Skeleton Cave Wikipedia: On December 28, 1872 Crook's men encountered the Yavapai and Apache stronghold at Skeleton Cave located in Salt River Canyon. Crook's force composed of 130 troopers from the 5th Cavalry Regiment led by Captain William H. Brown and another thirty Apache Scouts. The army took up a position around the mouth of Skeleton Cave and surprised the natives when they tried to leave. Surrounded, the warriors refused to surrender and the soldiers opened fire[2]. Some of Brown's men aimed for the roof of the cave to deflect the bullets and rock fragments towards the defenders. This tactic led to the unintended deaths of women and children within the cave. Others, who were personally accompanied by Crook, rolled rocks and boulders down from the cliffs above[2]. Seventy-six dead were found in the cave afterward . A few who managed to surrender were taken to Camp Grant. Among the dead within the cave was Chief Nanni-chaddi, who had claimed that no soldier would eve...