More than 5,000 troops were under General Miles' command at that time, including elements of the 4th, 6th and 10th Cavalry. He gave the principal pursuit mission to the 4thbecause it was headquartered at Fort Huachuca, the base of operations for the campaign.The Army had permission to go to Mexico in pursuit.Captain Henry Lawton, commanding officer of "B" Troop, 4th Cavalry, was anexperienced soldier who knew the ways of the Apaches. His tactics were to wear themdown by constant pursuit.Stationed at the fort at that time were many men who would later become wellknown in theArmy: Colonel W. B. Royall, commanding officer of the fort and the 4th Cavalry, who wasresponsible for the logistical support of the Geronimo campaign; Leonard Wood, who wentalong on the expedition as contract surgeon; Lieutenant Colonel G. H. Forsyht; CaptainC.A.P. Hatfield; Captain J.H. Dorst; and First Lieutenant Powhatan H. Clarke, who wasimmortalized by the artist, Remington, for saving a black trooper during the campaign.With the fort as advance base for the pursuit forces, the heliograph communicationsnetwork, which General Miles had established in Arizona and New Mexico, was usedeffectively for logistical purposes. However, the Indians and the Army were conductingtheir chase in Mexico where the system did not extend. So the most the heliograph coulddo in the campaign was relay messages brought by fast riders from the border.April 1, 1886 was the date that Captain Lawton led his troopers with two pack trains and30 Indian Scouts through the Huachuca Mountains to Nogales, Mexico, to pick upGeronimo's trail. Though various units would join the pursuit later and separate to followtrails left by the Indians back and forth across the border, there were few times that Armytroops and members of Geronimo's band would come face to face.Four Months later, Captain Lawton and Leonard Wood were sent back to Fort Huachcua,worn down by the rough country and grueling campaign...
