In 1886, U.S. Brigadier General George Crook leads a march against the Chiricahua Apaches, among the last of the Southwestern Native American tribes to resist the U.S. government’s reservation system. Eventually, the Apaches surrender, including guerilla resistance leader Goyakla, also known as “Geronimo.” Crook sends First Lieutenant Charles Gatewood and the newly recruited Second Lieutenant Britton Davis to collect Geronimo at the Mexican border. As they pitch a tent and wait, an Apache medicine man joins them, and Davis learns that Gatewood, the soft-spoken son of a Confederate veteran, possesses a deep understanding of the Apache people. In the morning, Geronimo approaches the camp and agrees to be escorted to meet Crook in the California settlement of San Carlos. The second night of their journey, they stop at the Overland Way Station, where City Marshal Joe Hawkins orders Geronimo’s arrest, citing “murder of white citizens, horse thievery, and hostile Indianism.” Geronimo draws his gun and Hawkins leaves, vowing, “Justice will be served.” As they continue through the desert, evading a band of outlaws near Tombstone, Arizona, Geronimo grows to trust Gatewood. In San Carlos, Crook accepts Geronimo’s surrender, but clearly respects the Apache’s reputation as a great warrior. When the Chiricahua tribe is relocated to the corn farming reservation of Turkey Creek, Geronimo requests that Davis personally oversee the land. Six weeks later, Gatewood visits the reservation and discovers that the land is not big or fertile enough to sustain the overcrowded population. Gatewood asks Geronimo about rumors that the Apache are planning another uprising under the leadership of a medicine man called “The Dreamer.” Hoping to squash potential rebellion, Crook sends soldiers to arrest the Dreamer, and a fight breaks out, resulting in several fatalities. Geronimo flees Turkey Creek, accompanied by almost half of the reservation. As the Chiricahua move east, they pillage white settlements established on stolen Apache land. Gatewood and Davis pursue with the help of Army Apache scout Sergeant Dutchy. The men are soon joined by Crook’s experienced friend, “Apache hunter” Al Sieber, and eventually catch up with Geronimo in Mexico. As punishment for Geronimo’s flight, Crook orders the Chiricahua relocate to Florida, threatening war if they do not comply. Those who respect Crook consent, but Geronimo and a small band of followers break their word and escape again. Humiliated by the betrayal, Crook resigns from his role as commander and is replaced by Brigadier General Nelson Miles. Determined to use stricter methods to track down Geronimo, Miles dismisses Gatewood and Davis in favor of his own men. Without the help of Apache scouts, however, Geronimo vanishes in the mountains of Mexico. After five months, Miles decides to use Gatewood’s somewhat friendly relationship with Geronimo to his advantage, and assigns the lieutenant to hunt the Apache himself. Miles orders Gatewood to offer a deal: the Chiricahua will be sentenced to two years in a Florida prison with the promise of land ownership when they return. Although he agrees to the assignment, Gatewood doubts the government’s intent to keep its word. Gatewood recruits Davis, an Apache scout named Chato, and Sieber, who emerges from retirement in Tucson. After four weeks of searching across Mexico, they encounter a village of Yaqui Indians slaughtered by a group of Texas bounty hunters. Disgusted, the men follow the killers to a cantina and shoot them. Sieber is injured in the crossfire, and dies from his wounds. When the remaining soldiers reach a steep bluff near Geronimo’s camp, Gatewood and Chato leave Davis behind to stay with their supplies. At the top of the mountain, Geronimo reveals how he has been seeking revenge for his wife and daughters, who were killed by Mexicans. Offering a crucifix pendant in his outstretched hand, Gatewood implores Geronimo to end the fighting. On September 4, 1886, Geronimo and his thirty-four followers surrender to Gen. Miles. Despite his success, Gatewood is transferred to a remote garrison in Wyoming, while all Chiricahua Army scouts are arrested and sent to prison in Florida. Ashamed of the Army’s dishonesty, Davis resigns, but remains haunted by the land and lives destroyed by the U.S. government. On a train headed east, Geronimo laments that the time of his people has ended. Despite its promise, the federal government never lets him return home, and twenty-two years later, Geronimo dies a prisoner of war.