The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-07-09
A BORDER WAR.

next to the Custer Massacre. the
bloodiest battle OF the plains was
fought at Arickaree creek, tributary
to the Republican river.
During the year 1867 the Indians
were very troublesome and early in
the fall they appeared in the vicinity
OF Sheridan. railroad town near the
line OF Colorado and ran of q lot of
stock A volunteer scouting party.
numbering about fifty men, was sent
out from Fort Hayes to pursue the
Indians.
The party was made up OF we'll
trained Indian fighters. noted scouts
buffalo hunters trappers and plains
men. They were led by Col For
sythe an officer OF Gen. Sheridan's
staff. and Lieut. Beecher was chief of
scouts.
For the first three days travel no
sign was found of the Indians but on
the fourth day they struck large
trail
Following this until dark without
seeing Indians or any fresh traces OF
them. the party prepared to encamp
for the night in the little valley of
Arickaree creek. Heavy guards were
posted and the pack mules stationed
to Craze near the mouth of small
ravine
The night passed without alarm. but
just as day was breaking clatter OF
hoofs and shouts from the guards
aroused the men in time to see nearly
all the mules going up the valley on
mad stampede.
The Indians had crept down the
ravine near the herd. then raised up
quickly. swinging their blankets and
shouting Retreating rapidly beyond
rifle shot they gathered the frightened
animals into bunch and disappeared
over the hills
Orders were given to mount and pur-
sue at once just as the men swung
into their saddles wild shouts and q
heavy trampling were heard and the
valley above them was alive with
mounted Indians coming down like a
cloudburst
To advance was madness-to retreat
and escape impossible. At this season
OF the year the Arickaree creek was
dry. and the men fell back across its
bed to q high sandbar an island in the
high water season.
The Indians charged furiously. try
ing to ride down the little party. but
the scouts were finely armed and held
them in check. The men dug little
rihe-pits in the sand. scooping it out
with their hands. Behind these frail
shelters they held back the savages
and tried to shield the wounded.
After several hours of terrible fight
ing the Indians withdrew to the sur
rounding hills and kept up seige un-
til all the horses and mules were
killed. Then large, richly-dressed
Indian. evidently high chief and
medicine man. rode out in advance OF
several hundred warriors and. telling
them the white mans bullets would
melt before they touched an Indian
led them on a great charge. Beiiev-
ing themselves safe from danger they
charged up within pistol shot OF the
sandbar and poured murderous fire
on its brave defenders.
Nearly half the scouts were killed
or disabled and all seemed lost when
several OF the best shots concentrated
their fire on the chief. He thought
the battle won and rode within hun
dred feet Of the sandbar. waving his
rife and urging on his warriors A
moment later he fell heavily to the
ground. and his men, unable to stand
the stream OF lead poured into their
ranks drew off in a sullen retreat, led
by the riderless pony OF their chief.
hA Kills bax
with wild wailings for the lost chief;
then all was hushed and quiet
Now the scouts had time to help the
wounded and count the dead. The
sand OF the little bar was red with
blood, and dead men and horses lay
about in confusion. The brave leader.
Col Forsythe, was shot through both
legs and Lieut.. Beecher was shot
through the small OF the back.
One man was struck in the forehead
by an arrow. At the same moment
rifle ball. passing his face horizont-
ally, knocked out the arrow and
passed. on into the body OF a horse.
The wounded men were deprived OF
the little aid that might have been
given them. for the surgeon. DIR.
Moore, was shot through the head
and was entirely unconscious. The
scouts had scarcely time to count their
losses when the tramp OF marching
army warned them that the battle was
not yet over.
So far the Indians had fought on
horseback. as Indians usually prefer
to do; but now they were coming to
regain the body OF their chief An
army OF picked warriors was march
ing down the valley in solid column
all had darkened their war paint
and none wore a thread OF clothing.
They came on steadily each brave
singing his death song and all unheed3
ing the fire that moved down their
ranks like grain. Again and again
their desperate charges were hurled
ta,k by the scouts, until at last
rushing over the bodies OF their dead.
they reached the body OF their chief
and bore It away. Hardly half their
original number reached the hills, and
before the bar the bodies lay in piles
as II hurled there by some great ex-
plosion.
The frat days fight was ended by
the tablng OF the chiefs body. The
night foil. still and dark. and passed
without slarn- The dead were buried
-. - -. - - - rxxxA