Ross Fletcher arrives in the lawless town of Santa Fe early in the Civil War. Confederate agents and soldiers are attempting to move into Arizona and New Mexico but are being opposed by the California Volunteers. One skirmish takes place in Picacho Pass where Apache chief Magnus Colorado is seriously wounded.
When Fletcher realizes how serious the situation is becoming, he rides to Tucson to warn the Union officials where he is ordered to join the army as a scout. His brother is murdered by Confederate sympathizers who want the deed to a valuable mine that is in his possess. The Rebels use their promise of weapons to Apache Chiefs Cochise and Magnus Colorado to use the Apaches in their attacks on Union forces.
The novel follows Fletcher’s adventures chasing the violent Secessionists, fighting off Apache warriors including spending a period in Cochise’s village as a captive where the author through Fletcher’s eyes describes in great detail an Apache war dance and trying to find the woman he loves, who has been kidnapped and is hidden somewhere in the desert.
This is a fast moving novel loaded with action most of which is violent and is loosely based on real historic events. ( )