The Battle at Beecher’s Island, 1868, part 3

Leading these Indians that were attacking Major George Alexander Forsyth was the powerful Cheyenne Roman Nose who was wearing a magnificent war bonnet. He had received this power of protection from a medicine man who had seen a magical war bonnet in a vision, then constructed it for Roman Nose. It contained, among other items of nature, the skin of a kingfisher whose magic caused a bullet wound to close instantly. It also was adorned with a bat, which extended to Roman Nose protection during night battles, but it came with taboos.

Roman Nose must not shake anyone's hand, nor eat food taken from a dish with a metal utensil. These taboos seemed simple enough and Roman Nose honored them. By the fall of 1868 he was still "living" proof that the magical bonnet worked. For there he stood, this 230-pounds of bronze glory, very much alive and ready to fight - that is, until he unwittingly ate food that had been taken from a pot with a metal fork.

This breaking of the taboo, imposed by the magical war bonnet, happened just before this historic battle at Beecher's Island, against 48 scouts under the command of Major George Forsyth and Lieutenant Frederick Beecher. It was a battle that, at first, Roman Nose could only sit on his pony and watch because he had broken a taboo. Should he enter the battle, he would die.

But the bonnet that Roman Nose now wore was not the magical bonnet the medicine man had given him with its taboos -- that if broken meant death. And it was later believed that Roman Nose must have broken them. As Roman Nose led the advance, he shook his heavy Spencer rifle and his followers released their wild pealing war songs. And in one body, the hoard of Indians charged. When the Indians were a mere fifty yards away, the wounded Forsyth commanded his men to fire. The scouts poured a deadly volley into the faces of their attackers, then they delivered a second and a third volley. Horses and warriors were falling but still the Indians advanced, closing ranks as their comrades fell.

The scouts sent a fourth volley into the midst of Roman Nose's men, and continued firing. Suddenly, a medicine man and the second in command of the native force went down. The Indians hesitated at this turn of events but Roman Nose rallied them. Once more the Indians advanced, meeting a fifth volley that opened great gaps in their ranks. And then, Roman Nose's fate was sealed.

Go To Page: 1 2