The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-06-03
FIGHTING INDIANS.
4 Thrilling Episode Of Border
Warfare.
The Battle OF Aricllaree Creek. kan.
Where Fifty Whites Defeated live
Hundred Redskins Quarter of
Century Ago.

Western Kansas was the scene of
many battles between the Indians ard
white men in the carly days of its set
ucmcnt. The worst Of these and, next
u the Custer massacre, the bloodiest
Latlle of the plains was fought At
Aricllarce creek, Il tributary to the Re
publican river.
During the year 1867 the Indians
wore very troublesome and early IL the
iall they apDcare! In the vicinity of
Sheridan. a railroad town near the line
or Colorado. and ran off a lot Of stock.
\ volunteer scouting party, numbering
about fifty men, was sent ont from
Fort Hayes to pursue the Indians
This party was made up OF well tried
Indian fighters. noted scouts, buffalo
hunters, trappcrs and plainsmen. They
were led by Col Forsythe, an officer of
G-u. Shvridaus staff, and Lieut..
E-ccLcr wa chief OF scouts
For the first three day. travel no
sion wa. found OF the Indians, but on
tHe fourth day they struck 4 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
Ariclzaree creek. Heavy guards were
posted and the pack mules stationed TO
grazc near the mouth OF a small RI
vine.
The night passed without alarm, but
lust as day was breaking Il clattcr 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.
/ l.
ravine near the herd. then raised up
quicl ly, swinging their blankets and
shouting. Rctrcating rapidly beyond
rifle shot, they gathered the frightened
animals into a bunch and disappeared
over the hills
Orders were given to mount and pur-
sue at once. Just a. the men swung
into their saddles Wild shouts and
heavy trampling were heard, and the
valley above them was alive with
mounted Indians coming down like
cloudburst-
To advance was nadness-tO retreat
ard escape impossible. At this season
Of the year the Arickarec creek was dry,
ana the men fc II back across its bed TO
q hi-h sand bar, an island in the high
water season
The Indians charged furiousIy, try
ing 10 ride down the little party, but
the scouts Were finely armed and held
them in check The men dug little
rillc-pit, in the sand, scoopinE 1t out
with their hands. Behind these fraTl
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 "a siege Un-
I'll all the horses and mules We're
killed. Then a large. richly-dressed
Indian. evidently q high chief and med
igiue man. rode ont in advance of sew
craI hundred warriors and. telling
them the white mans rGllctS would
melt before they touched an In
dian, led them on q great charge. Be
ij.ving themselves safe from danger,
they charged up within pistol shot OF
the sandbar and poured n 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 a hundred
feet Of the sandbar, waving his rife
aud urging on his warriors. \ mo-
Inent later ne 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
10y 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, vas 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
rifle 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, 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 marching
down the valley in solid column-all
had darkenes their war paint and none
! wore a thread of clothing. They came
on steadily, each brave singing his
! death song and all unheeding the fire
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