Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1892-04-21
FIGHTING INDIANS.
a Thrilling Episode Of Border
Warfare.
Tho Battle of Arlckaree Creek, Kan,
Where Fifty Whites Defeated Five
Hundred Redskins n Quarter OF
Century Ago.

many battles between the Indians and
white men in the early days of its set
tlement. The worst of these and, next
to the Custer massacre, the bloodiest
battle of the plains was fought at
Ariclzarec creek, 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, railroad town near the line
of Colorado and ran off o 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, and Lieut.
Bcecher was chief of scouts.
For the first three days travel no
sign was found of the Indians, but on
the fourth day they struck a large
trail
Following this until dark without
seeing Indians, or any fresh traces of
them, the party prepared to encamp
for tho night in the little valley or
Arickaree creek. Heavy guards were
posted and the pack mules stationed to
Craze near the mouth of small ra-
vine.
The night passed without alarm, but
lust as day was breaking a clatter of
hoofs and shouts from the guards
aroused the men in time to sec nearly
all the mules going up the valley on
mad stampede.
Tho Indians had crept down the
ravine near the herd, then raised up
quick ly, 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 Ariclsaree creek was dry,
and the men fc Il 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
rifle-pits in tho 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 siege un-
til all the horses and mules were
killed. Then large, richly-dressed
Indian, evidently high chief and med
icinc man, rode out in advance Of sew
cral hundred warriors and, telling
them the white mans bullets would
melt before they touched an In
dian, led them on great charge. Be-
lieving themselves safe from danger,
they charged up within pistol shot of
the sandbar and poured murderous
fire on it's brave defenders
Nearly half the scouts were killed or
disabled aeld all seemed lost, when
several of the best shots concentrated
their fire on the chief. He thought the
battle won and rode within hundred
feet of the sandbar, waving his rife
and urging on his warriors. A mo-
ment later he fell heavily to the
ground, and his men, unable to stand
the stream of lead poured into their
ranks, drew off in sullen retreat, led
by the riderless pony of their. chief.
The suuaws 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
rifle ball. passing his face horizontally
knocked out the arrow and passed on
into the body of horse.
The wounded men we're deprived OF
the little aid that might have been
given them, for the surgeon, Dr.
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.
20 fer the Indians bed teaght On