Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-04-21
FIGHTING INDIANS.
A Thrilling Episode of Border
Warfare.
The Battle OF Arlckarse Creek, Kan,
Where FIFTY whites Defeated Five
Hundred Redskins n Quarter of
n Century Ago.

Western Kansas was the scene of
many battles between the Indians and
white men in the early days OF it's set.
Element The worst of these and, next
TO the Custer massacre, the bloodiest
battle OF the plains was fought at
Arickaree creek, a tributary to the Re-
publican river.
During the year 1867 the Indians
were very troublesome and early In the
fall they appeared in the vicinity Of
Sheridan, q railroad town near the line
of Colorado. and ran off lot of stock.
A volunteer scouting party, numbering
about fifty men, was sent out from
Fort Hayes TO pursue the Indians.
This party was made up of we'll tried
Indian fighters, noted scouts, buffalo
hunters, trappers and plainsmen. They
were led by Col Forsythe, an officer OF
Gen. Sheridan's staff, aud Lieut.
Beechcr was chief OF scouts
For the first three day 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 cncamp
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 n small ra-
vine.
The night passed without alarm, but
just as day was breaking n clatter OF
hoofs and shouts from the guards
aroused the men in time TO see nearly
all the mules going up the valley on n
mad stampede.
The Indians had crcpt down the
ravine near the herd, then raised up
quicl ly, swinging their blankets and
shouting Retreating rapidly beyond
rifle shot, they gathered the frightened
animals into n 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 n
heavy trampling were heard, and the
valley above them was alive with
mounted Indians coming down like n
cloudburst
To advance was madness-to retreat
and escape impossible. At this season
OF the year the Arickarec creek was dry,
and the mon &c II back across its bed to
u 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. Tho men dug little
riile.pits in the sand, scooping II out
with their hands. Behind these frail
shelters they held back the savngcs
and tried To shield the wounded
After several hours OF terrible fight.
ing the Indians withdrew to tho SUR
rounding hills and kept up siege un.
I'll all the horses and mules were
killed Then large, rlchly-dresscd
Indian. evidently high chief and med
lcinc man, rode out in advance OF sew.
oral hundred warriors and, telling
Them the white mans bullets would
melt before they touched an In
liam, led them on n great charge. BE-
,icving themselves safe from danger,
they charged up within pistol shot of
the sandbar and poured a murderous
lire 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. lie thought the
battle won and rode within hundred
feet OF the saudbar, waving his rifle
aud urging on his warriors. A mo-
Incnt later he fell heavily TO the
ground, and his men, unable to stand
the stream OF lead poured into their
ranks, drew of In n sullen retreat, led
by the riderless pony of their chief
The squaws on the hills met them
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 a
rife ball, passing his face horizontally,
knocked out the arrow and passed on
into the body Of horse.
The wounded men were deprived OF
the little aid that might have been
given them, Tor 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 II marching army
warned them that the battle was not
yet over
So far the Indians had fought on
horse back, as Indians usually prefer
TO do; but now they were coming TO
regain the body Of their chief An
army Of picked warriors was marching
down the valley in a solid column-all
had darlSened their war paint and none
wore thread Of clothing They came
on steadily, each brave singing his
death song and all unheeding the fire
that moved down their ranks lnko
grain. Again and again their desper-
ate charges were hurled back by the
| scouts, until at last rushing over the