The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-11
Bill to Pension FOrsyth's Scouts
Hits q Snag.
Fails to Secure Favorable Action
in Committee.
ONE OF FAMOUS FIGHTS
Took Place Near Colorado Line
in 1868.
Indians Were Repulsed After a
Long Struggle.

Washington. June 11.-With all the
! opposition there is to extending the
pension laws of the country to organ
izations not recognized as having been
regularly in the service of the United
States. or which have participated in
service at other times than during the
war of the rebellion. Kansans have SO
far been unable to secure favorable ac-
ton on the bill introduced by Repre-
sentative Charles F. Scott for the bene-
dt of what is known as the Forsyth
scouts"
This organization was commanded
by George A. Forsyth. later general
in the army. 1t participated in the
Indian campaigns on the frontier in the
years following the war of the rebel
lion. It did particular service In the
year 1868. The engagement at the
Arickaree branch of the Republican
river on September II. 1858, is perhaps
the most worthy achievement Of the
organization.
At daylight on that morning, accord
ing to General Forsyth in his report,
the scouts were attacked by a small
number Of Indians. The effort was
evidently to surprise the scouts. and
stampede the animals. Before the
command could saddle up and get
away. another attack was made by an
overwhelming force of Indians. There
was a small island in the stream. and
thither the scouts went. They remain
ed there several days. Rifle pits were
digged, and the bodies of the constant
" falling horses were used as breast
works.
Midway in the forenoon of the first
day, the Indians made desperate
sally and some were killed within
three PAGES of the rife pits OF the
scouts The latter we're doing excellent
work. and taking good care Of them
selves. Fighting ceased, after heavy
losses. including Lieutenant Beecher OF
the Third infantry at o'clock that
night, and rain fell OF the situation
at this juncture, General Forsyth says
in his report:
ssOur situation was little precari-
Gus, out of ratiens, surrounded by In
dams, twenty'-oIle OF an aggregate OF
fifty-two either Killed or wounded, our
surgeon dead. medical stores captured,
every animal killed, and S5 miles to the
nearest military post-per contra.
horse and mule meat was plenty good
water could be had for the digging. we
still had an abundance of ammunition,
and If we could get word to Fort Wal
lace we might look for aid within eight
or ten days.
get through the Indian line and get to
Fort wallace. They made it in three
days. being exceedingly fortunate.
During the next four days the Indians
kept t1p- constant fire from daylight un-
til dark but no scouts were killed, 1
though many Indians were. On the
second night two additional scouts
were sent out to get to Fort wallace,
but were compelled to return. On the
third night another one John Donovan.
went and he 1t was who guided Colonel
Carpenter and the relief party later.
On the afternoon Of the fourth day
the Indians sent a flag Of truce. dis
playing it for half an hour. No notice
was taken of it by The scouts Firing
was therefore renewed. and the IN
dians on the fifth day withdrew to the
hills. On the seventh day they had
disappeared entirely
Meanwhile meat which the scouts
had been eating became putrid on the
fourth day, and no game was avail /
able The men suffered greatly
On the morning of the ninth day
Colonel Carpenter appeared with his
relief party. including surgeons. Later
more troops from Fort Wallace and /
Fort D. A. Russell appeared.
The Indians encountered were the
Northern Cheyennes, the Brule and
about 120 of what General Forsyth
calls sdog soldiers''=the bandittf of
the Indian tribes on the plains
It IS estimated nearly 1000 Indians
participated in this attack. General
Forsyth's scouts in the beginning num-
bered but 81. It is estimated that
in the neighborhood of 40 or $50 In
dians were killed and wounded and
the scouts lost 21. An average of so
rounds each was fred by the men
during the engagement and as the
scouts were all good marksmen the (
slaughter was terrific. Many Indians /
were found almost up to the rude
breastworks and rife pits of the +
scouts
When Mr.. Scott introduced his bill |
in this congress which sought TO pen
sion these surviving scouts, it was re-
ferred to the committee on pensions of
the house OF representatives of which |
Representative P. P. Campbell is a /
member Mr.. Campbell attempted to |
get this bill considered in committee /
and reported. but was unsuccessful. /
He will yet make the effort. but the /
end of the session is so near that there |
is much doubt as to the good result he |
will have. Mr.. Scott. Mr.. Curtis and j
Senator Long have all taken a hand /
in the matter.
Information is that but 19 of these
scouts survive. and II of these and |
the widows of four deceased members, |
live in Kansas.
FOR THE HLAWATHA LIBRARY.