Battle of Hembrillo Basin

One of the largest battles of Victorio's War, a campaign within the larger Apache Wars in which the US Army tried to capture Bidu-ya (Victorio) a warrior and chief of Warm Springs band of the Tchihendeh (or Chihenne, often called Mimbreño) Apaches. More than 500 soldiers and scouts attempted to surround Victorio's camp which had somewhere between 80-120 warriors. Victorio held off the attack by superior numbers, evacuated his women and children from the battlefield, and withdrew successfully. Victorio and his band had fled the Mescalero Reservation in Otero County, New Mexico on 21 August 1879, evading capture, raiding, and surviving. Victorio is widely acknowledged as being one of the best guerrilla leaders of the Apache Wars during the 1870s and 1880s. His two chief lieutenants in the war were his sister Lozen and Kas-tziden (Nana). Kas-tziden continued leading after Victorio's death as did Lozen who also went on to fight under Geronimo.