Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-11-10
THE UTE CAMPAIGN
REPORTS or THE ENGAGEMENT ON
t MILK RIVER.
Capt. Payne Submits His Report of the
Tussle with the InGians-The Resistance
Against the Onslaughts of the Savages-
A Gallant Defense, Highly Commended
by tho General Officer Of the Army
CAPT. pAYNE's REPORT.


WASHINGTON, Nov. 8-Gen. Sherman, in for
warding the following report Of Capt. ]. Scott
Payne, Fifth cavalry, to the secretary of war,
endorses it as follows: This modest and most
admirable report is received after l have fin
ished my annual report, else should have en-
braced it almost entire as better description
of the fight ut Milk creek, September 10Th
last" Capt. Payne says: Lieut.. Cherry, ad-
jutant of the command, accompanied by Guide
Rankin and u small part Of the soldiers, was
in advance, and upon passing over some high
ground intermediate between the road we had
left and the trail, discovered Indians in heavy
force drawn up In line of battle; or, more cor
rectly speaking, lying in ambush along the
high ridges which completely covered and
perception Of the situation, Lieut.. Cherry
turned back and made signals for the command
retrace its steps. Just as the leading company,
F, Fifth cavalry was descending the ridge into
the valley beyond, company was Immediate
ly conducted to the side Of the hill on its left
flank, while E. Third cavalry, was halted on
the high ground it occupied, and both com.
panies at once dismounted and deployed by
Major Thornburghs orders as skirmishers, E,
Third cavalry on the right along the crest of
the ridge, and T company, Fifth cavalry, as
we'll up the side Of the hill which, constantly
ascending, stretched away indefinitely, as the
nature of the ground would permit. The
w.
The point towards the Indians, and that por-
tion of it formed by company, Fifth caval-
ry, projecting considerably beyond the points
of junction, and being depleted to the left so
as to prevent the enemy from turning our
flank. At this time attempts were made by
Cherry to com 4nunicate with the Indians, but
efforts in that direction were met by shot,
and at once heavy fire was opened on US,
and III, fight began all along our lines. The
Indians had displayed admirable skill
in the selection of the ground
upon which to give us battle. With sound
Of the situation, Maj. Thornburgh determined
to form g. junction with company u, Fifth
cavalry, which was protecting the wagon train,
and with that nd in view directed the COM
panies engaged to fall back slowly. The COM
mand retired as directed in perfect order, the
led horses being kept we'll protected between
the skirmish lines of the two companies,
whilst heavy and effective fire did great ex-
eoution among the savages and prevented an
attempt on their part to break through our
lines. Failing in their efforts in 'front.' the
Indians endeavored to cut the command off
from the train which had, by Mai. Thorn
burgh's ORDERS gone into the park on the right
bank of Milk river, and to accomplish this
purpose passed around our left flank beyond
carbine range and concentrated in great force
upon knoll to the left of and completely
commanding our line Of retreat. Maj. Thoru-
burgh, upon discovering this new danger,
directed NE to charge the knoll with twenty
men of my company, to sweep the Indians off
and then at euce, without attempting to hold
the hill, to fall back uron the train and take
measures for it's protection. The duty being
duly perfected and way opened for a return
Of the led horses, repaired to the wagon train
and at once took steps looking for its defense.
THE LAST OF THoRNBuRGH.
Maj. Thornburgh doubtless started for the
train shortly after giving me the order referred
to. and was shot and instantly killed just after
crossing the river aud within 500 yards of the
wagons. His gallantry was conspicuous from
first to last, and grief for his death was general
and profound. In the meantime Capt. Law
son, with company, Third cavalry, and Lieut..
Cherry, with detachment from + company
Third, and +, Fifth cavalry, CALAMITY held the
Indians in check in front, gradually retiring,
Lieut.. Cherry with his detachment covering the
retreat. Upon reaching the train found 1t
AGO yards from the water, wagons forming the
north side OF carroll, eleptcal in shape, its
long axis running east and west, and the south
side exposed to fierce fire from the Indians,
who, messing in raviues along the river and
upon commanding heights, were making q
determined effort to capture and destroy the
train before it could be placed in condition for
defense. The animals were crowded within
the area indicated. and at once directed some
twenty or more of those wounded to be led out
and SHOT along the open space referred to, thus
making continuous line Of Defense and af-
fording cover for our sharpshooters. As soon
as these arrangements were completed ths men
were ordered to unload the wagons, and using
bedding, grain and flour sacks f',r breastworks.
1 cannot speak too highly Of their conduit at
that time. Though exposed to CALLING fire,
by which many men and horses were stricken
down, they worked with alacrity and in e.
short time our corral was in as good a state of
defense as the means at hand would permit.
TIE GRASS ON FIRE.
About this time Lieut.. Paddock, who was
encouraging the men by the exposure of his
person and intell;gcntly and courageously car
rying out my instructions, was wounded in the
hip. As Capt. Lamson and Lieut.. Cherry, whose
gallant fight in covering tho re-
treat deserves high commentator, had
not yet returned to camp, l
became solicitous for their safety, and de-
tached Sergeant Pope, of my company, with
twelve men, to proceed down the road in the
direction from which they were approaching.
In short time thereafter l was greatly relieved
at seeing Capt. Lamson and Lieut.. Cherry
with their commands enter the entrenchments.
new and critical danger now threatened.
The Indians, foiled in their efforts to prevent a
concentration of cannon at the train or drive
US out by furious and continued fire, took
advantage of the high wind blowing directly
towards Us, fred the tall grass and sage brush