Brown's Cave may be one of five caves treasure caves used by the early Spanish Explorers of Arizona. Brown’s Cave is depicted on the Horse Map of the Peralta Stone Maps. The number “5” and five drilled holes on the map appear near a bend in the “RIO” near the Horse’s right ear which indicates there are four other caves nearby. According to traditional Spanish treasure map convention, these five caves would be banks. These banks would hold treasure collected from the territory. One thing for certain, Brown’s Cave is a treasure of history.
On December 27, 1872, troops under Major William Brown overtook and vanquished Yavapai Indians hiding in a cave. Lt. John G. Bourke, who was with Brown's party, said the band of Indians was under the command of Nanichaddi and that an Apache scout called Nantaje let the troops to the cave. When Brown arrived on the spot, the battle was already in progress between the Indians and the advanced party under the officer named Ross.
The wails of the Indian women and the crying of the Indian children and babies hit by bullets ricocheting from the cavern roof let Brown to order a cease-fire so the Indians might have a chance to surrender. Instead of yielding, the Indians began their weird, half-exultant death chant and about twenty Indian warriors leaped over the rampart of the cave toward the troops. Seven Indians were killed at once and the rest retreated.
A third contingent of soldiers under officers named Burns and Thomas heard the battle and came to the top of the precipice and looked down. Burns harnessed two of his men with the suspenders of the other soldiers helping the two soldiers to lean down over the precipice and to fire directly at the Indians. The other soldiers at the top of the cliff rolled huge boulders on the Indians. The mingled thunder of crashing boulders, the screams of the dying Indians and the volleys of gunfire made a frightful din. Again, Major brown signaled for a halt in the offensive. All was still When the troops entered the cave they found about thirty survivors, none of whom had any thought of further fighting. The bodies of the dead where left in the cave, hence the names some times applied "Skeleton Cave".
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