Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-04
HEROES OF FAMOUS FIGHT
Reunion of Surviving Scouts Of Battle
Of Beecher Island.
UNEQUAL FIGHT WITH INDIANS
RecOTIectiOhs of the Fight OF COLONEL
George A.. Forsyth and Fifty
scouts Against One Thou
sand d

Colorado, near the Kansas line, In the
bright sunshine of mid -September. They
were members of Forsyth's scouts, and
had come to attend the tenth reunion and
~fortieth anniversary Of the battle Of
Beecher Island.
Forty years ago these six scouts were
grouped on the bank Of the Arikaree river
under different circumstances Where the
granite monument now stands-a joint
tribute from the states of Colorado and
Kansas-men we're falling, stricken down
by Indian bullets. A few yards away,
across the little stream that is hardly more
than knee deep in its sandy bed. nearly a
thousand warriors, Cheyennes, Arapahoes
and Brule Sioux, were pouring a deadly
fire into the half hundred scouts under
command OF Colonel George A. Forsyth
The Indians had swept down on the scouts
at dawn IN September II, and the little
had been forced across the river
to a tiny island at the upper end Of which
stood a few cottonwood trees. The Indians,
under Of the great fighting Chey-
enne, Roman Nose, thought their victory
would soon be complete. Five OF the scouts
were killed, including Lieutenant Fred
Beecher, and nearly a score were DUNDEE
including Colonel Forsyth, who had fallen
with a shattered hip. but who was coolly
directing the work OF scooping out rifle
pits in the sand
Soon most of the scouts were protected
by rude pits and the carcasses OF slain
mules and horses. Furious because the
small had not been wiped out,
Roman Nose launohe an attack that has
few parallels in Indian warfare. Marshal
ing his warriors in military formation, the
war. chief gave the command TO charge
The scouts knew that the crucial moment
had come and reserved their fire until the
horsemen we're in the stream. Then voll~y
after volley broke forth from the sc..Ipits
and the Indian line broke and swept
around the island, only to be reformed by
the dauntless Roman Nose.
Attempt to Starve Them Dat.
Three times the Indians charged. ana
success would have crown ed their efforts
at the last attempt had none OF the sharp
shooters behind the rifle pits succeeded in
killing Roman Nose Just before the gigantic
leader of the Indians reached the island.
Dismoy spread through the rank Of the
Indians when the chief fell. There were
no more charges, but the redskins. knowing
that the scouts were without provisions,
eneircled the island and settled down to a
siege. But even this contingency was met
by the rescurceful Forsyth. who called for
volunteers to penetrate the besieging lines
and to get aid from Fort Wallace. The first
night Jack" Stillwell and Pierre Trudeau
succeeded in getting through. The second
night two others made the attempt, but
were turned back by the watchfui Indians,
and the third night Jack Donovan and
A. ]. Pliley succeeded in getting away
without attracting the attention of the
besiegers. The scouts all reached Fort Wal
lace about the same time. Donovan ana
Pulley arriving only an hour behind Still
well and Trudeau. who had started two
nights ahead of them. Donovan Joined the
relief expedition and guided 1t back to the
island, and the siege was lifted on the
ninth day.
Such In brief is the story Of Beecher is
and-the battlefield having been named in
honor Of the gallant young lieutenant, a
nephew of Henry Ward Beecher, who was
the one Of the first to fall under the In
dams murderous fire. Ten years ago two
or three of the scouts located by the battle
field, a memorial association was formed
and a temporary wooden monument nut up.
In 1906 the states of Colorado and Kansas
built a monument costing 10000, on which
are engraved the names of the scouts who
took part in the fray and a brief account
of the battlefield. h government has set
aside thu battlefield as a national park.
The graves of Beecher, DR.. Moore, Culver,
FARLEY ard Wilson. who were killed on the
Island have been marked with headstones
and the patriotic people of the vicinity see
ina the grounds are not disturbed by van
delt' The annual reunions of the scouts
attract widespread interest, and the country
people flock to the battlefield for miles
| around and apand aa,.-
with the old Indian fighters and hearing
their version OF the encounter.
This year the scouts who took mart IN
the reunion were Thomas Ranahan OF wis
ner' Idaho; Howard Norton of Tescott
Kan; A. ]. Pilley of Kansas CITY. Kan /.
George Green of Sedra WooIley, Wash !.
II. A. Gilbert of Beagle, Kan, and 7 7
Feate or Beverly, Kan. Of these scouts
Ranahan and Gilbert had not been on ths
tleld since the fight. Gilbert was shot
through the lungs early In the engagement.
but recovered and served as an Indian
scout many years. Norton had an eve shoy
out and Peate was one Of the first men Ia
reach the island with Carpenters relief ex-
petition from Fort Wallace. Pilev. who's
exploit in going TO Fort Wallace for re,,aS
In with Jack Donovan Is out an
the granite monument, modestly related his
experiences during that terrible expedition.
After Relief Expedition.
After the first days fighting" said Mr.
F1ley' 1T was plain that we must Sst aid
from Fort Wallace or we'd be starved ont
II our position was not taken by assault
At the first call for volunteers stilwelI am
Irudeau started out. OF course we bad
no means Of knowing whether they 9ot
through the Indian lines or had been KILLED
so II was decided TO send out others. Tn,
second night 1 volunteered, ana a bIg
heaVy chap who was not built for suct
work insisted in going along. We crawlec
away from the island. but every once Ar
awhile the sky would be Illuminated witt
flashes of heat lightning. which made dis
coVery imminent. An extraordinary briQb,
Hash came, and showed that we wsr,
crawling directly toward a groun NJ In
dams We ,retreated to the island. an,
Colonel Forsyth would not permit an,
more attempts that night.
On the third night 1 succeeded I'm con
Vlncing my companion that he was NO
built to Withstand the hardshlps OF m,
long trip across the plains to Fort Wallace
ne rave place to Jack Donovan. WIN
proved to be lust tha rfOht 49,