New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-10-16
COZ. FORSYTHS DASH WITH THE INDIANS.
DESPERATE FIGHT WITH SEVEN HUNDRED
WARElOES--DEATH OF LIEUT.. BEECIlER-
col. FORSYTH WOUNDED.
lFaoM Our SFECIAL CORRESPONDENT

| WARRIOEs--DEATH OF LIEUT. BEECnER-
| col. FORSYTH WOUNDED.
lFaoM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
| Fort WALLACE, Kansas, Oct. LIN my
capacity as a scout received directions TO repair without
DELAY on the Esd ult to Col Carpenters command, then
scouting after Indians 10 the west OF Big Timber, about
50 miles to tie this post My dispatches contained
orders for Col CARPENTER proceed with his company
III 10Th Cavalry and the scouts under his charge. about
II ALL to the Dry Fork Of the Republican, about 80
miles to tie northDOrthwest Of Fort Wallace and to
hasten as fast possible in order to relieve the force
under Col Forsyth. who reported 10 bo surrounded
by about Indians in that vicinity These orders were
delivered about 10 a. NJ the 23d u and we Instantly
struck norhward anxious TO be IN time to help the sui
fer1ng party force under Col Bankhoad. commanding
Fort Wallace, of 100 men and two hOwzers. lett about
the same time from the post the same Grand Gen.
shcydans orders TO lose no time and we pressed on
all day. fast the animals could be urged. until
dark, cloudy night rendered II impossible 10 proceed
further until daylight At the earliest signs Of dawn
we were again tho road. and about l l.. M
struck the south branch OF the Republicans dis
lance OF nearly 20 miles from the Denver Road We here
discovered recent signs Of large body ~ Indians on the
hills 10y the bodies Of or 10 Indians OF least we're
seen. buried scaoldngs 10 keep them from The wolves
with all of the pernphernalia ~ warrior attached 10
recently the wounds md blood saturing Their wrap
pings ana whole Appearance testified The body "f Que
cheyenne chief aud great nrdicnc man o the same
nation, discovered. The trails coming ilom thr
found Colonel For-yths force about 10 hut met
with 40 Indians. Upon reaching ihc high bills overlook
Bob Tail Deer Creek Arnre Fork srangc sight met
eyes the center " the sandy bed little grassy
oasis or island was located with few rhO trfes grow
ing upon IT, On either side 81 the creek was Hat plain
valley covered with grass, aud then bills OF co.I
cradle hight. hciuncd n lie sides Ike an anipthcncr
on tire island Forsyth had made ms stand aud had IN
trenchcd himself ana men IN holes t1Ial%d III tho Saa'
mails O. The party Lay dead Lean 20 er the s
Here zen. originally about ~ IN number had ved
FOR eight days before We appeared to relieve them
casscs near by their ratlops having given out on
the llt the dny that hey were ht',h,", ins S
diet had 10 be eaten Without even sat OF ppp, hnu
with nothing but guupowder 20 make ~ laIahnlr; o
turned the strongest stunhchs, anu u lev n" 1
would doubtless have seen many seriously III Col ior
hole scooped In the sand where their c0iniades ma
placed them for safely party o. 20 g s u had 20 nt te
raised short time previously by Gen Shcldans 1rder
and placed under Col George A. furyth. Major OF Inc
pth Cavalry and Assistant In-pcciorGenoral on Shcr-
dane staff with carte blanche authority 10 look Tor the
Indians in tho direction which might appear most favor
able Forsyth left sheridan city the 10Th or nth.
with Elk days rations, aud marched 70 the Republican,
trail. which led him into the wild country through
which the creek alluded 20 previously lie followed
the creek several miles ana encad on me hght OF tne
10TH the spot where he was found by orr party AZ
indans dashed Into The camp and ran of i've
the signs around them showed that they must 10 near
doadng an attack advised that they should go to the
small island and tie their horses 10 The Trees thus enhbl
|
| adopted but they had hardly reached the spot when
large force Of Indians were seen slowly and deliberately
making tbllr down favIue about mile Distant al
the time number OF tavhges appeared on the mis-
In their Al the appearance OF this Formidable force
one Of the number shouted TO the Others to "dg for
their lives" and every one endeavorod 70 place
with Rniyes spurs or hands. Long before they could
shelter themselves, however about 800 Indians charged
mined TO carry everything before them and a number
rushing mp to within few feet shooting bullets aud ar.
wounded first In the thigh, flesh wound. and I'M
mcdatey after struck by ball IN the left leg break
ing the bone Lieut. lcecher Of the 80 Infantry who nc.
compsncd tho expedition, shot In the back AMI died
through the head mortal wound II of the men were
wounded and TWO killed Al this tcuibo moment the
whole party behaved with the greatest gallantry and
courage aud by tho excellent shooting made by these
perIcnccd naIksmen such number ~ the Indians were
Killed aud wounded that the rest became denoraiized
and finally retreatcd This respite was improved Ia max
ing the inrcncments complete, each digging
Indian women appeared on the surrounding hills,
sineine lanshne and smoking their pipes evidently ex'
dcrs Cheyenne chief, dressed IN full war paint aud
nnSnsea ds Tar 1e a Was ,he.
had come into their country aud disturbed their peace
and that they must go boldly aud take their
! scalps. Another charge was then made. the Indians
and another without success. About 900 then dis,
mounted and crept, nnder cover OF ravinos aud the
grass to easy rife range, where they annoyed our small
party by continual fire. At sunset they made their
ns GhnrSs large n St a OF .s0 were to
datcy by others. In the afternoon at about O'Clock.
tie SluAWs CHungtu thtif OF Wall
the dead, resembling the cry Of wolves During the
night the Indians made one or two attempts 10 crawl
upon the party but without standing
with his gun in his hand constantly the look out The
remained in the neighborhood constantly Skin
nishing, for three days but the goth the last with
drew The day before large bodies were moving,
| with their stock and lodges, 10 the south, IN
/ the direction that Col. Carpenter arrived
| from, 10 relieve them. For tue next five days
the little band awaited In the greatest anxiety, looking
! for relief fearing that their scouts had been
| Killed On our arrival Col Carpenter aud Ieuts Bang
hat and Coleman, and DR. Fitzgerald and indeed every
body, cxerted themselves to the utmost 20 relieve the
sunerings OF the wounded aud living. The former
removed carefully into tents and the latter unhurt
furnished with Pati0ns. Dr. Fitzgerald dressed the
wounds of ALL but forced ampuate tie thigh Of
poor fellow named Farley, who died soon after the
| operation. Twentysix hours after our urival Cob
Bankead made bis appearance as did two companies ~
the I'd Cavalry under Co Brsbn On The 9th the whole
force moved - Fort WALLACE, where the wounded are
doing well m hospital. This tight Is considered one OF the
mos, desperate on record The Indians were determined
To make second Phil kcarIy affair, but failed signay
Al least 30 killed and 20 OF 10 wonnded Their
entire force being over 200 warriors The fact TIA, the
majority OF the party under Col FORSYTH were bhe sho,s,
and accustomed 10 meeting the Indians Was all thM