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THE INDIA# WAILdie IIbIm Itrfilri lertait ef Vonjth’i Fight ob Ibe Delmwmre Perk—'TheWarrior* Try to Abb Down Cheef Che Hceeto—The IndianWuucb Chant Victory and Their 8*a** Turned Co Monmine—The Indians Lay Siege to Che Seoate—Hnflerftngn ef the Wounded—The Men Lire on Putrid Meat—The Actlef.Fort Wallace, Kansas, Oct. 3, IMS. The opening of the present Indian war tan been attended by one of the most daring, heroic and decisive expeditions which have yet cbarac-torixod oar Indian hostilities. Surrounded by vastly superior numbers, without food and shelter, ■alies away from qnccor, starving, wounded and sick, the proud and merciless warriors of the f lalns were defeated by a little band who knew their only chances of ltfe were in looking death in the face and contesting with him the meed of victory. The expedition of Colonel Forsyth and his trusty band will ever bo remembered, and the annals of the frontiers will not fail to record their almost supernatural bravery. As bo detailed account has been given of this heroic achievement I will tell the story from the scouts themselves, who are now lying here recovering from their fatigues and preparing for another hunt after redskins.TUB SCOUTING PARTY AND ITS DEPARTURE.NEW YORK ITERALD, MONDAY,pound fracture and breaking the bone. He coolly said, “I am ft hoi again, and my leg ts broken.** Ap-rently In the same volley Lieutenant Beecher wasruck In the side, the ball passing through and frao-the spine, from which he died. Doctor Mooresng tne spine, iroui wuicn ne uieu. iKxtor u i shot in the head and died three days alter.The three officers were now wounded— two mortally. The Indians, notwithstanding their losses, were beut upon another attempt. Colonel Forsyth, wounded as he was, continued tne ootumaud. givinggivingIlls orders through Abner 8. drover, or as he Is known atnoug his comrades, “Sharp drover.*’ drover's experience, daring and determination lilted hits lor the desperate work still to be executed. Orders were given to the scouts to tmprcve the lull in the conflictby digging rifle ntta. Butcher and jack knives were used, drover, aft*ter digging a place for himself, eu larged it sufficient./ and then drew Colonel Forsyth Into it. Here the Colonel remained suffering from his wounds, but constantly issuing his orders, wuich were promptly executed by his trusty scout drover.THE ATTACK RENEWED AND KKPULSED.The men were prttty well covered tiehiikl the little sand hills they nal thrown up, when the Indians gave signa of again attacking the island. The savage leaders made the same efforts at inciting the young warriors to annihilate the white men. The women lent their encouraging words. The chief, from an elevation near the island where he could be seen, checked his horae, and with a bearing of authority and persuasion in his native tongue addressed his warriom. “Young warriors,” said he, “we are inauy anu the whites are few. The white bullets are almost all gone. Ail now that is needed is one more big run to bring the whites in.**The old men whooped at these words of the chief. When partial quiet was restored drover, understanding the language aud what the chief had said, shouted to the chief, “Hello, old fellow, what do you think now? This Is pretty tough, ain’t UP* The chief,somewhat surprised. looked in the direction of thebody of savages, dressed with feathers and painted lor war, were seen coming down a ravine on his left. Having a bad position, Colonel Forsyth fell back a few hundred yards to a little island in Dry creek, where the men began throwing up sand breastworks with their bands. Before, however, they could make auy shelter, fully COO warriors charged them, and allied all their horses and several men. The Indians fell back a little way after the first charge, and the Indian women and children appeared on the lull, chanting the v ar song, dancing, ciaDDinir theirk , a - - clappinghands, and apparently encouraging the warrior* toreuew tne artack. The Indians evidently intendedto make a Fort Phil Kearny affiur of it aud themost skilful and determined fighting only prevented them from killing every man in Colonel Forsyth'scommand. Colonel Forsyth fell at the first fire, receiving a ball in the right thigh, and one in the left leg, breaking it below the knee. Two companies of Indian l)og soldiers presently advanced to the attack, supported by three hundred warriors, principally .Sioux and Cheyennes. For two hours thebattle raged with great fury, the Indians charging the little sand breastworks repeatedly. Hundreds would dash up on ponies, aud having got near the works suddeuly throw themselves off on theBound, fire and sneak away in the tall grass. Find-g they could not carry the works by charging, thehills and ravines were filled with sharpshooters, aud then Indians on horses would ride through the fort in a circle to attract the attention of the besieged, aud as they raised up to fire, Indian sharpshooters would pick them off.By uoou on the first day the Indian womenchanged their war song to wailing for the dead, anddone woman was heard exclaiming, “On, my child! my child!” The battle lasted all day, Lieutenant Beecher, Fifth United States infantry, being mortally wounded by a ball in the back and dying a few hours afterwards In great agony. Before he died herenlt;it«»fllv hftircred to le wlml hthI nut out of his
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New York Herald
New York, New York, US
Mon, Oct 12, 1868
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KS, USA 09 Jan 2021
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