Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-10-16
-
THE INDIAN WAR.


BURGH's COMMAND WITH THE INDIANS.
A Cheyenne dispatch of the 9th, detailing
the situation of the troops on Milk River, also
gives the following graphic account of the
battle in which Maj. Thornburghs command
was defeated: :,
The Indians still surround us and pour in an
effective fire from commanding bluffs, at
distance of five or six hundred yards, having
a 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 the wagons, but to no purpose.
Captain Dodge and Lieut.. Hughes with Com
pany D, 9th Cavalry, came to our rescue yes
tefday morning at daybreak, after forced
nights march of thirty-ive miles from Bear
river. Cheer upon cheer rent the air from our
trenches when it was ascertained who were
coming. A lull 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 it's fury. Had the
heights been accessible, Captain Dodge would
have charged them with his company while we
covered him from our rifle pits, but, this be-
ing utterly impossible, the ascelit being nearly
perpendicular, all we could do during the day
was to keep good lookout from the loop
showed his head This, however, was very
rare occasion, as the Indians have rifle pits
and loop holes Before dark severy horse but
three Of Captain DOdge'S command was shot
down. A very fortunate thing for us has been
that the Indians leave us unmOleSted at night,
with the exception of an occasional shot to
make us scatter to our pits. We have been
able, at great risk, to haul off our dead ami
mails every night, otherwise the stencil would
be intolerable. A sally is made every night
for water, a distance of two hundred yards
from our entertainments. The night before
last private Erser, of Company F, was shot
in the face while out with party after water.
The Indians were only few yards away, and
were driven Off by a vOlley from the guard and
the trenches. Captain Dodge brought us the
cheering news that our dispatches reached
Bear river safely, and would undoubtedly reach
Rawlins. We have been counting the hours
which it will probably take for relief to reach
us. We all agree that General Merritt, from
Fort Russell, with the companies OF the Fifth
Cavalry there, and all other available troops
will be ordered to our rescue, as they will all
be needed to finish the campaign. The field
the Indians, and had it not been for Major
Thornbufgh's advance guard, commanded by
Lieutenant Cherry, discovering the ambus-
cade, the entire command would have been an
initiated. He saw small party of Indians
disappear over a hill, half mile in front, and
at once divided his party to reconnoiter, and
only discovered them when he had fanked
their position by about two hundred yards.
Cherry rode back at full speed, with two or
three men who were with him, and notified Ma
jor Thornburgh, who had already begun the
descent into deep ravine, which was intended
to engulf the command. The Indians were
dismounted and lying down along the crest of
a high, steep ridge for a hundred yards from
the point, where deadly assault would have
been 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 or
dered by Thornburgh to take detachment of
fifteen picked men and make reconnaissance
and communicate if possible with the Indians,
as it was thought they only desired to-oppoSe
his approach to their agency, and would par
ley and have big talk if they could be COM
municated with. Cherry moved out at a gal
lop with his men from the right flank, and no
ticed like movement of about twenty In
dians 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 it, but the response was shot fired at
him, which wounded a man of his party and
killed his horse. This was the first shot, and
was instantly followed by a 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 among the east of the hill to prevent
the Indians fanking his position or to cover
the retreat if he found it necessary to retire
upon the wagon train, which was then COM
ing up slowly, guarded by Lieutenant Pad
dock, and Company D, of the Fifth Cavalry.
Orders were sent to park the wagons and
cover them with the company guarding them.
The two companies in advance were Captain
Payne's Company Of the Fifth Cavalry. and
Captain Lawson's Company E., of the Third
Cavalry, which were dismounted and deployed
as skirmiShers, Captain Payne on the left and
Captain Lawson Oh the right from Cherry's
position. He could see that the Indians were
trying to cut him off from the wagons, and at
once sent word to Major Thornburgh, who
then withdrew his line slowly, keeping the In
dians in check until opposite the point which
his men held, when seeing that the Indians
were concentrating to cut off his retreat,
Captain Payne with Company F. Fifth Caval-
ry, was ordered to charge the hill, which he
did in gallant style, his horse being shot under
him and several of his men wounded.
The Indians having been driven from this
point, company was rallied on the wagon
train. Major Thornburg then gave order to
Cherry to hold his position and cover Captain
Lawsons retreat, who was ordered to fall
back slowly, with the horses of his company
Cherry called for volunteers of twenty men,
who responded promptly and fought with
desperation. Their names will be given in a
later dispatch, as nearly man every was wound
ed before he reached the camp, and two mel
~ - 4