The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-10-16
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PAYNE RELIEVED.
ARRIVAL OF GENERAL MERRITT's
COMMAND AT PAYNE'S CAMP.
How Payne and His Intrenched Party Held Out
Gallant Action Of Negro Company
Going to His Relief
THE RELIEVING PARTY.
GEN. MERRITT FIGHTING HIS WAY TO THE
RELIEF OF PAYNE.

GEN. MERRITT FIGHTING HIS WAY TO THE
RELIEF OF PAYNE.
Rawlins, w. T., Oct. 8-William Hum.
phreys, mail carrier from Snake river
eighty miles distant, has just arrived,
having left Snake river Tuesday morn
ing at 10 o'clock. He brings important,
cheering and definite news from both
Payne's and Merritt's commands, which
was borne to Snake river by VIM. Lithy,
one of Merritt's scouts, who left Milk
river on Monday night.
Lithy reports that Gen. Merritt, on his
approach to Psyne's camp, and when
only few miles distant from it, discov-
cred hostile Utes filing out from the
neighboring canyons. The Indians dis
covered Merritt at the same moment
and the General, perceiving this from
their actions, ordered his men to fall
back in rapid retreat. The Indians were
encouraged by this maneuver to rush
from their hiding places and Merritt,
pushing his troops to run, drew them
out on the open plain. He then gave
the order to wheel, which the men did
with admirable precision, showing in
minutes space bristling front where
before had been seeming struggling
front. The General did not wait for the
foe to attack, and in less than two min
utes his men poured into the Utes fire
which checked their advance and forced
them to seek every available cover. The
battle, which began on Monday after.
noon, lasted but few hours, during the
time the Indians suffered loss of thirty
sevel killed, while Merritt did not lose
a man. In fact, the Utes got such Sc.
we're drubbing that they ran up the white
flag, in token of wish for parley.
This was granted by Merritt, and several
chiefs were willing to surrender, others
were not. Merritt told them if they
would give up their arms and ponies he
would do nothing more with them for
the present, One or two chiefs asked
whether Merritt intended to 60 to the
agency with his troops. He replied that
he did. After a brief consultation all
chiefs agreed to common answer, which
was that if the soldiers invaded the res.
ervaton they would fight them until the
last Ute lay dead. After this they left
Merritt's camp and returned to the can
yons
General Merritt then pushed forward
with all haste and joiNed Payne with
remnant Of Thornburgh's command.
The same Monday evening before Mer-
ritt's arrival, Payne had been most gal
lantly succored by colored company of
forty fve men of tie Ninth Cavalry un.
der Captain Dodge. His company came
down Bear River east of Steamboat
Springs last Sunday night, and learning
of Thornburgh's fight and Payne's situa.
tion, resolved to get to PAyne's side at
every hazard. In their attempt they
were met by the besieging Utes, who
turned upon them with fire 80 hot that
they were compelled to dsmount. In
course of the subsequent engagement
this brave colored company lost every
horse but two, but they succeeded in
making their way to Payne's relief, and
were hailed in,camp with every expires.
sion of welcome.
Merritt,on hisarrival, found that Payne
had held out splendidly, losing only two
men since the 29Sh, when Rankin left.
ARRIVAL OF THE RELIEVING FORCE.
Chicago, Oct. ga dispatch from Gen.
Merritt, October 9th, on Milk river, was
forwarded to Gen. Sheridan tonight. 1t
says: 1--WE reached Capt. Payne's COM
mand at $50 this morning. We found
the command much as reported in origi-
nal dispatches. The casualties were IL
killed and 43 wounded. All the animals
of the command were killed except IL
mules and three horses of the four COM
panies Of cavalry. Captain Dodge. with
his company, arrived on the LIST instant
into Captain Payne's intrenchments, but
all his horses were killed by the enemy.
Too much praise cannot be given this
gallant officer and his command for the
very praiseworthy act in the reinforce.
ment of Payne. Words fail to describe
the scene in the vicinity of this wretched
intrenchment. Over three hundred dead
animals are lying outside the breast
works, the stencil from which is some.
thing horrible. The wounded are doing
we'll. Captain Payne and Lieutenant
Paddock are both improving. / cannot
give too much credit to my gallant off
GERS and men for their admirable conduct
during the march. In something like
forty eight hours my command has
marched about one hundred aud seventy
miles over miserable, dusty road, the
worst ever travelled"
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