The Deserter (1971 film)

The Deserter La Spina Dorsale Del Diavolo is a 1971 ItalianAmerican Western film by Dino De Laurentiis. It was directed by Burt Kennedy, known for his penchant in directing westerns, including The War Wagon 1967, Support Your Local Sheriff 1969 and The Train Robbers 1973.

US Army cavalry returning from a 2week patrol head to a mission finding its inhabitants have been savagely killed by Indians just a short distance from Fort Bowie. Among the dead that sought sanctuary in a desecrated church is the dying wife of the patrols leader.Having bitter hostility for his wifes brutal murder by Apaches due to what he believes was army negligence, Capt. Victor Kaleb shoots and wounds the fort commander, Colonel Wade Brown, and deserts the cavalry where he disappears into the southwestern wasteland to kill Apaches. ........

Source: Wikipedia