After forming an alliance with Geronimo and his Apache tribe, Confederate General Jeb Stuart made camp at Tubac while they planned their next move. Together, they turned their attention to the town of Tucson, where there was a combined force of US cavalry and Tombstone Rangers. The combined CS and Apache force crossed the Santa Cruz River, before heading into the desert east of Sahuarita, about twenty miles south of Tucson. There, they set up positions around Madera Canyon that Geronimo had chosen for his ambush.