The Lamar register., 1890-01-11
, the hospital at Fort Lyon.

An incident connected with the
wounded in this battle is related BY
K. l.. Lambert of this city. who was
at that time stationed at Fort Lyon
IN the employ OF the Government
In digging graves for the killed i,
was found one grave too many was
dug. The wounded soldiers in the
hospital then played a game of cards
TO see who should finally occupy it.
Sure enough, the soldier winning
soon died and was buried in the ex.
ira grave.
In 1865 Fort Lyon was garrisned
by Company G Second United States
cavalry and two companies of volun-
teers. Captain David S. Gordon post
commander. In the fall OF same
year the cavalry company was re-
lieved by Company l. Third infantry;
with Lieutenant l. w. Hamilton as
post commander On November lst
Company G. of same regiment ar
rived at Fort Lyon, and Lieutenant
f. A. Belger assumed command. In
the fall of 1866, two companies of
the same Seventh cavalry reached
the fort, and Captain G. Robeson,
brother of Secretary Roheson assum-
ed command. Robeson remai ed in
command until the spring of 1867,
when he was relieved by Captain w.
II Penrose, Company l. Third lnfan-
try, Brevet brigadier general That
spring there was great flood in Ar
kansas. caused by unprecedent rains
which caused the Arkansas to overflow
all its bottom lands, with the watertw two
feet deep III Fort Lyon The troops
were Obliged to vacate the fort and
take to tents on the adjoining bluffs.
This abandonment proved to be per.
manent. Captain Kirk with force
of mechanics proceeded westward
about twenty-five miles, to the pres
ent site of Fort Lyon. This was
about June l, lS67-that improve.
ments began which eliminated in
New Fort Lyon. or Fort Lyon of the
present dav-the former abandoned
fort beng known rs Old Fort Lyon
On June IL the post commander
moved his headquarters and com
nand to the site of New Fort Lyon,
where the troops went into camp.
A little later Company G. of the
Thirtv-seventh infantry, was added
TO the command. In June three
members of this company were killed
by the Indians, being surprised a,
Pleasant Encampment. The Indians
frequently fred into the stages, and
these were frequently robbed.
The year 1868 the Indians were
unususually bad. Thev not only at
tackled travellers and freighters along
the routes of travel, but killed ano
drove off the stock of the settlers
K. r. S,zer, J. w. Prowers, William
Bent, Thomas Boggs and Kit Car
sons estate, all lost stock. and sever
al herders We're killed. Sizer's rancf
on the Purgatoire was attacked sew
eral times and his barn burned. Th,
soldiers from Fort Lyod were fire.
quenlly called out to guard ranche
or rescue the inhabitants from th,
Indians. When the danger was tn,
greatest the settlers on the Lowe
Purgatoire gathered at Boggsville
about a mile from this town, for pro
lection and defense, and those il
Nine-Mile Bottom at the ranch o
Urial Higbee. September con
certed attack was made all along tn
line. Thomas Kinsey, Judge o
election, was killed on his way from
Steers ranch to the voting place q
Boggsville. The soldiers from tn
fort, under General Penrose, startet
In pursuit, chased the Indians abou
twenty-five miles south of the fort
killing four with the loss of two sol
diers, yet the Indians succeeded il
driving off lot of stock.
A month later on the next full
moon the Indians again appeare,
about 500 strong. But the settler
and troops were expecting them AM