troopers made their way up the Mesa, he was completely unaware that the very Tonto Apache he was pursuing were actually laying in wait along the path waiting to ambush the soldiers. When King was about a half mile from his camp he was taken completely by surprise as a hail of arrows and bullets from the Tonto Apache came from what seemed like every direction. King was badly hurt in the first volley of enemy fire, having been hit twice in the head by glancing arrows as well as being shot in the arm by a Apache rifle. 

The smoke from the gun powder and the war cries of the Apache Warriors filed the air.

-The troopers were pinned down- 

After two or three minutes of exchanging fire, a Sergeant Bernard Taylor ran through a hail of bullets and arrows to reach Lieutenant King and drag him to the safety of the other men. King was falling in and out of consciousness and was not able to take part in the fight and loosing a lot of blood. Every one of the troopers who were pinned down were wounded but decided to fight their way back to their camp and administer aid to their Lieutenant. As they reached their camp and comrades, Second Lieutenant George Eaton assumed command and fully engaged the Apache with the bulk of soldiers. The Apache however, were well entrenched and Lieutenant Eaton after near an hour of hard heavy fighting even hand to hand was forced to pull back and retire the fight. 

This was a victory for the Apache, the raiding party was not pursued any more after this fight and soon after the troopers returned to Camp Verde. A second military expedition was sent out about a month later which resulted in another skirmish near the Mogollon Rim.

Sergeant Taylor, George Deary and a Rudolph Von Medem were all given the Medal Of Honor for their actions in the rescue of Lieutenant Charles King. 

This might be a small battle comparatively, but it played a large part in the history of our state and that of Wild West and it is my goal that these events in history never fade away. History I believe, is a true treasure. 

A 1943 Western was made about this battle called " Raiders Of Sunset Pass" staring Eddie Dew, Smiley Burnette & Jennifer Holt.

The battle site is in Coconino County near the Little Colorado River, along Highway 87 to Winslow. 

(Photo Courtesy of Tombstone Courthouse Museum)

If while on your adventures this weekend you happen to be near Camp Verde or Winslow, maybe take a beautiful scenic drive & check out this site that played a large part in what we know as the WILD WEST!!!!!