Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1868-10-16

Indians at least, were seen, buried on
scaffolding to keep them from the
wolves, with all the paraphernalia of a
warrior attached to each body. These
Indians had evidently been killed but
recently, as the wounds and blood sat
urating their wrappings, and whole APP
pearance testified. The body Of one
Cheyenne chief, and great medicine
man of the same nation, were discover
ed. The trails coming from the north
ward, the command pushed on in that
direction and found Colonel Forsyth S
force about 10 a. m., but met with no
Indians. Upon reaching the high hills
overlooking the dry stream, known
generally on the maps as the Bob Tail
Deer Greek, or Arikare Fork, strange
sight met our eyes. In the center of
the sandy bed, n little grassy oasis or
island was located, with few short
trees growing upon it. On either side
of the creek was fiat plain or valley
covered with grass, and then, hills of a
considerable hight, hemmed in the
sides like all ampitheater. On the is
land Forsyth had MADE his stand, and
had intrenched himself and men, in
holes scraped in the sand, where they
were when we arrived. The horses
and animals of the party lay dead in
semi circle around the trees where they
had been tied previous to the fight.
Here these men, originally about so in
number, had lived for eight days before
we appeared to relieve them, on moth
ing but horse meat cut from the carcas
ses near by, their rations having given
out on the 18th, the day that they
were attacked. This repulsive diet
had to be eaten without even salt or
pepper, and with nothing but gunpow-
der to make it palatable On the last
two days the meat was disgustingly pu-
trid and turned the strongest stomachs,
and few more hours would doubtless
have seen many seriously i'll. Col. For
syth and two other badly wounded men
lay in large hole scooped in the sand,
where their comrades had placed them
for safety. A party of 50men, used t o
The Plains and experienced in Indian
fighting, had been raised a short time
by Gen. Sheridan's order,
and placed under Col. George A. For
syth, Major of the 9th Cavalry and AS
sistant Inspector General on Sheridan S
staff, with carte blanche authority to
look for the Indians in the direction
which might appear most favorable.
Forsyth left Sheridan City on the 10th
Of 18th, with six days rations, and
to the Republican. From
there he secuted the country until he
struck q fresh Indian trail, which led
him into the wild country through |
which the creek runs alluded to pre-
yiously. He followed the creek several |
niles and encamped, on the night of
he 10th, near the spot where he was
ound by our party. At the break Of
lay on the following morning party
If Is Indians dashed into the camp
md ran off five horses. AS the signs
round them showed that they must be
lear village, some of the more expe
fenced among them, dreading an at
ack, advised that they should go to the
mall island and tie their horses to the
rees, thus enabling every man to be
AVAILABLE. This suggestion was adop-
ed, but they had hardly reached the
pot when large force Of Indians were
cen slowly and deliberately making
heir way down a ravine about mile |
Instant /; at the same time number of
;avages appeared on the hills in their
ear. At the appearance OF the for
nidable force one of the number shout |
ID to the other to dig for their lives,
md every one endeavored to place him.
self under cover by scraping up the
sand with knives, spurs, or hands.
Long before they could shelter them
selves, however, about 500 Indians
charged upon the island, whooping and
yelling, seeming determined to carry
everything before them, and a number
rushing up to within few feet shoot
ing bullets and arrows by the hundred
at short range. Col Forsyth was woun-
ded first in the thigh, flesh wound,
and Immediately after was struck by a
ball in the left leg, breaking the bone.