The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-06

Of this by Captain E. N. Hayes. Of Company G.. Of
the Fifth cavalry. who is here leave Of absence
and left tonight join his command. is that the
position into which Major Thorneurgh's command
was suddenly forced after the attack within
about four hundred yards Of the brow OF the hill.
where portion of the Indians had secreted them
selves in expectation of the soldiers passing
over tho regular route From this eminence
the Indians Captain Hayes says. would have
perfect command Of the position into which Cap
tain Payne was forced. and with their Winchester
rifles could easily pick or any Of the party attempt
ing to reach the creek from the intrenched position
The only chance the troops have had to get water
must have been under the cover of darkness. and
the Indians felt secure in holding troops
within their intrenched position they would
skirmish at night to prevent any one approaching
the spring creek. This. he thinks. has
been the gres.est hardship Captain Payne's COM
mand has had to endure. He is familiar with the
locality. and properly estimates the dangers to
which the troops have boon exposed now nearly
week. In addition to the lack Of water they have
had no opportunity to bury the dead AMI
mails and the bodies exposed they are to the sun
must fll tho air with most sickening stencil. The
anxiety therefore. hear Captain Payne is in
tensifed by the news via Los Pinos Agency.
WHAT Mr.. scHURz SAYS
Secretary Schur1, VINO returned THIS morning, re-
ccived the despatch about Ave o'clock. He says he
has nothing now aud nothing to say more than has
already beon published in the interview with him
tcegraphed from st. Louis. He would have visited
the White River Agency at tho time the demand
was made for troops and hurried to Denver to SEQ
Governor Pitkin. but there he met Senators Teller
and Hill. and all parties Of tho opinion that
nothing serious would take place. His previous
gagcments we're such that no did think II
sary change his route. and having tho fullest
Adence In the integrity of Agent Meeker. he
cluded TO fulfil appointments made weeks before.
Tho report Of the Of faithful agent and
his employees he most deeply regrets, he does
also the loss Of many brave soldiers OF course.
every thing In the hands OF the military. and
the pursuit of the hostile Indians will DO pushed till
every ono Ia captured killed.
MISTAKE.
The opinion 10 pressed by army officers that IL
was mistake to send Major rhornburgh with so
small q command on an errand tho very nature Of
which IL must have been known would have excited
tho bittercst feeling among tho Utes ct the White
River Agency. As already published. the command
went out under orders from General Crook. who
commands tho Department Of tho Platte. and who
is not presumed to know the dangers likely TO
arise In the department of another commander. for
the Ute reservation is in the Department OF the Mis-
souri,. under General Pope. Al the War Department
the leading army officers duty say that no ono 30
thoroughly understands tho Indians OF the Ute ma
ton AZ General Pope. and his repeated warnings In
official communications OF tho danger to DO apprc-
hended from these sensitive Indians are re-
ferrcd to as showing that In an emergency
such as demanded tho presence OF troops at the
agency. the number sont should have been large
enough to have deferred the Indians attacking
q force which they would havc known. through
their scouts. to DO far superior in numbers to their
own. The chiefs visiting Major Thornburghs COM
mand easily discovered the exact number Of tho
cavalry under him. and knew that they could out
number his force. and hence wero not afraid OF the
GENERAL POPE on run urrs.
General Pope. in his report tor 1877. in speaking
Of the Utes says;--.
No outbreak or considerable difleuity has yss oc.