Connecticut western news., 1879-10-08
The Milk River Slaughter.
THE STORY OF THE FIGHT TOLD AT DEN YER - THE INDIAN TACTICS - sAvAGEs WHO OBJECT TO BEING CIVILIZED.

WHO oBJEor TO BEING CIVILIZED.
 Information of the fight between h. dians and the troops has reached Denver and was succeeded by general excite ment, as it, was expected the militia would be ordered out. Governor Pitkin being spoken to on the subject says:- GAS tfe federal soldiers have taken the matter in hand the State will take no action, unless it becomes necessary, but when it does the State is ready. It may be necessary to protect the frontier. A dispatch was received here giving the account of the fight, of which I send some particulars that may not have reached you. A supply train of thirty three wagons and company of infantry, with three cavalry companies, made up Major Thornburgh's command. The infantry company was dropped at Old Fertilization Camp to act as a guard to passing supply trains and as reserve. Thornburgh's command, numbering about one hundred and sixty men, pro- ceeded, and met the first Indians at Bear River, sixty five miles north of the agency, and outside of the reservation.
 Ten Utes came up and said they were hunting, merely. The same ten Indi- ans were met at Williams Fork of Bear River. This time they suggested that Major Thornburgh should leave his command where they were and proceed with them, taking an escort of only five men, to the White River Agency. Thorn burgh, however, feared another Modoc affair, and declined to accept the invita- tion. He then proceeded on his way with the entire command, and was met twenty.fv miles north of the agency by about three hundred warriors, who had been lying in ambush.
 Under the guidance of Scout Rankin they left the road above where the Indi- ans were ambushed, thus avoiding another event which would have been similar to the Custer massacre. The command took the trail and met the foe at several places.
 Once the Indians came up in line about three hundred yards away from the troops, but Thornburgh ordered his men not to fire until the Indians did, saying:
 "My orders are positive, and if I vio- late them and survive, 8 court martial may follow. I feel as though myself I,o
 By this time the Indians had hanked the troops, and, uttering the Ute war whoop, opened fire. The wagon train was corralled about three-fourths of 8 mile in the rear of the command, and fought on foot, slowly retreating.
 Seeing his danger, Malor Thornburgh charge for his train. Thornburgh and thirteen men were killed. The others reached the train and made breastworks of the wagons and held the position until half-past eight on Monday night, when the Indians withdrew. In the en- tire engagement there were fourteen killed and thirty-four wounded. Every officer was shot except Lieutenant Cher ", of tho Fifth cavalry. Two hundred head of mules were killed. Surgeon Grimes was wounded, but is still able for duty.
 The settlers on Snake River are leav- ing. They report that Agent Meeker and all the employees were killed on Sun- day. MT. Meeker's wife and daughter were with him at the agency. The In- dians have been burning great quanti- ties of timber and grass and committing other depredations, creating damage amounting to millions. This first began in the uninhabited districts, then on the night of the 9th of July they burned the houses belonging to J. B. Thomp- son, for many years general agent of the Utes, and an effort to arrest the crimin- als failed. Troops were called for by Governor Pitkin and 8 company was sent to Middle Park, 100 miles from the agency.