Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-30
HERO OF INDIAN FIGHT
Thrilling Incident In General
 James w. Forsyth's Career. ,.
THE oHEYENNE's LAST CHARGE.
Famous Indian Fighters Gallant stand Against Hundreds of Blood. thirsty Redskins In . Rine Pit on Dry Fork Tn 1s6s-Hot Fight of Small Band of Scouts.

thirsty Redskins In . Rine Pit on
 Dry Fork In 1S8s-Hot Fight of .
 Small Band of Scouts.
 The late Major General James w.,
 Forsyths most distinguished service
 to Kansas was rendered at the time
 of the famous Cheyenne Indian raid in
 September, 1868, when the tribe broke
 out of Wyoming and came on tour
 of devastation down across Nebraska
 into northwest Kansas and threatened
 to sweep across the state.
 The tribes of the region opposed the construction of the Kansas Pacific rail- road and began to raid and kill over q widespread territory of thriving settle
 ments. Their deeds were such that no white man able to handle a weapon could stay the passion of revenge. General Forsyth, who was then a colo nel, was on staff duty at Fort Wallace and had no followers. but in the ex- citement of the hour drummed up fifty unemployed scouts, mounted and equipped in their own wild fashion, and placed himself and men under military orders. The second in com mand was Lieutenant E. Fl. Beecher.
 The command started for the scene of the most recent depredations report ed at Fort Wallace and struck . trail on a branch of Republican river on Sept IA. They followed the trail two days without seeing redskin, but evil dences pointed to their presence in the vicinity. They were trying to misleadI and ambush the daring party. The afternoon of Sept 18 Colonel Forsyth, halted and established camp on Dry Fork, stream with but few inches plain skirted with hills and dotted with clumps of stunted trees. Late In the afternoon a band of several hun. dred Indians rushed from cover and att tempted to stampede the animals that were grazing near the camp. They were repulsed, and Colonel Forsyth, assuming this demonstration to be the forerunner of grand attack, moved his force to an island in the middle of the water course. The island bore a few low trees. The morning of Sept. IT every man was alert before day. light, and not moment too soon. Tho horses were tied in the bushes close at hand, and while several picked marks men kept up fire on the nearest In. dians their companions dug rifle pits vA Ia plr off fhnv, <, ceive the enemy on all sides.
 The Indians kept up a steady Ire with their improved repeating rifles and coolly took position in easy range. boys with bows and arrows stealing up very close by crawling on the ground. A shower of bullets and ar- rows soon announced the onslaught of numbers. Colonel Forsyth bade his men hold their fire and save ammuni- ton for the trying moment. Not shot was fired until the savages came within easy reach. Then rapid fire was opened, sending down the front lines of warriors. At the head rode the wae chief of the Cheyennes. Roman Nose, a typical savage of the wilds. Roman Nose fell within a few feet of the rife pits. and the painted bucks that sur vived the terrible volley of death shrank back appalled, at the spectacle.
 It was nearly midday, and Colonel Forsyth was not long In divining the true situation. He was surrounded by immense numbers of bloodthirsty rsdl skins. which afterward proved to bs Cheyennes and Sioux over 900 strong.
 Colonel Forsyth and his little band kept up the fighting until dark. making a third charge at the close of the day. The losses in Forsyth's band had been severe Every horse and muls had been killed in its tracks. Lieutenant Beecher was killed. four scouts wers dead in their pits. volunteer surgeon. pr. Moore. was dead, and sixteen scouts were wounded.
 Colonel Forsyth had two wounds, ono a shattered leg bone It was evident that the distressed party would have to stand siege. They were hundred miles from the nearest post. Fort Wal lace. and no other help was to be look ed for. The ammunition supply. thanks to the self control of the men. was ample for some days Of bread thers was lack. but steaks from the slaugh- tered animals would keep off famine Tor days. The gallant leader said to his survivors. We will win the fight yet pr sell our lives dearly in the attempt" Under his orders a spring was scoop d out fin the sand. parapet was made III around the island. and the bodies Df the dead horses and their saddles were placed SO as to stop the bullets. Two scouts volunteered to try and .teal through the Indian lines during he night and summon aid. and they eft at midnight. crawling stcalthily he arst two miles.
 The following day the Indians kept ID a hot fire on the imprisoned scouts md made several attempts to draw hem from cover. On the second night if the siege two more volunteers start d out for relief to insure communica- ion with Fort Wallace in case the 'rst two hsd met with disaster and the econd should be more fortunate Tbs hiri day the savaees kept up theIr denominations. but made no effort te :harge the camp. On Sept 9 the In- Hans disappeared without offering fur. her battle
 On the night of the e1st the scogfD hat had left the island the fryt nithe