The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-10-13

I absolutely necessary in order TO pro-
/ tect the settlements. we would have
( turned back and waited for re-enforce-
ments- Some Of the most experienced
1 Indian fighters protested against fol-
/ lowing an overwhelming force. but we
proceeded cautiously. On the afternoon
Of September IA the party found itself
out OF supplies. and we went into camp.
The spot chosen was where the
Arickaree enters the Republican river.
In the middle of the channel was a
! sandy island, surrounded by about four
inches OF water. There were no river
banks to cus Off the view. During the
/ right arose several times to inspect
the guard
We tethered our horses and mules in
a circle around us and in case Of at
tack every man was directed to dig a
hole IN the sand as a rifle pit At day
break trouble began A dozen Indians
appeared with bells and dried skins tied
to the sides Of their horses to make a
noise and stampede our animals In a
few minutes We found ourselves com
pletely surrounded by hundreds Of saw
ages The island was about 500 feet long
and so or 20 feet wide. We were in a
tight place, and the men were or
dered to lie down. tying their horses in
a circle The fight began soon after
daylight. The Indians were painted for
battle. and yelled like demons l was
shot through the leg. the bullet breaking
the bone just below the knee. About 9
O'Clock the last horse went down. The
them remark in English.
There goes the last horse, any
how
Lieut.. Beecher. my second in com
mand. was shot through the spine.
received a bullet in my thigh. but re-
covered after a terrific charge had been
repuIsed, TO see the Indians mounting
their ponies for another rush / told my
men to reserve their fire until command
was given. for felt this would be a de-
cisive moment.
In al my experience on the border
never saw such a charge. Fully 500
naked savagss hurled themselves at US
with all the rage Of devils. They were
led by Roman Nose and by a celebrated
medicine man When the Indians broke
Is bodies lay before US, some of them so
close we could touch them with our
rifles The shouts and walls OF the In
dian squaWS were terrible AfterWard
another great charge was made. but
when the smoke cleared away Roman
Nose lay dead in the sunlight. They
tried again before dark. but broke at
a distance of 40 feet. Lieut.. eBeecher. DR..
8foores and five men were dead. Nine
men and myself We're wounded had
received a third bullet that struck me
on the head. innicting a scalp wound"
The general removed his hat. as he
made the last remark The course Of the
bullet could be easily traced
The next day the Indians renewed the
attack but made no more general
charges. Two scouts were dispatched
CHI irA2 the night Tor roEl " ailace. Ilu
miles away. to summon assistance. The
second night another detail was started
toward the fort.
The party subsisted on horse and mule
meat. but on the fourth day the meat
began 10 purify, and for four days not
a mouthful of food was found in the
desolate camp. On the morning of the
eighth day the relief column arrived.
and the devoted band was saved
It was two years before General For
syth recovered from his wounds One
day in Denver. years after the battle.
the general met a Cheyenne chief who
participated in the fight The chief said
the re were $40 warriors in the Indian
camp Seventy-five warriors were killed
and heaps were wounded. The chief
told the general that if the soldiers had
left the island every one Of them would
have been slaughtered, as an ambush
had been prepared with that object in
view