The Portland daily press., 1879-10-09
THE INDIANS.
Arrival of Courier from the
Front.
FULL PARTICULARS OF THE BATTLE.

CHEYENNE, wy. T., Oct. S.-A courier has
Just arrived here from the front with des-
patches announcing Dodge's arrival with a
company of cavalry. They were received with
great rejoicing by the beseiged forces.
RAwLINs, Oct. S.-A mail carrier from Snake
River brings cheering news from Payne and
Merritt's command. He reports that Merritt
discovered the hostile Utes, and by manGu-
vre drew them from their hiding place out
upon the open plain, and then attacked them
The battle which began Monday, lasted but a
few hours during which the Indians lost 81
killed. Merritt did not lose man. The
Indians sought parley, and after consultation,
all the chiefs agreed to common answer
which was that if the United States soldiers
invaded their reservation, they would fight till
the last of the Utes was dead. The Indians
then retired to the canyons. Merritt then
pushed forward with all haste and joined
Payne. Merritt found Payne had held out
splendidly, losing only two men since Septem-
Der GOTH
The mail carrier also states that there are
indications that the northern Indians have
come south to help the Utes. In Thornburgh's
fight the total number killed was twelve,
wounded forty-three.
News Direst from Payne's Command.
A courier from the front brings the follow
ing from an officer with the Payne command:
BATTLEFIELD MILK RIVER,
Oct. So p. IN.
A courier will leave sometime tonight with
a despatch, if possible. The Indians still sur
round US and pour in an effective fire from the
commanding bluffs at a 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 u
mules are killed. We sheltered them as best
we could with wagons, but to no purpose.
Capt. Dodge and Lieut. Hughes, with Co. ID
of the Ninth Cavalry, came to our rescue yes
IL,
nights march of 30 miles from Bear river.
Cheer upon cheer rent the air from our trench
eS when it was ascertaiDed who were coming.
A lull in the firing enabled them to come in
and shelter their horses as well as possible,
taking to the Notifications quickly when the
attack redoubled its fury Had the heights
been accessible, Capt. Dodge would have
charged them with his company, while we
covered him from our rifie-pits, but this being
utterly impossible, the ascent being nearly
perpendicular all we could do during the day
was to keep a good lookout from loopholes
and return the fire when any Indian showed
his head This, however, was very rare
currence, as the Indians have rife-pits and
loopholes Before dark every horse but three
of Capt Dodge's command Yves shot down. A
very fortunate thing for us has been that the
Indians have left us unmolested at night, with
the exception of an occasional shot to make us
scatter to our pits. We have been able, at
great risk, to haul off our dead animals every
night, otherwise the stencil would be intolera-
BILE. A sally is made every night for water,
distant some two hundred yards from the en-
tlenchments.
Night before last Private Erser was shot in
the face while out with party after water.
The Indians were only few yards away, and
and trenches Capt. Dodge brought us cheer
ing news that our dispatches reached Bear
river safely and would undoubtedly reach
Rawlins. We have been counting the hours
which it will probably take for relief to reach
us. We all agree that Merritt from Fort Rus
sell, with the companies of the 9TH Cavalry
there and all available troops, will be ordered
to our rescue, as they will all be needed to fin
ish the campaign The field of battle was ad
mirably chosen by the Indians, and had it not
been for Major Thornburghs advance guard,
commanded by Lieut. Cherry, discovering the
ambuscade the entire command would have
been annihilated. He saw small party of In
dians disappear over hill half mile in front,
and at once divided his party to reconnoitre,
and only discovered them when he had flank
ed their position by 200 yards. Cherry rode
back at full speed with two or three men, and
notified Thornburgh who had already begun
his descent into the Deep Ravine, which was
intended to engulf the command. The In
dams were dismounted and lying down along
the crest of high steep ridge for 100 yards
from the point where the deadly assault would
have commenced The troops were with
drawn q 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 detachment of 10 picked men and
make reconnaissance and communicate if
possible with the Indians las it was thought
they only desired to oppose his approach to
their agency and would parley or have big
talk if they could be communicated with.)
Cherry moved on gallop with his men from
the right flank, and noticed a little movement
of about twenty Indians from the left of the
Indian position. He approached to within
two hundred yards OF the Indians and took off
shot fred at him, wounding a man of his
party and killing his horse. This was the
first shot, and was instantly followed by vol
ley from the Indians Work now begun in
earnest, and seeing the advantage of the posi-
ton he held, Cherry dismounted his detach-
ment and deployed along the crest of the hill,
to prevent the Indians thanking his position,
or to cover retreat, if found necessary to re-
tire upon the wagon train which was then
coming up slowly guarded by Lieut.. Paddock
of Company D, Fifth Cavalry. Orders were
sent to pack the wagons and cover them, with
the company guarding them. The two COM
panies in advance were Capt. Payne, Company
f, Fifth Cavalry, and Capt. Larosons.
He could see Indians trying to cut him off
from the wagons, and at once sent word to
who then withdrew the line
slowly, keeping the Indians in check until OPP
posite the point which his men held. When
seeing the Indians concentrating to cut off his
retreat Captain Payne with Company F, Fifth
Cavalry, were ordered to charge the hill,
which he did in gallant style. His horse was
shot under him and several men wounded.
The Indians having been driven from this
point the company was rallied on the wagon
train. Major Thornburgh then gave orders to
Cherry to hold his position and cover CAPTAIN
Lawsons retreat, who was ordered to fall back
slowly with the led horses of his company.
Capt. Cherry called for volunteers of 90 men,
who responded promptly and fought with des-
peration. Their names will be given later.
Nearly every man was wounded before he
cached the camp, and two men were killed.
Capt Cherry brought every wounded man in
with him. Captain Lawson, a brave old vet |
eran, displayed the greatest GOODNESS and cour-
age during this retreat sending up ammuni-
ton to Cherry's men when once they were
back to the wagon train after giving his final |
orders to Capt Payne to charge the hill, and |
20 Capt. Lawson and Lieut.. Cherry to cover |
he retreat. He must have been shot dead
when barely half way there, as his body was
cen by one of Capt Lawson's men, life ex-
inct and lying on the face.
Capt. Payne, then in command, at once set |
bout having the wounded horses shot for
dismantling the wagons of boxes,
bundles OF bedding, corn and flour, the sacks
If which were quickly piled up for fortifica-
ions. Picks and shovels were used vigorously
or digging entertainments.
About this time great danger was approach
ng at a frightfully rapid pace. The red devils
1t the beginning of the fight had set fire to the
Try grass and to the sage brush to the wind
ward of our position, and it now came sweep
ing down towards us, the flames leaping high |
INTO the air and immense volumes of smoke
,olling on to engulf us. 1t was sight to make
he stoutest heart quake, and the fends were
waiting ready to give US yolley as soon as we
we're driven from our shelter 1t reached our
iank. and the blankets, blouses and empty
acks were freely used to extinguish the flames.
Some of the wagons were set on fire, requiring
I'll the force possible to smother it. No water
Gould be obtained, and the smoke was suffoca-
ing, but the fire passes and we still hold our
position. Meantime a constant volley poured
Upon us, Capt. Payne being wounded for the
second time, and First Sergeant Dolan of Co.
killed instantly; McKinstry and Mckee
we're killed. and many others wounded.
Our greatest danger now past, the men now
Mostly covered themselves, but the poor horses
md mules were constantly falling. About
shutdown a charge was attempted, brit it was
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