Writing from Ellsworth, Kan., dateline Oct. 4, 1868, a Leavenworth Times correspondent who signed himself as “B” described his trip from Fort Reynolds, Colo., to Hays, Kan.

“B” left Fort Reynolds by stagecoach the previous Sunday, Sept. 27. He reached Fort Lyon, Colo., 60 miles to the east the evening of the 29th. After an extended layover the stage left Fort Lyon on Oct. 1.

“B” was traveling through dangerous country. In early August of an unusually peaceful year war broke out with the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Sioux. From the Saline and Solomon valleys of north-central Kansas to the Cimarron River of southwest Kansas, attacks began on both civilians and soldiers alike. The war spread like a raging wildfire across the plains to the foot of the Rocky Mountains.

Maj. Joseph G. Tilford reported from Fort Reynolds that four men had been killed on Sept. 3 near Colorado City (Colorado Springs). By that time “B” was happily rolling east in a passenger car on the railroad. He had reached the end of track town of Sheridan, Kan., at midnight and expressed his preference for the passenger car over that of riding in a cramped stage coach.

“I think I would take mine out in the railroad. One can stretch one’s limbs occasionally, can walk about if so minded, and if the (Indians) should take a fancy to his hair the iron horse is a trifle faster than the stage mules, which is a very comfortable thing to reflect upon.”

At the very time that “B” was bounding over the plains from Fort Lyon to Sheridan on Oct. 1, the hay crew of Sam Parker came under attack 200 miles to the east, just west of Fort Zarah (east of presentday Great Bend, Kan.). Sixteen mules were taken in the raid, one man was killed, and another taken captive.

First Lt. August Kaiser, commanding at Fort Zarah, immediately set out with 25 troopers to engage the warriors just before dark on the banks of the Arkansas River. However, darkness forced Lt. Kaiser to abandon the pursuit and return to the fort.

The next morning soldiers were suddenly awakened by the sound of gunfire outside the post. Indians were within 200 yards of the fort rushing out of an early morning fog. Bloodcurdling yells mixed with volleys of gunfire were directed at the guard tent just beyond the fort’s buildings, According to the Oct. 6, 1868, Leavenworth Times and Conservative, “The soldiers turned out regardless of etiquette, each one seizing his gun and cartridge box, and with only such clothing as they had slept in, hurried out to their hostile visitors.”

The fight was described as “short, sharp, and decisive,” to repulse the attack. Troopers quickly mounted and followed a bloody trail of retreat, indicating that several of the attackers had been wounded. One Kiowa warrior was found where he fell from his horse close to the fort. Plains warriors were noted for retrieving their wounded and dead from the field of battle, but tall weeds had concealed this warrior’s body.

Later in the day a government wagon train was attacked within three miles of the fort. Four wagons were cut off before they could corral with the others. In the ensuing desperate fight one man was killed and another wounded before the raiders raced away with 24 mules. The train was later brought in to the fort under the protection of Lt. Kaiser’s troopers.

The following day Lt. Bradford Bassett, a Seventh Cavalry officer, left Fort Zarah enroute to Fort Harker on the Smoky Hill River. At Cow Creek (west of present-day Claflin, Kan.), his way was blocked by “a large body of Indians. “ Bassett returned to Fort Zarah reporting to Lt. Kaiser, who responded to Cow Creek with 25 troopers. On their approach the Indians withdrew, keeping in view, but at a respectable distance. Upon crossing the creek, the troopers found two corralled wagons, defended by seven men who had been fighting since 10 o’clock that morning. It was nearly dark, but all were now safe as they were carefully escorted to Fort Zarah.

On the far western plains “B” was riding the rails aboard an eastbound Pullman car, pleasantly unaware of the life and death struggles occurring along the Santa Fe Trail. Before leaving Sheridan, Col. Stone “the gentlemanly agent of the Stage Co., “had supplied the passengers with guns and ammunition that they might shoot buffaloes out the car windows as they passed by. “B” conceded that it was a “wanton slaughter.” The train paused long enough for the “hunters” to secure the tongues and hind quarters of the “poor innocent animals.” As the train ambled across one part of Kansas, “B” and his fellow passengers dined on a “conspicuous proportion” of fresh buffalo meat.

From the pages of the Leavenworth Times and Conservative the drama of the plains played out in side-by-side columns. At the very time that Lt. Kaiser and his troopers were riding to the rescue toward Cow Creek “B” had reached Ellsworth and was penning his letter to the newspaper recounting his return to civilization by stage and railcar on The Way West.

“The Cowboy,” Jim Gray is author of the book Desperate Seed: Ellsworth Kansas on the Violent Frontier, Ellsworth, KS. Contact Kansas Cowboy, 220 21st Rd., Geneseo, KS Phone (785) 531-2058 or kansascowboy@kans.com.