The New York herald., 1879-10-08
Later News from Payne's
Command Received.
A LETTER FROM LIEUTENANT PRICE,
Captain Dodge's Company with the
Beleaguered Command.
WEASINESS OYER AERRIYT'S SILENCE.
Strength of the Utes in Their
Mountain Fastnesses.

Mountain FaStnesSeS.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
RAwLINs. Wy. T.. Oct. z. 1879.
At last there is news from Payne's command con-
sidersbly later than that received by Rankin. the
first courier. Thornburgh's battle with the Utes
began the morning of the Goth. and ceased SO far
- was known by the scout. at eight F. NJ. he leav
ing the field at midnight. Now comes letter from
Lieutenant Price. in command Of the small body Of
infantry loft by Thornburgh about eighty miles this
side Of the scene Of the engagement.
LIEUTENANT PRICES LETTER.
Prices letter is to his wife ut Fort Steele. 1t was
written on the morning and evening of the Sd inst.
and wss mailed by courier to Dixon. the Post
Office at Snake River, on the same day. This letter,
which has just been shown your regular correspond
ent ct Rawlins by the commanding officer at Fort
Steele, says:-
Thank God the cavalry are all right They have
becn Joined by fifty men Of the Ninth cavalry.
The company referred to Is Of the colored cavalry
ander Captain Dodge fears for the safety of which
have been entertained for time Lieutenant
Prcesleer Also states that with his force of thirty
two men and rifles he would be able to stand off at
least $50 Indians. The safety of his command
seemed therefore assured.
THE NEWS.
AS to his confidence respecting Paynes force, it
must be considered that his is possibly three
days later-that is three days after the
29th OF September when Rankin left. for
man in this country could easily ride the distance
between the two camps in one day. How he received
the news Is left to conjecture. It improbable
that Payne sent it Price officially. else Price would
have forwarded more details. 1t is supposed here
that 1t was brought to Price by trader named Tay
lor. on Mill River. the of the fight. who is
known to have come this way far as Dixon. when
he Joined Merritts command as a scout.
The delay in the receipt of Prices letter by his
wife is ascribed to exceedingly bad mail service.
Tho letter should have reached Fort Steele days
ago.
REPORT OF A RANcHdAN.
Dave Lambert, a ranchman from White Sulphur
Springs. fortyfve miles from Rawlins has just ar
rived. He reports that o named Trotter.
settler Yampa or Bear rivers came to
White Sulphur Springs last night. and said there
were hostile Utes between Bear and Snake rivers. At
point also between Paynes and Prices commands
Trottor says that firing heard up to the time of
his departure. indicating continuous fighting night
and day since the 29th. when Rankin left According
to Trotter the company of colored troops from the
Ninth cavalry reached Payne on Friday last.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS CONCERNING THE FIGHT
ON MILK cREEK-LErTER OF THE WYE OF
An INDIAN, TRADER-LARaE LOSS OF THE
INDIANS CURRENT REPORTS REGARDING THE
REDSKINS.
By TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
DENVER, Col. Oct. z, 1872
A letter was received here to-day from Mrs. Peck
wife of an Indian trader Muddy Creek giving
some details of the battle the 10Th ult. 1t says
the battle lasted from ten O'Clock in
the morning till dark when the Indians
retired with great loss. Thornburgh. ten
enlisted men. the wagon master. q courier and the
Sheriff killed. The Indians first killed the
horses and mules to prevent the retreat of the
troops. who had not more than ive sound animals
left. Several of the wagons of the train were
carrying in Indian annuites The letter was written
on the 4th, but nothing had been heard from the
Agency. but it was believed Bear Greek that
all the agency people killed. Everybody Is
afraid she says. ''to in. and none
have come out" There were twenty-five
soldiers wounded and DR.. Grimes badly
though performing his duties with great effort. Her
husband lost 5000 in stores. No fears are enter
tanned on Bear and Snake Greeks now
REPORTS REGARDING INDIANS
Reports from the Middle Park indicate that il is
clear of Indians. though armed men are gathered
ut Hot Springs and at Steamboat Springs
1t reported here that Indians have made their ap-
pearancc in South Park and Breckenridge and
that the old town of Montgomery was burned.
though the report is not credited.
DEMAND FOR ARMS.
There is demand for arms all sides des.
patch from General Pope says he will leave to-mor-
row for Denver. lie has ordered 1000 stand of arms
and $4,000 rounds OF ammunition shipped
from Cheyenne. General Hatch tclegraphs
Governor Pitkin that he has arrived at
Aiamosa, and will endcsvor the frst thing to
protect settlers The Governor advises that cavalry
be sent first to Lake City. Silverton and Ouray and
. despatch from Lake City to the Governor says:-
At q citizens meeting last night q committee of
safety appointed and citizens COM
pany organized. We have plenty OF men,
but without and ammunition. We
want ono hundred stand of arms and plenty of am
munition. Give us the arms and the Utcs and San
Juan will take of both"
THE NEWS COMMUNICATED BY GENERAL CROOK
TO GENERAL sIIERIDAN-THE SAFETY OF
PRICE AND PAYNE AND DoDoE's COMPANY
INPERRED.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.1
CHICAGO Oct. z, 1879.
The frst ncws from the bcsiegcd captain Payne
was received to-day. It was meagre but it will be
read with interest. 1t was contained in tho follow
ing despatch to General Sheridan from General
Crook:--
RAwLISs, Oct. 7. 1879.
General SHEnIpAN:--A letter from Lieutenant
Price, dated eight r. NJ OF tho Sd. has been received.
He had seen no Indians. Tho cavalry holding
their positions and he thought Dodge's company OF
the Ninth cavalry had joined them. Hc expected
that endorsements would reach him next day.
No ncws from Mcrrtts command.
GEORGE u. CROOK. General Commanding.
GENERAL suERrpANs THEORY.
General Sheridan locates Prices commandIat Forti
hcation Crook. about eighty miles to the south of
Milk Creek whore the fight occurred. and on the
road leading from the White River agency to Rawns.
Dodge's command with a wagon train had left Rock
Greek on tho road from Denver TO Rawlins, and
marched west to the junction OF the road with tho road
leading from Rswlns to White River, and had then
sent his wagon train north to meet Price, and with