The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-10-16
THE UTE INDIAN WAR.

A CircumstantiaI Account of the Engage
nlent in Which Maj. Thornburgh Fell, and
OF the Subsequent Siege and Relief OF
Capt. Payne's Comnand-Heroic Bravery
of the Troops.
The command of Capt Payne, which was
corraled by the hostile Ute Indians on Milk
river, Col, on the 29th of September, and hotly
besieged for nearly week, during which the
devoted little band was subjected to an almost
lncessant 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 Mai Thornburgh
losthis 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 it en-
tire. The narrative begins with the date,
Battle fed, Milk River, Oct. 3, 6 p. m.," and
proceeds
2 The Indians still surround us, and pour in
an effective fire from commanding bluff, at
distance Of 500 or 600 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 wagons, but to no purpose
Capt Dodge and Lieut.. Hughes, with Com
pany D, Ninth (coloreD cavalry, came to our
rescue yesterday morning at daybreak, after
forced night march, of tuirty-five miles from
Bear river Cheer upon cheer rent the air
from our trenches when it was ascertained who
were coming A lul1in the firing enabled them
to come in and shelter their horses as well ~
possible, taking to the Notifications quickly,
when the attack redoubled it's 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 rife-pits
and loop-holes. Before dark every horse but
three OF Capt. Dodge's command was shot
down.
We have been able, at great risk, to haul off
our dead animals every night; otherwise the
stencil would be intolerable
A sally is made every night for water q dis
lance of 200 yards from our intrenchments.
The field of battle was admirably chosen for
defense by the Indians, and, had it not been
for Maj. Thornburgh's advance guard. COM
manded by Lieut. Cherry, discovering the am
buscade, the entire command would have been
ann1h1lated. He saw small party of Indians
disappear over hill, half a mile in front, and
at once divided his party to reconnoiter. and
only discovered them when he had f1anked
their position by about 200 yards Cherry rode
back at full speed, with two or three men who
were with him, and notified Mai. Thornburgh,
who had already begun the descent into the
deep ravlne 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 recon-
noissance and communicate, if possible, with
the Indians, as it was thought that they only
agency, and would parley, or have "big
talk" if they could be communicated with
Cherry moved ont at a gallop with his men
from the right flank, and noticed a 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 it, but the response was a shot fired at
him, woundlng 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 prevent
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 E, Third cavalry.
which were dismounted and deployed as skirm,
ishers, with Capt Payne on the left and Capt.
Lawson on the right. From Cherry's position
he could see that the Indians were trying to cut
him off from the wagons, and at once he sent
word to Maj. Thornburgh, who then withdrew
the line slowly, keeping the Indians in check
men held, when, seeing that the Indians
were concentrating to cut off his re-
treat, Capt Payne, with Company F,
Fifth cavalry, was ordered to charge
the hill, which he did in gallant style, his horse
being shot under him and several of his men
wounded.
Lie Indians having been driven from Shis
point, the company was rallied on the wagon
train. Maj. Thornburgh then gave orders to
Cherry to hold his position and cover Capt Law
sons retreat who was ordered to fall back slow
ly with the led horses of his company. Cherry
called for volunteers of twenty men, who re-
sponded promptly They fought with des-
peration, as nearly every man was wounded
before he reached the camp, and two men were
killed.
Maj. Thornburgh started back to the wagon
train, after giving his final orders to Capt Payne
to charge the hill, and to Capt. Lawson and
Lieut.. Cherry to cover the retreat. He must
have been shot dead when barely half way
there, as his body was seen by one of Capt.
Lawson's men, with life extinct and lying on
! his face tt@k-f.
Capt Payne. then in command, at once sci
about having the wounded horses shot to make
breastworks, dismantling the wagons of boxes,
bundles of bedding, corn and -four sacks, which
were quickly piled up for Notifications. Picks
and spades were used vigorously for digging
Entertainments.
Meantime CALLING fire was concentrated up
on the command from all the surrounding
bluffs which commanded the position Not an
Indian could be seen, but the incessant crack
of their Sharp's and Winchester rifles dealt
fearful destruction among the horses and men,
The groans Of the dying and the agonizing