The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-23
THE INDIAN WAR.


General sheridan Visits Fort Wallnce-The
Condition Of Colonel Forsyth-The Kioways
land the Comanches the Warpntl-
Colonel Royals Column the March-FOrt
Wallace and Officers Stationed There.
FORT WALLACE, Kansas, Oct. 9, 1868.
Major General Sheridan, accompanied py Cap tain
Clous, Thirty eighth regiment of infantry, arrived
here to-day on visit 10 Colonel Bankhead, COM
handing this post, and for the purpose OF seeing
Brevet Colonel George A. Forsyth the gallant young
officer who commanded the party of scouts In the
recent expedition to the Delaware fork of the Re-
publican against vastly superior numbers OF the
savages. The General was much gratifed at the
progress In the way OF recovery made in the case OF
Forsyth and expressed his confidence in the success
OF the treatment OF the patient under the supervision
OF Dr. Asch, Of the department stan. Colonel Forsyth,
though improving regards his broken limb,
is suffering from complication OF his condition by
the appearance or erysipelas in the right arm be-
tween the wrist and the elbow. This symptom indl-
Gates the reduced condition of his system. and to
this is solely attributed this difficulty with his arm.
There is at present no signs foreshadowing the
necessity or amputaton Of the leg, and though it
is thought under the most favorable circumstances
that four months will have elapsed before the Colonel
will be able the crutches there seems to be
doubt in the minds OF Doctors Asch, Turner and
Fitzgerald that recovery Is mere question OF time.
The seventeen wounded scouts are also doing re-
markaby wei, most OF them having the OF their
legs, passing their days in walking about
General Sheridan has just received informa-
OF the Indians south OF the Arkansas Fro'i
dispatches from Fort Dodge and reports
to be no doubt in the Generals mind that the Kio-
ways and Comanche nations towards the southwest
have declared hostilities. This VIII result In coalt
ton with the Cheyennes and Arapahoes. These four
nations viii be able TO muster at least from 1000 to
5000 warriors, and mounted on neet animals will be
able greatly to multiply the insecurity OF the
Plains.
AS a preliminary to the war on the south SIDE OF
the Arkansas party OF savages several days since
made dash upon the troops at Fort Dodge, out did
not stop to IRE. AZ these plains forts, called,
composed merely OF collection OF barracks this
IL no unfrequent occurrence, and for defence the
garrs0ns would be compelled TO use their buildings
Tor the double purpose or fort and quarters The
more permanent structures built of stone and
have In many instances loophoes and embrazures
with chat view. The broad extent OF the plains
which the eye scan presents too close approach
without timely warning OF any hostile force.
Colonel Royals companies Of the Fifth cavalry are
on the march havinpei Fort Hays Yesterday Co.onel
Royal VIII follow the line OF operations towards the
Republican as mentioned In my letter OF about week
since II Is now pretty generally believed that after
their severe handling by Forsyth and the columns
which are now operating between the Smoky Hiil
and the Republican river, that the savages have
come to the conclusion that 1t Is high time them
to be getting towards the south. several trails are
reported by scouts showing that large bodies OF
savages have crossed south between this and Fort
Hays that IL is believed II any remain north Of
this they consist merely OF a few predatory bands
which will keep up diversion until the main body
and stock shall have eutied pursuit from our forces
IL Is unfortunate at thus opportune time that there
are not sufficient troops In the department 10 crowd
the retiring savages and force them into light,
which happy circumstance every soldier feels Ia all
that Is necessary TO break the pride and mower OF the
treacherous savage. IL ~ well for the unniatcd To
ask why the Indians not forced into a light, but
when II Is known that the distance between this
eahty ai miles i the average distance between tween me
closest posts, some Idea may be formed OF the
which either forces would have for marching several
days on straight ines and AL angles with each other
without meeting. The columns now moving north
win probably develop whether any large bodies OF
Sayages in that section anu verify or disprOye
the reports OF the scouts.
This post was 100 miles from Fort Hays and fifteen
miles beyond the western terminus OF the Union
Pacific Railway along the smoky it'll; Is situated on
an elevation ON the open plain, which extends IN
all directions for hundreds OF miles, with no signs OF
vegetation but buffalo grass, and, at rare intervals
one or two or half dozen stunted scrubs OF trees
The fort Is on the line OF the overland route TO santa
Fe. Several stone and frame buildings have been
erected the latter constituting the officers quarters
and the former the hospital, quartermaster's and
commissary offices ana two ranges OF com.
living In tents. There Is a force OF several
hundred men stationed here Or consider these
their headquarters The fort controls the
west end of the country now the scene oil operations
by the sayages and ~ almost directly south OF Fort
sedgwick on the Platte. The following officers are
head Captain Fifth infantry, commanding post;
First Lieutenant Granville Lewis, Fifth infantry,
gerald, surgeons; s. b. Lauffer, Captain and Acting
Quartermaster; First Lieutenant T. j. Wood, Fifth
infantry Assistant Commlssary Subsistence; Breyet
Lieutenant Colonel Il. VI. Carpenter, Captain Tenth
cavalry; Brevet Lieutenant Colonel J. u. COnyng
ham, Captain Thirty-eghth infantry; Captain O. W.
Graham, Tenth cavalry; Captain Edmund Butter,
Filth infantry; Brevet Captain ID. J. Ezekiel. First
Lieutenant Thirtyeighth infantry; First Lieutenant
Hugh johnson, Fifth infantry; First Lieutenant
Charles Baughof, Tenth cavalry First Lieutenant NJ
j. AInick Tenth cavalry; Second Lieutenant I. A.
Reilly. Fifth infantry; Second Lieutenant J. ~.
Whien. Fifth infantry; Second Lieutenant |. III.
Orleman, Tenth cavalry; Second Lieutenant Silas
Pepoon, Tenth cavalry, and Breyet Badger, COIN
mandng q detachment or Tenth cavalry.
Summary Of Latest Dispatches Received nt
Observation-Disclosures Of the Resolution OF
the Indian Peace COmiuission-The Kapsas
voIunteers--Indian Agents as Peace Com.
missicners - Employment OF Indians rs
Cooks-Army Personals.
HEADQUARTERS DEPT. OF THR MISSOURI.
IL the FIELD, Fort HAYS, KANSAS
Oct H. 1865.
The Indian tribes seem within the past week to
have become considerably emboldened and in ali
parts OF the Department south OF this point we find
them committing depredatons on private property
and even menacing the garrsoncd posts almost with
tcmerity II the nations keep up this spirit there Is
no doubt OF speedy close OF the war; the greatest
trouble being IN getting them into fight. There Is
..l.t la.