Outline Map of the Field of Operations against Hostile Chiricahua Indians showing operations from April 12th 1886 to the date of their Surrender September 4th 1886. Compiled and Drawn by Direction of Brigadier General Nelson A. Miles.

The 27 1/2" x 30" map shows the southern half of Arizona and New Mexico, focusing on the Indian Battles fought against Geronimo and the Chiricahua Indians in the summer of 1886.

The map covers all of Arizona and New Mexico south of 34 N, from Phoenix on the west to not quite Roswell on the east, northern Sonora to well below Hermosillo, and extreme west Texas.

At least 40 army forts, camps, and posts are located, as well as numerous railroad whistle stops and ranches.

In late March, 1886, Geronimo and his small band surrendered, presumably for the last time, to Lt. Col. George F. Crook, but within days, they bolted back into Mexico, having been convinced by a lying American bootlegger that they would be murdered as soon as they crossed into U.S. territory. In 1886, Nelson A. Miles replaced Crook as commander of forces fighting against Geronimo in the Department of Arizona.

Crook had relied heavily on Apache scouts in his efforts to capture the Chiricahua leader. Instead, Miles relied on white troops, who eventually traveled 3,000 miles without success as they tracked Geronimo through the tortuous Sierra Madre Mountains. First Lieutenant Charles B. Gatewood, who had studied Apache ways, succeeded in negotiating a surrender, under the terms of which Geronimo and his followers agreed to spend two years in a Florida reservation. Geronimo agreed on these terms, being unaware of the real plot behind the negotiations. There was never an intent to let them back to their native lands. The exile included also the Chiricahua's who had worked for the army, in violation of Miles' agreement with them.

Accompanying the map is a Typed Letter Signed (TLS) from Nelson Miles to Captain George Leroy Brown, Pine Ridge Agency, S.D. (South Dakota), Headquarters Department of the Missouri, dated May 11, 1892. The letter reads in part: "I received from Captain Maus your letter of April 13th, and enclose to you the following answer to the Indians. I am glad to hear occasionally of your excellent management there, and wish you every success, and I have no doubt the result will be gratifying to all concerned. Very truly yours, Nelson A. Miles, Major General, U.S.A.".

George LeRoy Brown (1849-1921) graduated from West Point in 1872. A career Army officer, Brown served as acting U. S. Indian agent at Pine Ridge from December 1891 to July 1893. He later served during the Spanish-American War as commander of the 4th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry and retired from the Army as a colonel in 1907.

The map has mailing folds and light toning. At the top left edge there is a 2" tear. The TLS is lightly toned. Comes with an engraving of Miles. Overall a fine group.