Beecher Island Battlefield Monument

Following the end of the Civil War and the beginning of Reconstruction,the US Army's manpower dropped significantly. With so few troops and ongoing western expansion, to be a soldier on the frontier was a dangerous job. Due to this scarcity of fighting men, Forsyth recruited 50 volunteer scouts to accompany him as they sought to exert control over land that had been guaranteed to area Native American tribes in previous treaties. On September 10th, 1868, Forsyth's force received word of an Indian raiding party and began what might be understood today as a search-and-destroy mission.

The morning of September 17th, this mission led Forsyth to the Arikaree River, where his force was ambushed and forced to retreat. The scouts took a defensive position on what is now known as Beecher's Island. It is important to note that at this time, the Arikaree River was dry, and so the sandbar acted as a place for soldiers to form a defensive position.

Forsyth's scouts became completely surrounded as an estimated 600 Native Americans converged on the area. Fighting continued for at least five days before the Native Americans withdrew. Forsyth and most of his men survived owing to supply and technology, as they were equipped with repeating Spencer rifles and were able to dig fighting pits and used their fallen horses as shields. Forsyth also sent four men who were able to request reinforcements. On September 25th, a unit of African American troops known as the Buffalo Soldiers arrived and brought with them medical supplies and aid.

The names of all of Forsyth's scouts are on the Beecher Monument. Of the fifty scouts, five were killed and at least 16 wounded. It is not known in certainty how many Natives perished, although Native leader Roman Nose was mortally wounded during a charge. The battle was named Beecher Island in honor of Lt. Fredrick Henry Beecher who was killed during the fighting. Tombstones are located near the monument for the five scouts who died.

, History.com Editors. Cheyenne and Sioux decimate frontiersmen at Beecher's Island, History.com. November 16th 2009. Accessed July 7th 2020. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cheyenne-and-sioux-decimate-frontiersmen-at-beechers-island.

ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF BEECHER ISLAND & ANNUAL REUNION, City of Wray. Accessed July 7th 2020. https://cityofwray.org/302/Battle-of-Beecher-Island-and-Annual-Reun.

Forsyth, General George "Sandy". The Battle of Beecher Island (Abridged, Annotated). BIG BYTE BOOKS.

Colorado USGenWeb Archives. Accessed July 7th 2020. http://www.usgwarchives.net/co/yuma/costones/beecher.htm.

Roenigk, Adolph. PIONEER HISTORY OF KANSAS, KanColl Books. Accessed July 7th 2020. http://www.kancoll.org/books/roenigk/chpt18.htm.