Apache Campaigns - Fort Huachuca - U.S. Army

Wirt Davis began his career as an enlisted man in the 1 st Cavalry, later to become the 4 th
Cavalry. He accepted a commission in his regiment during the Civil War. He was promoted
to captain in 1868. In Texas and New Mexico, he was recognized for his gallantry in action on
two occasions. Davis arrived with his regiment in Arizona in 1884, and led his troop out of
Fort Huachuca in the Geronimo campaign. He later became colonel of the 3d Cavalry and
saw service in Cuba and in the Philippines. He was retired in 1904 and advanced to brigadier
general. He died in 1914 in Washington, D.C.
Another troop commander, Lieut. W. E. Wilder, gave this description of his part in the Stein’s
Peak battle.
I deployed [G] company as directed by the Comdg Officer, General Forsyth, about 500
yards from the face of the mountains and in front of the Indians center to act in conjunction
with the four other companies which had been sent to attack the Indians by each flank. I
moved to the front about 400 yards when the position of the hostiles was thoroughly developed
then made a half wheel to the left and moved to the new front. Passing over a small range of
foot hills and a narrow valley beyond we continued up the mountain slope driving the Indians
from a succession of natural fortifications among the rocks to the top of the mountain, when
the fire from the Indians ceased with the exception of an occasional shot at long range from
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HUACHUCA ILLUSTRATED