American West: 1861-76

Lesson 5: Kit Carson and the Navajos, Roman Nose and Major Forsyth

Roman Nose and a Broken Taboo

As the Indians continued to attack the scouts on the island ,Major Forsyth directed them from a rifle-pit where Doctor Mooers had taken up position. The Indian fire had increased and several scouts were killed. Others were mortally wounded while some received only slight wounds. Doctor Mooers was among those mortally wounded. In his fatal condition, Doctor Mooers may not have known that Forsyth, too, had been hit.

A bullet had struck Forsyth in the right thigh. It had then glanced upwards and imbedded in the flesh. And then a second bullet struck, this time hitting him in the leg, between his knee and ankle, smashing the bone. Then, for the third time, Forsyth was wounded. This time he received a glancing hit across his forehead that slightly fractured his skull and gave him a blinding headache. But for the moment, Forsyth had no time to attend to his multiple wounds for moving towards the scouts were some sixty warriors. Leading these Indians was Roman Nose who was wearing a magnificent war bonnet.

This 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 delivered a second and a third one. 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.

With great strides from the powerful horse beneath him, Roman Nose was about to leap onto the island when a sixth volley ripped into both him and his horse. The blast ended the curse of his magical war bonnet—forever.

Though their leader was now dead before them, the force of the rushing Indian hoard was so activated that it continued on. The warriors were within only a few feet of the firing scouts when a seventh volley ripped into them. Swerving to either side, the remaining Indians were swept along down both sides of the island. The scouts rose to their feet and repeatedly fired into this confused mass, sending what Indians remained alive scurrying for the banks of the river.

As the Indians withdrew Lieutenant Beecher quietly informed Forsyth that he, too, had been wounded. By that evening Beecher was dead, leaving behind an island honored with his name.

Roman Nose and other Native Americans weren't the only ones that honored "taboos." This article will tell you all about that spooky stuff.

A History Of Friday The 13th by Gabriella Kalapos http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/myth... A black cat crosses your path, you walk under a ladder, you break a mirror, so what!? What does this have to do with you receiving bad karma? Well a lot if you let superstitions hold some sway with you, and let’s face it, most of us do.

The source for this section is:

Brady, Cyrus Townshend. The Sioux Indian Wars, From the Powder River to the Little Big Horn. Indian Head Books, New York, 1992.

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