Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-10-09

OiS, anu Ii U1Se SCOl WUEC To plt J. luUEUUUlRui
vito then Wittdtew the Inc slowly, keeping the
ladaus 10 check until opposite the point which
his man he'l, wher, seeing that tho 1udiaos
wcro concentrating to cut of his retreat, Capt.
Payne, with company L, Fifth Cavalry, was or.
style his horec being shot under him and several
of bis leo wounded. The Indians having been
driven from this poirt, the company was rallied
| on the wagon train. Msj. Thornburgh then
gave orders TO Cherry to hold bis position and
cover Capt. LawsGn's retreat, who was ordered
! 10 fali back slowly with the horses Of Lis COM
pany. Cherry called for volunteers of twenty
mao, who responded promptly and fought with
desperation. Their names will be given In
| a later dispatch, as nearly every man was
wounded bcioro be reached camp, and two men
killed. Ctcrry brought every wounded man in
with him. Capt. Lawson, the brave old vet
erao, displayed the greatest courage and COOL
ness dutlng this retreat, sending up smmuni-
lion to Cherry's mln when ooce they were
nearly without it.
Msjor Thornbrrgh started back 10 tie wagon
train after giving his fnal orders to Captsin
Payne 10 charge the hill, AID to Captain Law
son and Lleuteoant Cherry to cover tho retreat.
lie must have been shot dead when barely half
way there, as bis body was seen by one eff Capt.
L1Wson's men, life extinct, and lying on bis
face. Captain Payne, then 10 command, OF once
set about having the wounded horses shot for
breastworks. DismautIing the wagons Of boxes,
bundles OF bedding, corn ard -four sacks, which
were quickly piled up tJr Notifications, picks
aud shcvcS were used vigorously for digging
entertainments. 10 tho meantime gallog
lro Wes concentrated upon the command from
all the surrounding bluff. which commanded
the poSltl0u Not an Indian could be seen,
but the irc:2sant cracks Of their Sharpe's and
Winchester rHes dealt fearful destruction
smosg horses aud mcu. The groars of tho
dylog aud agonlzing cries OF the wounded told
what fearful havoc was being made among the
determined and desperate command, every
mau b3uud to sell his lie as dearly as pos
sibic.
About this time great danger was approach
ing st a frightfully rapid pace. Tho indians
at the beginning of the fight had set fire to the
| dry grass and To the sage brush to tho WindWard
of our position, and it now came sweeping down
tow5rd us, the flames leappg high into the air,
snd immense volumes O. smoke rolling on to
ongulf US. 1t was sight 70 make tho stoutest
heart quake, and the fends were waiting ready
to give US volley IS soon as We we're driven
from our shelter. Now il reaches the fsnk. and
blankets, blousss snd empty sacks were freely
usc1 to extinguish the flames. Some Of the
wagons wore set on ire, which required all the
force possible to smother it, No water can DO
obtained. and the smoke is sufocetng but the
fire passes. and We still hold our position. Mean.
while constant volley is poured upon ua, Capt.
Payne being wounded for the second limo, and
first Sergeant Dolan, Of Company r, killed in
atsntly, Mcklnsiey and Mckee killed, and
many others wounded; Our greatest danger is
now past. The men have now mostly covered
thenlsnvoa but the poor horses and mules are
constantly falling about w. Just about sun.
down charge was ATTEMPTED, but reDused, tho
Indians trying to drive OF some or our horses
winch lad broken loose. The attack ceased ct
dark, aud soon every man Was at work enlarg.
ing trenches and hauling out the dead horses,
caring for the wounded and bl rying the dead.
at dsylI2h the attack WAS resumed, and the Gr-
ing OF tho sbsrpshooters has been kept up every
day since. and occasionally at night, sending US
to our pits in q scramble. This is the llth day
of our siege, but we are determined 10 hold out
fit takes q month for succor to resch VI. But
We ore confident that Gen. Merritt, whose name
10 upon the lips Of every one, is on the road to
| rescue us.
! RAwLINs. W. T., O,t. 9.-Lieut Aluey, an
7 adjutant Of Gen. Nlerrtt's command gives a
very interesting account Ct tho march Of Gen.
Merritts command from Rawlins. He sayt:
We marched continuously Saturday night,
not haltlog tor single moment. aud making
~ miles 10 81 hours. 1t will be remembered
that the command left RaHli1s at 1880 q, H.,
Friday, Oooher 5 They marctci 10 miles
that day, and The second day they marched So
miles. The men endured tho march spleudidly.
They realized that few Of their comrades 10
arms were surrounded, and that their safety
depended upon the quick movement Of their
oommaHi. Colst quenty ihcro wcro 20 COM
plants. Several horses vera so worn out that
they had 10 tie abandoned and died on the road
side. tic command arrived at tho scene oil
aotlon Sunday, OosObCr 5. after marching sew
cnIy miles the day previous. When Merritt
advance guard reached Payuc's pickets they
were commanded by them to halt, and in order
to i'll otm Capt. Payne that it WIS tho relief
column tia; was approaching, he caused his
trunpeser 10 sound the officers call. Capt.
Dodge's eompany Of tic Ninth Cavalry was
lhero when Merritt arrived. He arrived
Thursday, and had to cut his way 10. 10 the
engaqcment he lost 3S out of his IS horses.
DGs. Grimes and Kendall went TO work caring
Tor the wounded Immediately upon their ar:
E'Val at tho command. hletritt's march was
great militia SUCCESS Maj. Thornburph's BODY
has bccn recovered"
Gen. Merritt does not mention having met
any lnda2s, and the report Of his baltic Is not
credited.
About 50 head of cattle belonging to George
Bags were taken from their corral on Snake
river aod driven eff on tho night of Ootobcr 6.
[: is thought to be the work of white mer. as
10 Indians have been seen in the ueigbborhood.
Gen Crook has established bis Headquarters
at Fer: Steele, but comes here every morning
and, remains during the day, returning home
10 the evening He is watching things closely,
aud dsDatchins messengers daily. Cap. Gil
It's, qusrtermaster, is here, aud 10 him belongs
tho credit of moving more forage and supplies
10 shorter time than auy officer on record. 1t
Is due to his promptress that the ,roors
were enabled to 20 to the font 60 speedily.
:. Los PINos AGENCY. COL, Oct. San In.
dian runner, who ceme through in eighteen
| hours from White River, arrived last night at
mldni ght. lie brought reports to Chief Ouray
that the troops were still fighting. They were
| strongly intre1chsd and ab!o to hold their posi-
tlon until relntorcsmsnts arrived. Chief Doug.
lass sends word to Chief Ouray that all the wo-
| men AMI children are safe at his house., AID
| that he has turned the money and papers over
! to the agents wife. He said that Ouray need
have no fear OF the White River Utes; the fight
was an affair nj their run To6; ~o,oxL II.