The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-02-12
CLUSTERS FIGHT
AND
FORSYTHS SIEGE
By BUFFALO BILL
FROM TRUE TALES OF THE PLAINS
c,ppyrrsxr isoa ~ wIILlAn rcopY
I TRUE TALES OF THE PLAINS


Three echoes came from three different
directions, the cavalry charged. and
with cheers the fracas opened. Jump
Ing from their lodges. hiding behind
trees or lining the bank Of the little
stream that acted as rifle pit, the
reds fought in vain. Black Kettle
himself was killed. besides 1903 OF his
warriors. The village was captured;
the pony herds were shot, as they could
not be carried away. taking an hour to
kill ST5 Of them. The village and all
Its possessions of winter provisions. In
Guiding a thousand buffalo robes. hun
dreds of pounds OF dried meat. etc..
were destroyed. Over 800 pounds Of
powder and thousand pounds Of lead
were ut the same time captured. Fifty
three squaws and children were made
prisoners, thus entirely destroying
Black Kettle. Elliot and party or
fourteen. who had followed some fyin:
parties. were missing. having run into
a larger band Of Indians In lar~e ad.
joining village. which threatened now
to rush on the command and give Il.
for int. but Custer rallied every man
threw out skirmishing parties ard ad
vanced. with his bands and bugies
playing. and after some sharp fighting
the Indians. believing that he must
have re-enforcements and seeing Major
Bell. with an escort. coming dashinv
with load OF ammunition. which. By
the way. was badly needed. and hav.
Ing Little Rock. their fighting chief
killed. they broke away and scattered
An unknown number were Killed and
wounded during the all day fighting
A white woman and child were found
In the village who We're killed by the
Indians for revenge during the opening
Of the fight. Our loss was seven killed
and ele7en wounded.
Owing TO the condition Of the wealth
er, ETC.. Il was necessary 10 get back
10 Camp Supply 10 recuperatc. which
was successfully accomplished. That
same winter Custer repeated the same
trick on larger village and wiped
II from the face Of the earth and cap
tured Satanta. whom he held until
many white captives were given up In
exchange. After some rest following
the battle Of the washita search
party was sent out TO find trace Of
Elliot and his men. whose remains
they found. the story being afterward
learned from the Indians how catas.
trophe overcame them. Flushed with
success In the Black Kettle village,
Elliot pursued the flying band and ran
into the midst OF big band OF braves
coming TO assist In the fight. They
were seen, an ambush was quickly
effected. and they were surrounded.
Their horses were shot down and 9TH
ers dismoun.ed. and they stood back "a
back TIL all died calamity fighting.
Often the white men had narrow
escapes from determination. General
George A. Forsyth's siege on the Arick
sree river In September. 1868. being 4
famous example.
General Forsyth was In command Of
body OF about ffty piainsmen. en-
listed as scouts. and camped beside
the Arickaree river. small stream In
northwestern Kansas. The Indian,
had been reported as uprising. and the
expedition was projected for the pur
pose Of finding out the true state Of
affairs. II being a season when very
little water was In the river. the party
removed its camp 10 an Island I'm ths
middle OF the stream. There theil
worst fears were early realized. for al
0 o'clock on the morning Of Sept ~
1868. Chief Roman Nose entered ths
river valley with bis braves. squaw'
and children and prepared for an at
tack. Roman Nose was a heroic speci
men OF the Indian warrior, and b,
headed a party Of nearly thousand
hostile braves
General Forsyth Immediately begnr
making the best preparations be coult
with a view 70 terrifying his position
digging rife pits and placing saddles
and other available material In a circle
around his men. There was 20 litti,
water IN the river bed that he knew
hand 10 hand encounters would result
from the impending attack unless tfs
advancing host could be repealed be
fore they reached the imperilcd sol
dIers. Indian shnrpshooters ranged h
hiding along both banks OF the stresn
began pouring into the Forsyth POSI-
ton a deadly Gre at close range. Tn
besiegcll men crouched In the rife DIT
they had dug 70 the sand. their Gre
arms In readiness. awaiting the wor
Of command. Closer came the eaval
cade Of redskins until their fellow
sharpshooters were compelled 10 ceas
firing for fear Of killing their owl
men. Then Forsyth shouted "Nov'
and crash Of musketry rang fron
fifty guns. II was apparent that Cd
Indians were bent upon riding dow
their prey and killing them on the spot
The FIRST volley made no change 4
their intentions. At . second voIle
they did not waver. bot when other
followed too rapidly 10 count the rank
began 10 thin out, and nc last Roma
Nose went down, shot dead from hi
horse. The death Of their defiant lead
er sent CONSERVATION Into the ranks O
hia foIloysYa ana whSo shcv wer