, 1872-12-15

On the evening OF the eighth day from Fort Wal
lace, the command halted about 5 o'clock ~ the
afternoon, and went into camp at or rear httAa
island in the river, mere sandsple OF earth
formed by the stream dividing at little rift
OF earth that vas rather more grarelly than
tie Hsrd in its Immediate vicinity, and con-
iag together again about q hundred
yards farther down the Stream,
which just here was about eight teet vide and
Ihe VatercourEes a ] il this part OF the country
In tho dry SEASON arc mere threads Of water me-
andering along the broad sandy bed Of the river,
which, during the months OF May and June, is
pab1e Of floating en ordinary ship, while, later in
the season there is not enough water to float the
/ smallest roy-boat. In fact, in many places the
stream sinks into the sund and disappears for q
coneiderable distance, finally Masking its way up
to the surface and flowing On until it again dis
appears and reappears many times in the COURSE
of Q long days journey.
THE ISLAND CAMP.
Epcamping upon the baiE OF the stream st
this point, which at that time IVES supposed by
the party to be Delaware Greek, but which was
afterwards discovered to DO AHckaree Fork
Of the Republican RiVer,-ihe command made
the usual preparations for passing the night.
| The point was but few marches from the scene
Of kadders massacre. Ha7!3g already been out
! from Fort Wallace eight days, and not taking
wagons with them, their supplies began to run
low, although they had been husbanded with
great care. During the last three days game
had been very scarce, which fact convinced For
syth and his party that the Indians whose trail
and driven of every kind of game by their hunt
ing parties. The following day would gee the
command ont Of supplies OF all kinds but, feel
| ing assured that he Was within striking distance
OF the Indians, Forsyth determined to push
| on until he found them, and fight thon even
It he could not whip them, in order
that they might realize that their rendezvous
was discovered, and that the Government was at
last in earuest when it said that they were to be
punished for their depredatons on the settle
ments.
After posting their pickets and partakins Of
the plalnest of Euppers,' Eorfyth's little party
disposed Of themselves on tho ground to sleep,
/ little dreaming who was to sound their reVcille
in 30 unceremonious manner.
at dawn on the following day, Sept. II, 1868.
the guard gave the alarm, Indians!"
Instantly every man sprang to his feet,
and, with the true instinct of the frontiersman,
grasped his rifle with one hand, while With tue
not stampede the horses. Six Indians dashed
up toward the party, xattling bells, shaking but-
fa1o robes, and firing guns. The. four pach-
mules belonging to the party broke away and
H6l6 last sE6A Ed41ottIE OfG1 AA6 uAA1s 44A66
other animals made their escape, as they had on
~ been hobbIed in direct violation Of the orders
which directed that all the animals OF the COM
mand should be regularly picketed to stake or
Plcket-pin, firmly driven into the ground 4
disappear in galloP over the hills Several OF
the men started in pursuit, but were in
stant1y ordered to Tejoin the command,
which mas ordered to saddle up with
sll possible haste,, FORSYTH Telling satis-
fad fAo ofn ofa$
but the prelude to q general and more deter
mined attack. Scarcely we're the saddles thrown
on the horses and tue girths tightened, when
Grover, the guide placing his hand on For5yth's
lows: :. Q heaucns, General look at the indians"
Well might he be excited. From every direction
they dashed toward the band. Over the hills,
from the west and north, along the river, On tho
opposite bank, everywhere and IL every direc-
tion, they made their appearance. Finely mount
ed, in fun warpaint, their long scalp locks braid
ed with eagles feathers, and with all the para
phernalia Of barbarous war-party,-with wild
ahoops and exnltant shouts, on they came.
PREPARATIONS FOB DEFENCE.
There WAS but one thing to do. Realizing
that they had fallen into d trap, Forsyth, who
had faced danger too often to hesitate in an
emergency, determined that, it it came to Fort
Fette1man affair, he should at least make the
enemy bear their share of the loss. He ordered
his men to lead their horses to the island, tie
them to the few bushes that we're growing tboro
in circle. throw themselves upon the ground in
the sa1no form, and make the best light they
could foc their lives. In less time than it takes
to pen thsao words, the order vas put into exc
cutlon. Three Of the best shots in the purity
took position in the grass under the bank Of the
river which covered the north endof the island;
the others formed 8 circle inside Of the line Of
animals, and, throwing themselves upon the
sfo'aS & IL iSSsa to lsR thS became s
Throun s from thss hozses ths fn
dams crswled up to within O. short. distance Of
the island, and opened a steady and well direct
sd fire upon the party. Armed with tbs. best
quality Of guns, many Of them having the latest
1.attern breech-loaders, with fixed ammunition
las proof of this, many thousand empty shells
Of Spencer and Hen1y ride ammunition I'M 1l we're
after the hght), they soon made sad havoc
among the men mud horses. As it grew lighter,
and the Indians could be distinguished, Grover
expressed the greatest astonishment at the num-
ber OF warriors, which he placed at nearly 1,ooo
Forsyth expressed the opinion that
there could not be more than 400 or 500; but in
this it seems he vas mistaken, as some Of the
hin that their war-party vas nearly 800 strong,
and was composed of Bru1es, Sioux, Cheyennes,
and Dog Soldiers; furthermore, that they had
been watching him for dva days previous to their
attack, and had called IN AL the warriors
they could get to their assistance. The
men Of FoTsyth'a. party began covering
themselves at once, by using case and pocket
knives in the grayeuy sand, and soon had thrown
up quite little earthworE, consisting OF detach-
ed mounds in the form of q circle. About this
ti1ne forsyth was wounded by a Mimic ball,
which, striking him in the right thigh, ranged
upward, in1lcting an exceedingly painful wound.
Two Of his men Lad been killed, and number
Of others wounded Leaning over to give direc
tions to some OF his men, who were firing too
rapidly, and, in fact, becoming little too nerv-
GUS for their own good, Forsyth WAS again
rounded, this time in his left leg, the ball break
ing and badly Ehattering the bone midway be-
tween the knee and ankle. About the samo
time, DR.. Movers, the Surgeon OF the party
who, owing to the hot IRE Of the Indians, was
unable to render surgical aid to his wounded
comrades, had seized his truaty rifle, and MSS
doing capital service,--was shot in the temple
by q bullet, and never spoke but one inteligiblo
word again.
Matters we're now becoming desperate, and
nothing but
COOL STEADY FIGHTING
would avail to mend them. The hills su1round-
ing the immediate vicinity Of the fight were filed
with women and children, who we're chanting
var-songs and filing the air with whoops and
yells. The medicine-men, = sort ofhigh-prieEts,
md older warriors rode around outside OF the
CONTESTANTS. being careful to keep out Of range,