Dozens of descendants and re-enactors are assembling to make the Grand Reunion of Forsyth Scouts an historic event in itself. As sites in Kansas and Colorado partner in marking the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Beecher Island (The Fight Where Roman Nose Fell to the Cheyennes), people representing the scouts themselves and those who are the great and great-great grandchildren will walk in the footsteps of the U. S. Army officers and scouts and the Plains Tribes defending their homeland.
More than a year in planning, the events kicked off last weekend with a Friday evening reception for descendants at the Lincoln County Historical Museum, Lincoln, Kansas. Many of the original scouts came from this area and native son Mike Day presented the results of his searches of family histories including biographies of selected scouts.
On Saturday, August 25, the flag was raised over Fort Harker, Kanopolis, signaling the re-enactment of the men to sign on as scouts as their descendants are recognized. Historical presentations followed. Sunday morning featured a church service before the scouts ceremonially left for Fort Hays.
On September 1, the scouts will be adding to their ranks at Fort Hays State Historic Site. Reenactment, historians, entertainment, and educational programs will be held throughout the day. On Saturday evening, a Military and Citizens Hop (Dance) will be held to the music of Blackwolf. Period attire is welcome but not required. Sunday morning the scouts will “ride out” to Fort Wallace.
The third weekend of events will be held at the Fort Wallace Museum, Wallace, Kansas. Friday night’s activities will be a Guardians Only event open to the friends of the museum members. (To join, contact the museum.) Saturday morning events begin at 9 a.m. MDT with opening ceremonies including the unveiling of a lifelike sculpture of the Cheyenne warrior Roman Nose. Presentations will be offered throughout the day and the evening will feature Dave Zerfas in concert. Sunday morning a church service will be conducted by Chaplain Stan Copeland before the procession to the Fort Wallace Cemetery and services honoring the men who fell during the Battle of Beecher Island. For more information, call the museum at 785-891-3564.
The Beecher Island Battlefield, south of Wray, Colorado, will host events on September 15 and 16. Featuring re-enactments, entertainment, and vendors, the local community has kept the history of this site alive for decades. The story of the famed battle is also told in the Wray Museum, in downtown Wray. For more information, contact the City of Wray at 970-332-4431 or the Wray Museum at 970-332-5063.
In 1868, Gen. Phil Sheridan authorized the recruitment of civilian scouts to aid in the army’s campaign against hostile Plains Tribes. Men enlisted from northwestern Kansas and the commander was Maj. George “Sandy” Forsyth, with Lt. Fred Beecher, and Dr. John Mooers as surgeon. Forsyth was wounded and both Beecher and Mooers were killed in action as the command found itself pinned down on an island in the Arikaree River for nine days. Also killed was the Cheyenne warrior, Roman Nose. The relief column from Fort Wallace, comprised of the 10th US Cavalry (Buffalo Soldiers) found the men in a “dying state” subsisting on putrid horse and mule meat.
George Custer referred to this fight as the “greatest battle on the plains.”
Representatives from each site have been working for the past year to organize this collaborative event. Major sponsors include the TV Show Around Kansas, the Smoky Hill Trail Association, and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism. Committee members are: Jim Gray, Greg Heller, Marla Matkin, Tatum Sprague-Kimzey, Mike Day, Ardith Hendrix, Jake Bauer, Jayne Pearce, J. D. Perry, Colby Terry, Tammy Younger, and Deb Goodrich.
For more information, find The Grand Reunion of Forsyth Scouts on Facebook.
Photo: Re-enactors kicked off the Grand Reunion of Forsyth Scouts at Fort Harker last weekend.