Tomahawk Trail (1957) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Davenport loses command after collapsing from sunstroke during the desert march. His poor judgment during the Apache attack already caused the loss of ammunition and supply wagons, and when he later accuses Ellen Carter of being an Apache squaw and orders both women bound, Sergeant McCoy openly defies him and takes over leadership. Davenport's physical collapse, combined with his incompetent leadership decisions, leaves McCoy in effective command.

• lieutenant davenport
• sunstroke
• command
• sergeant mccoy
• desert march

McCoy seizes command when Davenport, suffering from heat exhaustion, makes what McCoy considers an unjust and capricious order, binding both Ellen Carter and Tula after accusing Ellen of consorting with the Apache. McCoy refuses to follow this order and openly challenges Davenport's authority. When Davenport subsequently collapses from sunstroke, McCoy is already in control of the unit and the men rally behind him.

• sergeant mccoy
• lieutenant davenport
• mutiny
• leadership
• take command

Tula remains silent because she promised McCoy she would not cry out, which would alert the nearby Apache to their position and endanger the entire unit. Despite being assaulted by Private Barrow, she keeps her silence to protect the soldiers from discovery, demonstrating her loyalty to McCoy and the group even in danger.

• tula
• barrow
• assault
• silence
• promise
• apache

Victorio stops the attack when he discovers that Tula, his daughter, is inside the fort. After Tula climbs the wall to reach him, she is seized by two braves who bring her to Victorio. Upon reuniting with his daughter, Victorio chooses to end the assault rather than risk her life in further fighting, leading the Indians to ride away.

• victorio
• tula
• apache attack
• daughter
• fort bowie
• end attack

Ellen kills Macy in self-defense during a night assault when he attacks her. She successfully defends herself against his attempt to assault her, killing him in the struggle. This violent encounter occurs while the fort is under siege and highlights the desperate circumstances facing the defenders.

• ellen carter
• macy
• self-defense
• kill
• assault
• fort bowie

After reaching Fort Bowie and discovering the garrison massacred, McCoy initially considers pushing on toward Fort Benson. However, after conferring with his remaining men, he chooses to stay and defend the abandoned fort rather than leave it vulnerable. He organizes the survivors for a desperate defense, taking charge of the situation despite knowing Davenport plans a court-martial if they survive.

• mccoy
• fort bowie
• defend
• stay
• garrison massacred
• decision

The garrison at Fort Bowie has been slaughtered by an Apache attack before the patrol arrives. The exact details of the massacre are not fully explained in the narrative, but the Apache have clearly overrun the fort, killing all the soldiers stationed there. This discovery shocks the arriving party and forces McCoy's men to prepare for their own defense against continuing attacks.

• fort bowie
• garrison
• massacred
• apache attack
• arrival

Davenport is killed during an Apache assault on Fort Bowie when he is struck by an arrow. Prior to his death, he had recovered somewhat from his sunstroke and was raving at the dead commander upon discovering the massacre. His death occurs during the siege as the Indians attack the fort, and he becomes one of the casualties in the final confrontation.

• davenport
• death
• arrow
• apache attack
• killed
• fort bowie

Tula climbs the fort wall despite the danger because she wants to reach her father, Apache chief Victorio, and try to end the warfare between the Indians and the whites. She takes a significant risk to reach him, believing she can convince him to stop the attack. However, two braves seize her and take her to Victorio, leading to their reunion and his decision to halt the assault.

• tula
• victorio
• climb wall
• father
• apache chief
• peace

Ellen asks Tula to plead with Victorio because she has fallen in love with McCoy and wants to stop the violence that threatens his life. By convincing Tula to use her influence with her father, Ellen hopes to end the Apache attacks and save McCoy and the remaining soldiers. This request also reflects Ellen's desire for peace rather than continued conflict.

• ellen
• tula
• victorio
• peace
• love
• mccoy
• beg
• warfare

Miller blames McCoy for the catastrophic state of affairs because Davenport, whom Miller considers his superior, has collapsed from sunstroke and is in poor condition. Miller holds McCoy responsible for the chain of events, including the loss of supplies during the initial Apache attack and the subsequent deterioration of leadership. This blame creates tension among the soldiers even as they prepare to defend the fort.

• miller
• mccoy
• blame
• davenport
• leadership
• criticism

McCoy worries that when Davenport recovers and the surviving soldiers return to headquarters, Davenport will press charges against him for insubordination and seizing command without proper authority. McCoy's open defiance of Davenport's orders, especially regarding the binding of the women, could be interpreted as a mutiny. However, Private Reynolds reassures him that his actions were justified under the circumstances, and Miller later pledges support at any inquiry.

• mccoy
• court-martial
• fear
• davenport
• inquiry
• insubordination