Las Vegas optic., 1913-01-29
bones OF FALLEN
SOLDIERS ARE
FOUND
BATTLE OF CROOKED CREEK WAS
PARTICIPATED IN BY PROM
lNENT OFFICERS


IIutchinsony Kan, Jan 29.-Recentl,
while excayating for a house, a fes
miles northwest of Wilburn, south
western Ford county. some skeletons
were unearthed.
1t is believed they are the bones oi
Indians killed in one of the seYerest
battles fought on Kansas soil, and YET
one which has been almost forgotten
In the southwestern corner Of Ford
county, about eight miles due north Of
Fowler and three miles northwest ol
the town of Wilburn is the battle field
of Crooked Greek" Here, on May G.
1859, was fought an engagement be.
tween the Second cavalry, commanded
by Major Earl Van Dorm, and hos
tile band of Comanche Indians.
The Indians were literally wiped
out.
Overshadowed by the greater events
of the Civil war, this Indian battle has
been almost forgotten. 1t was unique,
however, in the fact that five officers
in the battalion later became generals
in the Confederate army, Van Dornl
Kirby Smith, C. B. Cosby, Fitzhugh
Lee and NJ. NJ. Kimmel.
Chief Buffalo Hump and his band Of
Comanches were on the warpath and
the Major Van Dorns battalion of the
Second cavalry, then stationed at
Camp Radziminsld, near what is now
Snyder. Okla, was detailed the duty
Of rounding up Buffalo Hump and his
band.
The command, including six troops
of cavalry, started out on April 30
1859 pushed due north and crossed
the Cimarron river into Kansas into
what is now Comanche county, about
Is miles south of the present town OF
Protection.
They found that a camp of fully ?,
600 Indians had been located along
Cavalry creek, near where Protection
now stands. The Indians had fled on
the approach of the troopers. They
were trailed across what is now Clark
county and were finally overtaken il
valley of Crooked creek in the south
western corner Of Ford county, part
Iy concealed under the bluffs.
Here the attack was made The In
dians were surrounded. and the battle
did not end-if battle it could b.
called until the band was annihilat
ed.
In an official report of the engage
ment, Major Van Dorm said: "Th,
Comanohes fought without asking o
giving quarter until there was not on
left to bend bow, and would hayl
won admiration of every brave sold
dier but for the intrusive REFLECTION
that they were murderers of the wive
and children of our frontiersmen."
Lieutenant Fitzhugh Lee, who late
became a general sin the civil wal
was shot through the body with al
arrow He was acting as adiutant ant
had just assisted in captuEing som
Indian prisoners when a Comanch
shot him. simultaneously the yolnR
officer fired at his foe, killing him IN
stantIy. Lee was shot clear throug
the body and the surgeon though h
was dying. but he recovered speedilC
A boy trumpeter who pulled the shat
from his body later became famon
os Brigadier General E. NJ. Hayes, {
lis. A.
The only surviving officer Of tn
expedition, Lieutenant NJ. NJ. Kimme
is now living in Henderson, Ky. H
later became brigadier general
the confederate army.
Major van Dorm dated his offici
dispatch, Headquarters Washita e
pedition. camp on small creek abol
is miles south of Old Fort Atlsison
This old fort was on the Santa +
trail about six miles west Of the pre-
ent oitv OF Dodge City.