Beecher Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Beecher Island Battleground
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Beecher Island in 1917: The south channel of the Arickaree River has been closed. The Battle of Beecher Island monument is visible in the distance.
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 Location in Colorado
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| Nearest city | Wray, Colorado |
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| Area | 240 acres (97 ha) |
| Built | 1868 |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000569 |
| Added to NRHP | October 29, 1976 |
Beecher Island is a sandbar located in the Arikaree River near Wray in Yuma County, Colorado. This place is famous because it was the site of an important battle in 1868. This fight was between the United States Army and several Plains Indian tribes.
The island was named after Lieutenant Fredrick Henry Beecher. He was a brave soldier who died during the battle. The battle became known as the Battle of Beecher Island. Since 1868, floods have changed the "island" and the river's path.
The Battle of Beecher Island took place on a small island in the Arikaree River. There were a few willow trees on the island. The river banks nearby had very few trees. Gentle hills rose from the river. A big flood in 1935 changed the battleground a lot. It moved the river channel. A monument built in 1905 was swept away, and most of the island disappeared. The main parts of the monument were found and put up again on the north side of the river.
History of the Battle
In the 1860s, many settlers moved west. This broke earlier agreements between the Great Plains tribes and the United States government. The Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Sioux Indians saw their hunting lands being taken over. They started to attack settlers between 1864 and 1868.
Major George "Sandy" Forsyth was given a mission. He was to take fifty experienced frontiersmen and find the Native Americans who were raiding. On September 16, 1868, Forsyth's group found an Indian trail. They followed it towards a camp. Sioux scouts quickly warned their warriors about the approaching soldiers. The Native Americans were camped on the Arikaree Fork of the Republican River. Roman Nose, a respected Indian war leader, was among those in the camp.
Forsyth and his men set up their own camp on the south side of the Arikaree Fork. As dawn approached, Native American scouts discovered Forsyth's camp. Fighting quickly began, and more warriors were called from the nearby camps.
Forsyth organized his defense on a low-lying island in the Arikaree River. His men quickly dug rifle pits for protection. Forsyth and his men held out on the island for nine days. Six of his scouts were killed, and fifteen, including Forsyth, were injured. Scouts were sent out at night to get help from Fort Wallace.
Roman Nose was a powerful war leader. Before the battle, his spiritual power had been weakened. Because of this, he did not join the battle right away. While watching the fight from a hill, he was hit by rifle fire. He later died from his wounds. The number of Native American losses is not known for sure.
The island was named in honor of Lieutenant Fred Beecher. He was killed during this important battle.
Historic Site Today
The Beecher Island Battleground Memorial Association bought 240 acres where the battle happened. This area is a dry region with native grasses and scrub plants. There are also trees along the river. The Association takes care of a monument and other buildings. These include an auditorium, a Sunday School building, a kitchen hall, and a one-room school house.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Beecher para niños
