The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-10-17


of the subsequent Siege and Relief q
Capt. Payne's Command Heroic Drawer,
of the Troops.
corraled by the hostile Ute Indians on Mill
river, Col, on the 10Th of September, and hotly
besieged for nearly week, during which the
devoted little band was subjected to an almos
incessant rain Of bullets, was finally
relieved on the 9Th of October, by the
arrival Of Gen. Merritt's command. The &C.
count of the battle in which Maj. Thornburgh
lost his life, and the subsequent six days. siege
forms one OF the most exciting chapters in the
annals of Indian warfare, and, although rather
lengthy for our limited space, we give 1t en-
tire The narrative begins with the date,
Battlefield, Milk River. Oct 3, p. m, and
proceeds
The Indians still surround us, and pour In
an effective fire from commanding bluff, at a
distance of 800 or 600 yards, having cross
fire upon our position, which position WAS
chosen hastily on the first day of the fight
All our horses and all but twelve mules have
been killed. We sheltered them as best we
could, with wagons, but to no purpose
Capt. Dodge and Lieut. Hughes, with Com
pany ID, Ninth (colored) cavalry, came to eur
rescue yesterday morning at daybreak, after
forced night marcel Of tuirty-five miles from
Bear river. Cheer upon cheer rent the air
from our trenches when ii was ascertaned who
were coming A iull in the firing enabled them
to come in and shelter their horses as well as
possible, taking to the Notifications quickly,
when the attack redoubled its fury Had the
heights been accessible, Capt Dodge would have
charged them with his company, while we
covered him from our rife-pits, but this was
utterly impossible, the ascent being nearly per
pendicular. All that we could do during the
day was to keep good lookout from the loop
holes, and return the fire when any Indian
showed his head. This, however, was q very
rare occurrence, as the Indians have rifie-pits
aud ioop-holes. Before dark every horse bur
three OF Capt Dodges command was shot
down.
We Lave been able, at great risk, to haul of
our dead animals every night; otherwise the
stencil would be intolerable.
A sally is made every night for water a dis
lance Of 200 yards from our intrenchments.
The field OF battle was admirably chosen for
defense by the Indians, and, had il not been
for Maj. Thornburgh's advance guard, COM
manded by Lieut. Cherry, discovering the am
busSade, the entire command would have been
annihilated he saw small party of Indians
disappear over hill, half a mile in front, ana
at once divided his party to reconnoiter, and
only discovered them when he had thanked
their position by about 200 yards. Cherry rode
back at full speed, with two or three men who
were with him, and notified Maj. Thornburgh.
who had already begun the descent into The
deep ravine which was intended to ingulf the
command.
The Indians were dismounted and lying down
along the crest Of the high steep ridge, not 100
yards from the point where the deadly assault
would have commenced The troops were
withdrawn short distance, dismounted, and
deployed in line of battle, with orders to await
the attack OF the Indians. Lieut. Cherry was
here ordered by Thornburgh to take detach-
ment OF fifteen picked men, and make a recon-
noiesance and communicate, if possible, with
the Indians, as it was thought that they only
desired to oppose his approach to their
agency, and would parley, or have @big
talk" II they. could be communicated with
Cherry moved ont at gallop with his men
from the right flank, and noticed like move
ment OF about twenty Indians from the left of
the Indian position.
He approached to within couple of hundred
yards of the Indians, and took off his hat and
waved 1t, but the response was shot fired at
him, 'wounding man OF his party and killing
his horse. This was the first shot, and was in
stantly followed by volley from the Indians.
The work had now begun in real earnest.
and, seeing the advantage Of the position he
held, Cherry dismounted his detachment and
deployed along the crest of the hill to preveIt
the Indians thanking his position, or to cover
their retreat, If found necessary to retire upon
the wagon-train, which was then coming up
slowly, guarded by Lieut. Paddock, of Com
pany d, Fifth cavalry.
Orders were sent to park the wagons and
cover them with the company guarding them.
The two companies in advance were those of
Capt Payne, Company f, Fifth cavalry, and
Capt: Lawson's, Company L, Third cavalry.
which were dismounted and deployed as skirm,,
ishers, with Capt Payne on the left and Cant
Lawson on the right. From Cherrys position
ne could see that the Indians were trying to cut
him off from the wagons, and at once he sent
Wora 70 MAJ. Ihorn6urgh, who then withdrew
The line slowly, keeping the Indians in check
men held, when, seeing that the LII Indians ms
we're concentrating to cut off his re-
reat, Capt. Payne, with Company F,
Fifth cavalry, was ordered to charge
he hill, which he did in gallant style, his horse
being shot under him and several Of his men
!As indians having been driven from ihis
,oint, the company was rallied on the wagon
rain. Maj. Thoinburgh then gave orders to
Jherry to hold his position and cover Capt. Law
on's retreat, who was ordered to fall back slow
y with the led horses Of his company. Cherry
alled for volunteers of twenty men, who re-
ponded promptly. They fought with des-
'erauon, as nearly every man was wounded |
'efore he reached the camp, and two men were |
Tiled.
Maj. Thornburgh started back to the wagon
rain, after giving his final orders to Capt Payne
o charge the hill, and to Capt. Lawson and |
lieut.. Cherry to cover the retreat He must |
ave been shot dead when barely halfway |
here, as his body was seen by one of Capt. |
.awson's men, with life extinct and lying on |
lis face
Capt Payne, then in command, at once sci
'oout having the wounded horses shot to make
'reastworks, dismantling the wagons of boxes
bundles OF bedding, corn and flour sacks, which
we're quickly piled up for fortificatons. Picks
M spades were used vigorously for digging
Meantime CALLING fire was concentrated up
n the command from all the surrounding
luifs which commanded the position. Not an
ndlan could be seen but the incessant crack
their Sharp's and Winchester rifles dealt
earful destruction among the horses and men.
ne groans OF the dying and the agoniziDg
ries OF the wounded told what fearful havoc
'as being made among the determined and
erporate command Every man was deter
lined to sell his life as dearly az pcscihle
About this time q great danger was ap-
reaching at frightfully rapid pace. The
ed devils, at the beginning of the fight had
81 fire to the dry grass and to the sage-brush
the windward of our position, and il now
lime sweeping down toward u.s. the flames
aping high into the air, and immense volumes
smoke rolling on to iDgulf us. II was a
ght to make the stoutest heart quail, and the
ends were waiting, ready to give us a volley
; soon as we were driven from our
ielter: Now it reaches our flank, and blan-
BITS, l'louses and empty sacks were freely used