Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-10-02
In A MAN TRAP.
MAJOR THORNBURGh'S COMMAND
AMBUSCA0ED
By Several Hundred Ute Indians on Mill
Greek, Wyoming --ThOrnburgh and
Thirteen Soldiers Killed-Re-
Inducements Forwarded.

here on our marcn 10 the agency we
retreated in good order to the wagon
train, where we are now entrenching
ourselves as fast as possible.
1880 P. M.-Thornburg was killed
instantly during the retreat, Captain
Payne wounded in two places slightly,
and Lieutenant Pollock and Captain
Crimes were also painfully but not
dangerously wounded. Ten enlisted
men and Wagon Master Nc
Kinstry were killed and at least
twenty-five men and teamsters wound
ed. The command IS very well shell
tered, but now and then the guns OF the
new hostiles, who have Just arrived, are
heard. Our poor mules and horses are
getting it all around. The red devils
fired the grass all around us to burn us
out.
We still hold our position. Every
man is busy digging trenches and haul
inc out the dead animals for defense for
tomorrow, for we fully expect them
back at daylight.
Milk RIVER, COL, September %
M.-Our courier, Joe Rankin, has
volunteered to carry dispatches to Raw
Inns. Mr.. Gordon, whose freight outfit
of Indian supplies was near us when
the fight commenced, has been burned
out bv the fire; as also the company
wagons of Company F, Fifth cavalry.
Captain Payne had his horse killed and
Lieutenant Cherry's was also shot dur
inc the retreat. Captain LinwoOd and
Lieutenant Cherry are unhurt, though
men were killed all around them.
About three-fourths of our horses and
mules have been killed. Should REIN
forcements reach us in five days we can
hold out very well with our supplies and
ammunition.
CHICAGO, October l.-Gen. Sheridan
has the following dispatch regarding the
Indian fight:
To General Crook, Omaha:
have ordered Merritt with four COM
panies from Fort Mcpherson and all
that can be spared from Sanders and
from the companies from Douglass 10
rendezvous at once at Rawlings. This
gives $50 men. also ordered two COM
panies from Robinson, one from Lara
mie and one from Fetterman to march
at once 10 the railroad TO meet emer-
gencies. Giles is ordered to confer with
Merritt, and forward transportation.
TSigned1 Il. WILLIAMS,
assistant Idjutam GG'erdi.
The second dispatch, like the above,
is dated Fort Omaha, and is addressed
to General Crook.
The following has been received:
MILK RIVER, CAL, Sept. %, $50 NJ.
The command composed OF three
companies OF Cavalry, was met mile
south of Milk river by several hundred
Indians. who attacked and drove us to
the wagon train with great loss. 1t be-
comes my painful duty to announce the
death OF Major Thornburg, who Tell IN
the harness, the painful but not serious
wounding OF Lieutenant HaddOck and
| DIR. Grimes, the death OF ten enlisted men
and the wagon master, with the wOunding
oiabUut twcntym andteamSters. l am
cOrralltd near water with about three
quarters oimy enemies, killed attera des-
perate fight. Since 2M. we have held
or position. | shall strengthen it dur
inc the night, and believe we can hold
out until reinlorccments reach us, II
they are hurried. The officers and men
behaved with the greatest gallantry. |
am also slightly wounded i'll two places,
TSignedl PAYNE,
Commanding.
Ogden, UTAH, October l.-Major Bry-
ant of the Fourteenth infantry, with
four companies, Lett here this evening
for the relief of Major Thornburg' COM
mand. They will Leave Rawlins to-mor-
row morning.
WASHINGTON, October 1.-The follow
ING telegram was received this after
noon:
RAWLINGS, Wy, October l.
10 I. f. HoI, Commissioner Of Indian
11aiS:
Since the arrival of the mail from
White River Agency, a special meSSen-
ger has arrived, and reports Major
| Thornburg's command as having been
attacked bv Indians on Milk Greek,
eighteen miles north of the agency. and
| the Major and thirteen soldiers killed.
| fear that Agent Meeker and the en-
plOycs are all massaCred, rs the two
teams and WAGONS transferring Indian
supplies from here have been destroyed.
iSignedI JAMES FRANCE.
E1plar alton of the Disaster.
OMAHA. October l.-As a wrong in
| ference may be drawn respecting the
management of the campaign against the
| Ute Indians, the following explanation
| is given: The UteS are TO the noun
tain Indians what the Cheyennes are to
the crafty and wiley plain Indians.
They are feared by all the other tribes,
who can i'll combat with them in their
own homes. The country which they
| inhabit is very rugged and mountainous
and heavily timbered, and is Just the
| place for ambusCadeS. Old Indian
| fighters are united in saying that the
Utes are willy, hard fighters and fero-
cious and the best planners OF ambus-
cades. They are, at the same time,
/ treacherOus to the greatest degree, and,
though Major Thornburgh expected
| that they would remain peaceable. He
reported that he was. nevertheless, most
| vigilant and cautious. There Is moth
/ ing 10 lead to the inference that he was
otherwise than brave and intrepid,
vet was caution itself, and never impet-
uous. His early training in the service,
! amidst scenes calculated 10 school him
| To become a cautious leader and good
! iudge in such matters fitted him for just
| this sort of work. As a paymaster and
| traveller he has been in varied scenes
tending to nerve him and keep him well
| balanced, winning for himself a high
reputation as scout and and an Indian
| fighter. Therefore, the only inference
that can be drawn is that Thornburg did
not blunder but fell into one of the
most carefully laid ambuscade and could
not extricate the brave fellows he had
/ with him.
The courageous act OF the courier who
brought the news, deserves honorable
mention, for though under the cover OF
darkness it may not oe a difficult task to
cut off from the lines, yet on such
nights as these. with a bright moon
shining,the deed is attended with greater
hazard. The military authorities are
unanimous in the belief that
The Worst has Now Been Told,
for Lieutenant Payne is strongly en-