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TUB SCOUTING PABTT AND ITS DVPABTCRB.Daring the latter part of August General Sheridan determined that a thorough scout of the country lying towards the north, between the Smoky Hill and the Republican Fork, should be made in order lo detect the movements of the large body of Indians who had committed the depredations and massacred the settlers along the Solomon and the Saline. For this purpose he directed that a body of scouts should be organized. Between forty and fifty picked men were selected. Most of them were old frontiers men and many veterans of the late volunteer army, some coming from forts flarker, Ellsworth, Hays sad Sheridan, and a few were men who escaped the massacre on the Solomon and the Saline. No better body of men, in view of the hazardous duty, was ever collected—hardy, muscular men, socustomed to every variety of exposure and hardship, and a majority dead shots. At the earnest floUcltation of that gallant young officer, Brevet Colonel George A. Forsyth was appointed to command the party, and was accompanied by Lieutenant Wed. H. Beecher, of the Third infantry, whose reputation as a scout was unequalled in the army. The command as organized comprised forty-six men.• The name which the party assumed was the Solomon Avengers, in allusion to the massacre on that Stream. On August 27 the party left Fort Hays, the point at which they were organised, and moved directly north, crossing Big Creek, the mnddy branch of Solomon Fork and Prairie Dog creek, striking theBeaver creek and thence south to Fort Wallace, Daring the entire journey no Indians were seen, although several old trails and abandoned camps werediscovered. The country was filled with game and the buffalo roamed over (he plains in vast herds, andgave no indications that they had recently been disturbed.At Fort Wallace, this point, the party refitted, and, with the same officers and men, again started, it was on the morning of September 10 that theynow F 1 his is pretty tough, ain’t it f” The chief, somewhat surprised, looked in the direction of the island and replied, “You speak right straight,” meaning that the scjut was correct.At eleven o’clock the savages were again ready and with shouting aud brandishing or' weapons dashed upon the isnud. The men, better protected, were enabled to fire with greater precision. The Indian line again reeled, and the warriors dashed back sullenly out of the reach or lire. Auother charge was made almost immediately, but In neither did the savages display that determination evinced in the first. They were evidently badly crippled. The scouts fought as bravely as ever, losing two of their number killed.Failing to accomplish their purpose the savages commenced firing upon the horses and mules tied to the trees. This was a question of time, as it was dangerous to got within too close range for lear of a bullet from the islaud. Early In the afternoon the last animal was shot down and as he fell a young warrior Jumped up and shouted with an air of satisfaction and fu good English, “There, their last d—d horse is gone.”Between two and three o’clock a large body of the Indians *renewed the attack in their own style of warfare, riding around the island in a circle, each time coming nearer and firing or dropping themselves behind their horses as opportunity or necessity seemed to dictate. 'This was the last hostile demonstration in force for the day. Firing from (lie sharpshooters, however, kept up until eight o’clock in the evening.AFTKR TUB BATTIjK.As night set in Forsyth found his situation to be anything but cheering. The savages were still around nlm. Himself was wounded, his lieutenant dead and his surgeon barely alive, two men had been killed and seventeen were wounded. He was without transportation and almost out of food. There was but one thing ty be done, that was to get messengers through to Fort Wallace. This was a last act of desperation, and to attempt its execution two experienced young scouts, Stillwell and Trudell, volunteered. Crawling off the island, with nothing but their trusty rifles with them, they were soon lost In the darkness. Those who remained now prepared for a siege. The pockets of the saddles on the horses were searched aud all the ammunition brought in. More substantial sand defences were thrown up. The night was warm and pleasant, the wounded w ere comparatively easy.Hn v»t tho v\llt;vhf In atillaiAtia a# a In f»A mhours afterwards in great agony. Before he died he repeatedly begged to be shot aud put out of his misery. While attempting to dress the wound of Colonel Forsyth Dr. Moure received a shot in the head, fell and expired almost instantly. On the night of the 17th Colonel Forsyth sent out two scouts with directions to gel through to Fort Wallace if possible and secure as«istance. They fonnd watoh-tires on all the hills, but by crawling on their hands and knees aud travelling only at night they on the filth day reached Fort Wallace, 110 miles distant. General Sheridan ordered neither money nor horseflesh to be spared In rescuing Colonel Forsyth and his men. Colonel Carpenter, Tenth United States cavalry, at once started with a company, and Colonel Bankhead set out with one hundred men from Wallace. General Bradley nor himself knew anything of the affair until the evening of the 25th, when a scout reached us, aud I immediately saddled Max's and DoneV com-{lanies, Second United States cavairy, and started or the scene, fifty miles distant At three o’clock this morning 1 met Colonel Bankhead, who wos marchihg with all his might for Forsyth. At ten o’clock a scout met us and told us that Colonel Carpenter had reached Forsyth yesterday.'The attack was made on the 17th, and on the lftth, 19th, 20th and 21st there was fighting. Forsyth pad with him sixty men, ail scouts, hardy frontiersmen, who fought desperate Ig, killing and wounding many of tho Indians. After the first day Colonel Forsyth subsisted Ills men on horse meat, colonel Carpenter found them eating putrid meat, and in a terrible condition, the wounued having been eight days without food or medical attendance. To-day we are burying the dead and caring for the sick and wounded. Dead Indians lay within fifteen feet of the breastworks, and the stench from their swollen and bloated bodies and the dead horses is terrible. Out of the sixty men In the fight Colonel Forsyth lost five killed and sixteen wounded. The bodies of all onr dead are too much decomposed to be removed. Colonel Forsyth is doing well and will recover. This Is the hardest Indian fight we havo had for years, and reflects great credit on all engaged. Colonel Forsyth retalued command of his men all the time, lying on his back and giving orders. To-morrow we will remove the wounded to Fort Wallace. The Indians lost a Cheyenne and Bioux chief. The ttloux also lost their great medicine man, whose drum and shield were captured by Colonel Carpenter. ******JAjs. S. BRISBIN.
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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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