THE INDIAN WARS

The end of the Civil War brought a new surge in westward migration. Indian nations were determined to hold on to the lands they had taken back during the Civil War. In Texas the situation was acute with the Cheyenne and Arapahoe roaming at will in the north and the Comanche, Kiowa and Mescalero Apache controlling western Texas and eastern New Mexico. The 4th Cavalry was ordered into Texas to confront these formidable foes. The Regiment was filled with skilled Civil War veterans from both armies and outfitted with the latest and best equipment. On War Department records of the day the 4th Cavalry was rated the best cavalry regiment in the U. S. Army.

By November 1865 the Regiment had transferred to Fort Sam Houston, Texas. From here the 4th Cavalry pacified the San Antonio area and conducted campaigns against Indians along the Mexican border. On 15 December 1870, twenty-nine year old, Colonel Ronald Slidell Mackenzie, U. S. Cavalry, assumed command of the Regiment. A Brilliant leader, he commanded a Union cavalry corps at the age of twenty-four. He would command the 4th Cavalry for twelve years, leading it on some of its famous campaigns.

On 1 April 1873, the Regiment moved to Fort Clark, Texas close to the Mexican border. To stop the cross-border raiding by the Apaches coming out of Mexico. Mackenzie was ordered by President Grant to ignore Mexican sovereignty and strike at the Apache/Kickapoo village at Remolino, Mexico some fifty-five miles south of the border. With utmost secrecy Mackenzie began training and preparations for the operation. On 17 May 1873, six companies of the 4th Cavalry (A,B,C,E,I,M) crossed the Rio Grande under the cover of darkness and headed to Remolino. It was a difficult night march over unfamiliar terrain but by dawn they were in position and on Mackenzie's signal the 4th Cavalry charged the camp. There was some scattered resistance but most of the warriors fled leaving their horses and families behind. The families and horse herd were rounded up and the 4th Cavalry began a grueling march back to the Rio Grande reaching Texas at dawn on 19 May. During this operation the 4th Cavalry covered 160 miles in thirty-two hours, fought an engagement and destroyed a hostile camp. Without their horses and their families in captivity the Indian warriors returned to their reservation in Texas.

The Texas legislature voted "the grateful thanks of the people of Texas for the gallant conduct of Colonel Mackenzie and the 4th U. S. Cavalry". President Grant also sent his congratulations. In the early 1950s John Ford made a film called "Rio Grande" starring John Wayne based on the raid and other 4th Cavalry exploits entitled "Mackenzie's Raiders". (The 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry used "Mackenzie's Raiders" as their unofficial nickname before and during the Vietnam War.)

In August 1874, with the border pacified the 4th Cavalry began a major campaign against the Comanche nation in northern Texas. On 27 September 1874 the Regiment located the Comanche in the Paladuro Canyon of the Red River. Two companies drove off the large pony herd of 1200, while other companies attacked the camp driving off the warriors and then burning it. The Comanche made their way on foot to Fort Sill to surrender.

Successfully accomplishing their pacification mission in Texas, the Regiment was stationed in what is now the state of Oklahoma, when it received orders to march with General Crook north to avenge the massacre of General George Custer and five companies of the 7th Cavalry. On 24 November 1876, the 4th Cavalry located Chief Dull Knife and his northern Cheyenne band. The Regiment rode all night to reach the Indian camp. At dawn the 4th Cavalry charged the village, killing many of the Indian warriors, destroying their lodges and capturing 500 horses. The survivors soon surrendered. In 1880 and 1881 the Regiment was busy relocating Indian tribes in Utah and Colorado.

In 1883 the War Department redesignated all cavalry companies as troops. The designation squadron was given to a group of four troops and the cavalry no longer used the designation battalion. Since 1862 the U. S. Cavalry had used guidons similar in appearance to the United States flag to better distinguish Union from Confederate cavalry. On 4 February 1885, the War Department, ordered a return to the traditional red and white cavalry guidon used before the Civil War with one specific change. On the upper red half instead of displaying U.S. in white, the regimental number would be displayed and as before the troop letter would be displayed in red on the white lower half.

In 1884 the 4th Cavalry was ordered to Arizona to combat the Apache. By May 1884, the Regimental headquarters was located at Fort Huachuca along with Troops B,D and I. The rest of the Regiment was stationed at army posts throughout the eastern half of Arizona. In May 1855, 150 Apaches, led by Geronimo left the reservation and cut a wide swath of murder and robbery throughout southern Arizona as they headed for Mexico.

After unsuccessful efforts to bring Geronimo back to the reservation, General Nelson A. Miles, commander of the Department of Arizona, ordered Captain Henry W. Lawton with Troop B, 4the Cavalry to pursue the Apache. Several engagements with the 4th and 10th Cavalry elements took a toll on Geronimo's band but he managed to escape back to Mexico. In July, Lawton resumed the pursuit. Geronimo sent word he was willing to surrender. Moving into Mexico, Lawton accompanied by Lieutenant Charles Gatewood, 6th Cavalry, whom Geronimo respected and trusted, met with Geronimo on 24 August 1886. Geronimo agreed to cross back into Arizona and surrender to General Miles. Captain Lawton and Lieutenant Gatewood brought Geronimo to Skeleton Canyon, some twenty miles north of the Mexican border, where he surrendered to General Miles on 3 September 1886.

General Miles and Captain Lawton escorted Geronimo and his band to Fort Bowie, They were immediately put on a train and sent to Florida, accompanied by Troop B, 4th Cavalry. After delivering Geronimo to the authorities in Florida, Troop was ordered to Fort Myers, Virginia to serve as an honor guard. With the end of the Geronimo Campaign, the 4th Cavalry was transferred to Fort Walla Walla, Washington, in May 1890, for the next eight years it performed routine garrison duties.