The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-10-15
Forsyth's Indian Fight-InterestinS De-
scrtption OF il.

The Phlladelphla Nortn AUeTlchu PTluls
letter dated at Fort Wallace, Kansas, October
l, from Lieutenant Colonel Carpenter, who
went to the relief of Colonel Forsyth, when re-
Gently attacked and surrounded by Indians
upon an island in "Bob-Tail Creek" First de-
scribing his search after Forsyth's party, its
exact whereabouts being unknown, and their
arrival in the vicinity of the creek, he proceeds
10 say:
In the centre of the creek observed little
grassy place or island, with few trees on 1t,
and some objects which appeared to be NOV
ing. The guide pointed towards them and u.s.
sured us they were Forsyth's men. We in
stantly rushed forward, and on nearing the
place were received by the whole party with
loud cheers. I threw up my cap and shouted,
and never felt more excited iE my life. These
men, in this out-o(-the-way place, seemed to
me like party on wide ocean, Tor they GER
tainly we're as helpless.
in the morning, when they were encamped on
the side OF the creek-a party of about fftee1
attempting to run off their horses. Forsyth
had been following n trail Tor several days, ana
finally was led iuto this wild co 1ntry by 1t.
The signs became more frequent and fresh,
and the most experienced men with MIN pre-
dicted that they would soon fall upon large
village. When the Indians ran off the four or
five head of stock on the morning OF the l7th,
an old scout, named Sharp, instantly shouted
that the Indians would soon appear In force,
and advised them to proceed to a little grassy
island in the centre Of the dry bed. Forsyth
ordered them there, and they tied their horses
to lew scanty scrubs near sy. 10 ABOUT nye
minutes a very large force of indians were
seen moving down to the creek by q ravlne
about half mile distant, and some also ap-
peared on the ravlne behind. The shout was
raised 10 dig in the sand and get under cover.
Every man dug for his life-using fingers,
spurs and knives. Before they got any protec-
ton, however, the Indians charged them, about
five hundred strong, some OF the warriors COM
ing within few feet IN the most reckless man.
ner.
A close fire with breech-loaders caused
number to fall from their horses, dead and
wounded, and forced the rest to turn back.
This gave the party time to dig their holes
deeper. Two men were killed about this time.
FORSYTH was shot in the right thigh, flesh
breaking the bone. Grover. one OF the scouts,
eallantly exposed himself in digging cover
for FORSYTH, so as to get him away from the
balls. The squaws, in large numbers, appear
ed on the hills around, singing songs, laugh
ing, and smoking pipes, evidently for the pur-
pose of seeing the warriors take the soaps; A
Cheyenne chief harangued the |drriuTs within
hearing, and was understood by one OF the
scouts to tell the Indians that these men had
dared TO come into their country and to dis
turb their peace; that they we're few and the
Indians many, and that they must go in bold
ly and take their scalps.
A bic medicine man appeared about five hun
dred yards distant, beating his drum and shak-
ing his shield, to assure them of their safety
from bullets by his charms. The Indians, thus
induced to do their best, charged again and
again, only to lose largo numbers. About two
hundred then dismounted and crept along ra-
vines and undor c5ver to within good rifle
range, and kept up constant fire whenever
any one raised hand or foot. Lieutenant Becchcr
was mortally wounded in the back, and the sur
geop, DR.. Moore, shot through the head. Every
officer was killed or wounded, and about sew
enteen out Of fifty Of the men. The Indians
drew of after dark with the main bo ly, but LETT
enough to harass them all night. Every horse
and lnulc was killed in this days fight, a3d 10y
where they we're tied Colonel Forsyth sent
two men TO seek for assistance as soon as 1t
was dark, and these mon succeeded in getting
through tn, Indians and reaching Fort Wal,
| lace and in bringing the Information That led
to our expedition.
Toward evening the shouts and songs of the
souaws turned into dismal w0ing and mourn
ing cry for the dead. One OF them was heard
! TO crv, "Nly child my child!' T. The next day
skirmisliing fire was kept up, and the same
thing the next day, but at this time it was evl-
dent that the main bodyha left, aud that
small portion had remained to observe thcm
In tho meantime, as their rations had given
ont, they had 70 live on horse1esh, without
salt or pepper. and when reached them, on
the 25th, the meat had become putrid. Scv-
cral of the men told me that they were unable,
for the last twenty-four hours, to keep 1t on
their stomuchs. You can imagine the delight
they manifested on the arrival OF our party
Forsyth took me by the hand and. seemed
| quite affected. He told me that it seemed
fated that we should meet in places out OF the
way and far apart. He and two other badly
wounded men were lying in a square hole
scooped out in the sand, within few feet OF
their dead horses, which lay around thcm IN
scmi-circlc, and impregnated the air with
terrible stencil.
I Immediately selected place near by, and
had several tents erected, the wounded men
carried over, and the rest removed to more
salubrious air. Three dead Indians were buried
bv them, but over thirty others were killed and
carried away by their comrades, and about sov-
enty wounded. The sayases were evidently
badly demorazed, and the fight is considered
to be one of the most desperate Ill the annals
OF our Indian wars.
Baukhead. arrived with his force twenty-slx
hours after l did, bringing with him two COM
panies OF the second cavalry, commanded by
no less a person than our old friend Brisbln.
On the 9th we turned TO Fort Wallace, and Or
&b,ra 1a