New-York tribune., 1879-11-10
THE HEROES OF MILK CRTEK.


TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES.
WASHINGTON Nov 9.-General sherman has re-
ceived the Off al report Of Captain j. Scott PAYNE
OF the 9th Cavalry. In forwarding ii 10 the Sccrc-
tary of War he indorses IT as follows;
HEADQUARTERS THE ARMY
This modest and most admirable report i, received
after have finished my annual report ese should
have embodied u almost entire as DeidrI description
". I. SHERMAN, General.
The first portion of Captain Paync's report
is devoted TO the story of the organization
of the command of Major Thonburgh, and
the march to Bear River where it went
into camp on the night of the 26th
Of September He also refers to the incidents pre-
redng the fight and tells about the various Indians
who came into camp to talk. Colorado was surly,
he says, but went away III better hmIos. He con-
tinues:
We camped on the osth on Deer Creek and began orr
march the morning OF the 29th M $50 O'Clock REACT
horses al the stream two companies 4" 3d ana 81
5h Cavalry. under the immediate command of Major
Thornburgh. turned of the road taking a Trail that
bore away To the lei while D. 9TH Cavalry remained
With the train. Which followed at distance Of perhaps
mile. Al tnis time no signs OF The Indians hal been OBJ
served 10y NJ dOr Ih0ruburgh. except freshly started
IRE m the bottom grass an incident with winch We had
550fD 5y IT, '"''"' '""' "pis"|"''"' "''0 '4'''
Lieutenant Cherry. adiutant of the command accom-
panied 10y Guide Rankin aud small party OF soldiers,
Ia the advance, and upon passing over some hign
ground inttrne1te between the road had lcft ana
the trail discovered the Indians IN heavy force drawn
IN line Of battle or more correctly speak ns lying IN
ambush along the hgA ridges which completely covered
aud commanded thr road. With quick aud sodierly
perception The situation euienant Cherry turned
steps Just as the leadn company CO.." 5th Cavarywa
descending ridge iutO the valley beyond The company
left flank while Company L OF the 81 Cavalry WAS
hated on the high ground It occupied and both com
inornburshs orders, rs skrmlshers-Company OF the
3 Cavalry the right along the crest OF the ridge.
md A. Company of the DIn Cavalry well
,f the ml-which, constantly ascending, stretched
AWAY mdetnlicly-as tie nature OF the ground would
Oarine at Tins time resembcd the letter " the points
toward the Indians, and that portion of formed by
Company 5ih Cavalry projecting considerably beyond
he point OF Junction. aua DcnS dhiced 10 tue Ielt 30
as 90 prevent The enemy from turning our HANK
TIE FIGHT.
At this time attempts made by Major Thornburch
n person ana by Lieutenant Cherry TO communicate
With the Indians. but efforts I'm that direction met
oy shot, aud al hot fire was opened upon usand
The fight began ali along our lines The Indians had dis
PLAYED admirable skill In the selection of the ground
apon which TO give us battle aud 1t soon apparent
hat our position In the OF the enemy suporbiy
armed and greatly our superior in focre. untcnabe.
Rith sound judgment aua quick and thorough pcrceI
'orm "a junction with Company ID. 9TH Cavalry, which
Vas projecting 1hc wagon trlin aud with that end in
uowly. The command retired directed. In perfect
order the lei horses beng kept well protected between
le ~ rinish lines Of the two plnes. whilst heavy
,nd effective fire dli execution amongst the
ana prev uttl an dttcll Oh tutll lhIt 10 tcdh
Fniins in their eff rts IN 'front.' the Indians endeay-
~ Nsf,r nm rnburrh'. arder gone into park on me
fight bank OF the MIX Bveri aud TO accomplish TIM
ran se and concentrated IN great force upon knoll to
The left ~ completely commanding line Of
treat Major Thornburgh. upon discovering this new
danger. directed me TO charge the knoll with twenty
men of NV company sweep the Indiana OF and then
nj once without attempting TO hold the h TO fal back
upon The train and take measures for ITS protec
opened ior the return the led horses, repaired
tic wagon al and at once took steps looking to us
defence Mrjor Thomburgh doubtless started for me
train shortly ator giving me the order referred TO- ana
was shot and instantly Killed just AFTER crossing the
river. and within oOOyMds oi me wagons III saanty
was cons lcuous the first 10 the last and grief iOr
I'm the meantime Captain Lawson. with " L" Company
Of the 81 Cavalry. aud Loutenput Cherry, With a de-
Bin Cavalry. calamity held the Indians IN check m
front, gradually retiring, Lieutenant Cherry, with
the lI"ih i'1 wa. fr,o ,r'tor ' va tl I,,us tor,oir
thc north corral eptical in sh ITS long axis
rmuln. east west, and the south SIDE exposed 10
aeIce fre r in the lndaus who maesing the ravues
along Tho river and upon commanding heights. We're
makiug determined effort 10 capture ara destroy the
for defence The animals We're crowded IN tne area
indicated, ana at once directed some twenty OF
more those wounded 20 be led ont ana ShOt aOh he
spen space referred thus making continuous our line
Of deeuce ana afordng cover Tor oar sharp,hooters
a soon as tuesc az semenls were men
were 90 unload the wagons and ue bedding ANA
gram and f0ur for hrcastVOrks. cannot speak
too hlhly OF thclr Conduct "t TINS TIME. Ih9us" cA
posed a calling fIe, 10y which many men ANA noists
courage and in short our corral was IN as good
state of defence a. the means az hnnd
WHO was encouraging the men by the exposure OF h,
person and luicgenty and couiaeeousy carr lng ont
iny instructions, was wounded Ia the mp A. captain
Ai"so ~ , -. ,st ieservcs bich cn,ation hgd
not returned camp, became soliciions for thcr
Faiety and .tachcd Sergeant Poppe Of my company.
with twelve men. To proceed down the road in the
direction from which they were approaching. In
shori time hereaierI was greatly relieved al seems
Captain Lawson and Lieutenant Cherry Win tAcl cO-
the enhancement.
TIE PLRus OF TIE SIEGE.
new and critical danger now threatened us The
Indians now foiled in tneir efforts tc prevent tie
ctnirailon OF the command at the trdin or 70 drive
ou Of II by furious and concentrated hfe, took adj
vantage of q high wind. blowing directly toward as,
aud fired the tail grass sage brush down the river
A. the moment this peril was ltdiz observed thai
tue Indian supply o; Mr. Johu Gordon was parked
Within seventy five yards Of MY p0sOu,and sO situated
hs 10 command approach 10 water, Seeing THIS aud
fearing that under cover Oi inc smoke thc Indians
might make lodgnent IN tins train. waich IA MY iudg
ment would have been disastrous To the command, aud
WITH the further view OF Duihing ,i.S tnS tits, OH
The north OF the corral 10 present as little surface ~
possibe 1, the Indian fire when II should app.oach,
directed the grass on that suS 10 1e i,' ana III " 49,"
moments crdiiled to see toihous lrtih ~ names
The fire from down Ahe valley approached with great
rapiGy and sirlck The exposed point Oi The corral
and fr few mononts thie teIcd Us WIN o,-
wneu the Indians made their most furious attack dis
played superb CALAMITY Several lives were lost ana
ami our greater DANGER passed. Prom THIS Tine, ah H.
235 =. untu uighia the Indian. kep up furious
them being killed or 50 severely wounded that they
killed hy order.
dark large party OF Indians charged down behind
Godous burning rain denNefng yoaty au,r G Noles;
Til epu ed easily, and He'd suffering thc loss OF
several wsrrOIs who were distinctly seen 10 dIop from
their saddles.
During the night our dead animals were hauled of A
fuli supply OF water for twenty yOur hours was pro
cured, the wounded were cared Tor, intrenchments
werr aug aud by daylight the corral in good con
diuon for defence. COurIers sent out with
dispatches al midnight, and general feeling OF con
hdence Iuspltcd the entire command Ammunition and
Talois were distributed IA the several trenches, and
felt that sense OF security FOR my command which
spiang from knowledge O ~ galantry ana fOrttde.