"Jeb" Stuart's Letter About The Battle of Solomon’s Fork

A 17-day march ends with a shock of movement on the open Plains: roughly 300 Cheyenne warriors in line of battle and the US cavalry scrambling to form up before the infantry can even arrive. That’s the doorstep of the Battle of Solomon Fork, the 1857 Cheyenne Campaign, and the third chapter in our five-part series on the early Cheyenne Indian Wars leading toward the Sheridan Winter Campaign era.

We lean on a gripping primary source, a letter written from camp on Solomon’s Fork just after the clash. You’ll hear how fatigue and distance shape everything: Bayard’s battery left miles behind, horses too used up to keep pace, and a plan for carbine volleys replaced by a blunt command that changes the day: “Draw sabers, charge.” The result is a fast, messy pursuit where companies mix together, officers ride shoulder to shoulder, and a single moment of misfire and timing turns into hand-to-hand combat.

James Ewell Brown "Jeb" Stuart's letter doesn’t stop at the fight. It follows the wound, the waiting, and the frontier logistics nobody puts on the monument plaque: delayed medical care, a column forced to pause, and an “ambulance” reduced to two wheels, cushions, and three mules. If you care about Kansas history, Plains Indian Wars history, US Army cavalry tactics, or firsthand accounts that cut through myth, Solomon Fork delivers a human view of how campaigns actually worked.

Subscribe for the rest of the series, share this with a history-minded friend, and leave a review with your take: what detail from Stewart’s letter did you find hardest to shake?

Transcript

Series Context And Setting

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The Wild West podcast proudly presents the third of a five-part series on the early Cheyenne Indian Wars from 1857 to the Sheridan Winter Campaign of 1868. In part three of the series, the Cheyenne Campaign of 1857 is the historical accounts of the first actual campaign against the Plains Indians, known as the Battle of Solomon Fork. This little-known clash with the Cheyenne Indians took place in northwest Kansas, near present-day Pinocchio in Graham County, Kansas. The story of Stewart's connection with this campaign is best given in his own words. The following letter was written at intervals on the two days succeeding the battle. Camp on Solomon's Fork, July 8, 1857. My darling wife. Yesterday, after 17 days' steady march from Camp Buchanan, we overtook about 300 Cheyenne warriors dressed up in line of battle and marching boldly and steadily towards us. We fronted into line as soon as possible, the six companies of cavalry, the infantry being too far behind to take any part in the action. Also Bayard's battery, which the colonel stopped three or four miles back, as unable to keep up. It was my intention, and I believe that of most of the company commanders, to give a carbine volley and then charge with drawn pistols, and use the saber as a dernier result. But much to my surprise, the colonel ordered draw sabers, charge. When the Indians were within gunshot, we set up a terrific yell which scattered the Cheyennes in disorderly flight, and we kept up the charge in pursuit. I led off Company G right after the main body, but very few of the company horses were fleet enough, after the march, beside my own brave Dan, to keep in reach of the Indians mounted on fresh ponies. My part of the chase led towards the right and front, and in that direction, companies G, H, and D were in a short time mixed together in the pursuit, so that Stanley, McIntyre, Macintosh, Lomax, and myself were for the greater part of the time near each other, and frequently side by side. As long as Dan held out I was foremost, but after a chase of five miles he failed, and I had to mount the horse of a private. When I overtook the rear of the enemy, I found Lomax in imminent danger from an Indian, who was on foot, and in the act of shooting him. I rushed to their queue and succeeded in wounding the Indian in his thigh. He fired at me in return with Allen's revolver, but missed. About this time I observed Stanley and McIntyre close by. The former said, Wait, I'll fetch him. He dismounted to aim deliberately, but in dismounting, accidentally discharged his last load. Upon him the Indian now advanced with his revolver pointed. I could not stand that, but drawing my saber rushed upon the monster and inflicted a severe wound on his head. At the same moment he fired his last barrel within a foot of me, the ball taking effect in the center of the breast, but by the mercy of God glanced to the left, lodging near my left nipple, but so far inside that it cannot be felt. I rejoice to inform you that the wound is not regarded as dangerous, though I may be confined to my bed for weeks. I am now enjoying excellent health in every other respect. I was able to dismount and lie down, before which the Indian, having discharged his last load, was dispatched by McIntyre and a man of Company D. Lomax, who came to my relief, had some sabers stuck into the ground, and a blanket put up for shade. Dr. Brewer was sent for, but as it was eight miles to the place where the fight began, there was a great delay. In the meantime, the rally was sounded, and numbers collected around me, doing everything in their power from my comfort. Soon the colonel appeared, moving up to the head of the column from the rear. He greeted me in the most affectionate terms and had me taken on a blanket back towards the first scene of action where he intended to camp, as his horses were much too used up to continue the pursuit. I was carried in the blanket about three miles when I met the doctor, who examined the wound, bandaged it, etc. Soon after I met the sick wagon, which consisted of two hind wheels of the ambulance, with a tongue attached, the cushions being fastened on the spring. The rest of the ambulance had broken down weeks ago and had been left behind. Three mules hitched to this bore me off, as it were, in a car of triumph. I suffered much from this mode of transportation, but now, July 31st, feel pretty well, though I am entirely helpless as regards locomotion. The Colonel, after resting one day to bury Private Scade of Company G and Lynch of Company A, and to recuperate the horses, starts this morning on the chase. Captain Foote's company, Dr. Covey, and Lieutenant McCleary are left here with myself and the other wounded and sick. I have every reason to believe that I will be able to resume duty in about ten days or two weeks. I have received every attention from my fellow officers, for which I shall ever be grateful. I send this by Calburn, in case an express is sent in by Colonel Sumner before his return here. We will in a day or two be reduced to fresh beef alone. The regiment will return to Leavenworth, I think, certainly before the first of November. See Mrs. McIntyre and tell her all left in fine spirits.