"Apache Skirmish Scenario Ideas Wanted" Topic

Anyone got any good scenarios for around 12 Apaches vs. the same number of U.S. Cavalry, scouts, settlers? I am using Fistful of Lead, but the rules shouldn't really matter.

Pick up the Osprey book on the Apaches. The entire second half of the book is on Apache tactics and examples on their use. Lots of possible scenarios.

1. The Apache ambush in the canyon
2. The Apache attack on the stage station with help on the way
3. The scouts rescue of woman and two little children
prisoners
Apache prusit of stagecoach
Scouts tracking fleeing Apaches
Apaches stealing horse from ranch
Apaches have to reach old Mexico before caught
Captured scouts escape and must evade searching Apaches

Isn't there also the Apache ambush at the river crossing?

If your interested in fights featuring real Apache tactics and not Hollywood remember this, they were not part of the horse culture. The horse was transportation and food for them, they didn't usually fight from horses. Their main tactic was the ambush.

The Wickenberg Massacre! In Northern Arizona in 1871, a stagecoach (carrying a whole boatload of money), had 5 of its passengers slaughtered by 15 Yavapai (often mistaken for Apache) who had gone off the reservation. The passengers were found dead and the money gone, some say it wasn't Yavapai, but the shiftless William Kruger, passenger and shady individual and fellow passenger and retired house madam Mollie Sheppard who perpetrated the slaughter. Sounds like a 3 way battle to me. Good passengers v two rotten eggs (and maybe some added, ahistoric help) v Yavapai ambushers on foot.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. Due to the small numbers of figures involved, I think I am tending towards something more Hollywood than historic. jdginaz, thanks for the reminder, but there were notable exceptions to the rule, for example the first battle of Adobe Walls when 1,000 mounted Kiowa-Apaches attacked Kit Carson's force.

The Kiowa-Apache and the Lipan Apache were plains Indians. They spoke an Apache dialect, but their culture was that of the Southern Plains The Kiowa-Apache had a permanent camping place among the Kiowa. While Kit Carson initially attacked the camp of the Kiowa-Apache, alarm spread to the other camps and the battle consisted of Kiowa, Kiowa-Apache, and Comanche.

1. Apache attempt to steal horses from the cavalry at night.

2. Cavalry sent to arrest prominent Apache VIP on reservation and met with resistance.

3. Cavalry must get a supply wagon or supply mule train to the fort and the Apaches must stop them.

4. Apache cattle rustling.

5. Young Apaches set out on a dare to attack the cavalry, they must return with trophies to prove their courage.

6. The Apache raid was highly successful they have tons of loot (i.e. on their horses, captured wagon, livestock of any kind, captives etc…) All this stuff is slowing them down and they are too stubborn to let is go. The cavalry are in hot pursuit and just caught up with them.

7. Apaches raid the campsite of cavalry patrol at dawn.

The Apaches wouldn't have a wagon with them. It's very hard to move a wagon cross-country in the southwestern desert without a awful lot of path clearing and Apache warriors don't do work like that.

1. Apache attempt to steal horses from the cavalry at night.

2. Cavalry sent to arrest prominent Apache VIP on reservation and met with resistance.

3. Cavalry must get a supply wagon or supply mule train to the fort and the Apaches must stop them.

4. Apache Cattle rustling.

5. Young Apaches set out on a dare to attack the cavalry, they must return with trophies to prove their courage.

6. The Apache raid was highly successful they have tons of loot(i.e. on their horses, captured wagon, livestock of any kind, captives etc…) All this stuff is slowing them down and they are too stubborn to let is go. The cavalry are in hot pursuit and just caught up with them.

7. Apaches raid the campsite of cavalry patrol at dawn.

Apaches lead following cavalry into ambush set by Mexicans to kill Apache.