The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-22
Skeletons Found Those OF
Crooked Greek Fight.
Six L. S. Officers Present Rebel
Generals AfterWard.

Hutchinson. Kan, Jan, Efficiently
while excavating for a house, a few
miles northwest of Wi1burn, south
western Ford county, some skeletons
were unearthed.
1t is believed they are the bones of
Indians killed in one of the severest
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 of
the town of Wilburn is the battle field
of Crooked Creek Here, on May 6,
1859 was fought an engagement be-
tween the Second cavalry, commanded
by Major Earl Van Dorm. and hostile
band of Commanche Indians.
The Indians We're literally wiped out.
Five Became Rebel Generals.
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 Dorm,
Kirby Smith. G.. B. Cosby, F'itzhugh
Lee and NJ. NJ. Kin1mel.
Chief Buffalo Hump and his band of
Commanches were on the warpath and
the Major Van Dorn's ba ttaIion of the
Second cavalry, then stationed at Camp
Radziminski. near what is now Snyder
ing up Buffalo Hump and his band.
The command. including six troops of
cavalry, started out on April so, 1859,
pushed due north and crossed the CHM
AKRON river into Kansas into what is
now Commanche county, about Is miles
south of the present town of Protection.
Found 1000 Indians.
They found that a camp of fully 1000
Indians had been located along Cavelry
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 We're finally overtaken in the valley
of Crooked creek, in the southwestern
corner of Ford county, partly concealed
under the bluffs.
Here the attack was made The In
dams We're surrounded. and the battle
did not end-if battle it could be called
until the band was annihilated.
In an official report of the engage
ment Major Van Dorm said: THE
Commanches fought without asking or
giving quarter until there was not one
left to bend a bow, and would have won
admiration of ever brave soldier but
for the intrusive reflection that they
We're murderers of the wives and chill
dren of our frontiersmen"
Tftzhugh Lee Wounded.
Lieutenant Fitzhugh Lee, who later
shot through the body with an arrow
He was acting as adjutant and had
just assisted in capturing some Indian
prisoners when Il Commanche shot him.
simultaneously the young officer fired
at his foe killing him instantly. Lee
was shot clear through the body and
the surgeon thought he was dying, but
he recovered speedily A boy trumpeter
who pulled the shaft from his body
later became famous as Brigadier Cen
eraI E. NJ. Hayes. U. S. A.
The only surviving officer of the ex-
pedition. Lieut.. M. NJ. Kimme1 is now
living in Henderson, KY He later be-
came a brigadier general in the Con-
federate army.
Major Van Dorm dated his official
dispatch, Headquarters Washita ex-
pedition camp on small creek about 10
miles south of Old Fort Atkinson This
old fort was on the Santa Fe trail
about six miles west of the present
city of Dodge City.