The Lincoln County herald., 1868-10-01
Fight with Seven llundred Indians
Federal Forces Driven 10 a Island
--Iadiaas Suffound then.
FoRT WALLACE, September 20.

Ao0sSoO OOu . V00O S0V0e
FoRT WALLACE, September %.
Col. Forsyth, with City picked men.
left this post on the 10th in pursuit Of
The Indians that killed the two Mexicans
and lot Of stock at Sheridan that day.
Since then no has been over the country
towards the headwaters Of tho Republi-
can. Last hight two scouts from Col
Forsyth's camp, on the Dry Fork Of the
Republican, thirty .6ve miles from the
mouth, aud ninety miles north from here,
came 10, and report having left his camp
four nights before, and that on the 17tb,
early in tho morning, some Indians tried
to run of portion Of their stock. Half
an hour aftor, three or four hundred In.
dians appeared on the bluffs, two miles
of, and camo for them very fast. Col.
Forsyth crossed his men to = small island
and the Indians commenced firing Oh L.ui,
which they kept up stesdy till II o'clock,
after which there were only scattering
shots till 8 o'clock, when they began
sharper and the Indians came on thicker
than ever, uu,il their number was csti
mated at 700. They fought till saudowu
aud then made desperate charge to take
tfs camp but were unsuccessful. They,
however, kept up the fight till IL o'clock
when their scouts left for Wallace to OBJ
tain assistance. They had to crawl two
miles on their hands and knees through
Indians to get out. At daylight they
heard firing back at the camp, seven miles
away, and occasional shots all day.
The casualties were: Col. Forsyth,
left leg broken by ball, and shot through
the right thigh. Lieut.. Beecher was
shot in several places, supposed to te
dying, as his back was broken, and he
begged them to kill him. DR.. Moore
was shot in the head while dressing Col.
Forsyth's wounds. lie was crazy. Two
men were killed and twenty wounded.
All the stock Of the command was killed,
and the men were living on horse flesh.
The scouts only had one and hall pounds
Of it to last them into Wallace. The par.
ty had sixty Eve rounds Of ammunition
left, aud were fortifying. They could
Only travel nights on account Of the dan
ger, seeing Indians every day.
As soon as possible after learning of
Col. Forsyth's condition here, Col Bank
head, commanding this post, sent out
one chrndrcd men, with provisions, ammu-
milton, &c, to his relief, and also scouts
to Col. Carpenter who was supposed to
be about forty-6vo miles west of here
with his company, to proceed to Col. For.
sytl's assistance. A scout came in to :
day at 10 o'clock A. NJ, and reported
Col. Carpenter far OH his way to Gen.
Bradley, from Ft. Sedgewick, to the forks
Of tho Republican. He was supposed to
be in that vicinity with two companies Of
cavalry and three Of infantry, and it was
conf iently expected by Gen. Sheridan
that he would come up in timo to the
party, as they were on his route. All
that can possibly be done will be done by
Col. BanShcad, who is an extraordinarily
energetic officer, aud his command is 10
render Col. F. aid and prevent disaster.
LATER-S o'clock p. M.--Gen. Nichols
has just arrived from Reynolds and re-
ports Lieut.. Beecher dead. DR.. Moore
mortally wounded and dying, aud Col
Forsyth nearly as dead-all lyirg there
with the Indians all around them, } eat.
ing their horseaesh and awaiting patiently
for relief.
Col. Bankhcad and Col. Carpenter will
reach them tonight.
FohT WALLACE, September 24-1he
following only has been received from
Col. Forsyth since last nights reports -,
The last scout left camp on the night Of
tho 10Th. The party had plenty Of am
muuition, and were 10 good spirits. The
rations were all gone, and their only de
pendence was horse and mule meat and
courage. The CoIouel thought if it va.
absolutely necessary they could sustain
themsel, es six days longer. Tho Indians
were evidently sick Of thoir bargain. II
it were not for the condition Of thei,
wounded, eight Of whom are very badly
hurt, Col. Forsyth would come through
to Fort Wallace, as he was confident oil
whipping out the enemy If attacked. The
Indians lost thirty Ave killed and large
number wounded, besides considerable
stock killed and disabled. They reno
we'd most of their dead from the field after
night, though some few were too close t1
cur men to venture after with safety.
It was couadentially expected that
Coils. Bankhead and Carpenter would
reach Col Forsyth this morning.
LEAvENwoRTH, Kansas, September "a
"A special to the Bulletin from For
Hays, says Col. Forsyth, with detach
ment Of City men, is on the dry fOrl
branch ofthe Republican river surrounded
by eight hundred hostile Indians. Col
Forsyth is severely wounded. The Sur
geon Of the command was killed, anG
twenty mon killed and wounded. Troop
from Forts Wallace and Hays on tn,
South, and from the Platte on the North
are moving to his relief. But great anx
ioty for his safety is still felt in the forts
The North Missouri Railroad Bridg
at st. Charles will consist of two dccl