Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-11-13
BATTLE.
Capt. Pa Es's Report of the Battle of
MIX River.
Graphic Account of the First COBfiiet
with the Utes-The a OF mel.
1~hOrnbRrgh The Gallant
Fight of lhe TrOOps-De-
lermtnGd Attack OF
the Redskins,

j. Scott Payne, 5th Cavalry, to the Secre'
tary of War. Endorses it as follows:
d. This modest and most admirable report
is received after | have finished my annual
report, else | should have embraced il
almost entire as a better description of the
fight at Milk Creek, september 18th,
last.
Capt. Payne says that Lieut.. Cherry,
Adiutant of the command, accompanied
by Guide Rankin and a small party OF
soldiers, was in advance, and upon passing
over some high ground intermediate be-
tween the road we had left and the trail,
discovered the Indians in heavy force
rectly speaking, lying in ambush along
the high ridges which completely covered
and commanded the road.
With quick and soldierly perception of
the situation, Lieut.. Cherry turned back
and made signals for the command to re-
trace its steps. Just as the leading COM
pany IF. 9Th Cavalry was descending the
ridge into the valley beyond, Company E
was Immediately conducted to the side of
the hill on its left flank, while E, of the Sd
Cavalry, was halted on the high ground it
occupied, and both companies at once ois-
mounted, and deplOyed by Maj. Thorn
burgh's orders, as skirmishers, + { dCav-
airy on the right along the crest of the
ridge, and E company, 9Th Cavalry, as
well up the side of the hill which. con-
stantly ascending, stretched away indef-
nitely, as the nature of the ground would
permit Our line at this time resembled
the letter V, the points toward the Indians,
and that portion of it formed by + Com
pany, 9th Cavalry, projecting considerably
beyond the point of junction and being
detected to the left so as to prevent the
enemy from turning our flank. At this
time attempts were made by Major Thorn
burgh in person. and by Lieutenant Cher
ry. to communicate with the Indians, but
efforts in that direction were met by a shot.
and at once a hot ire was opened upon US,
and the 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
judgment and q quick and thoroueh per-
ception of the situation, Major Thorn
burgh determined to form a junction with
Company d, 9th Cavalry, which was pro-
tecting the wagon train, and with that
end in view directed the companies
engaged to fall back. slowly. The CONS
mand retired as directed in perfect order,
the lead horses being kept well protected
between the skirmish lines of the two COM
panies, while a heavy and effective fire did
great execution among the savages, and
prevented an attempt on their part TO
break through our lines. Failing in their
A AA0Abt ~ a. w
cut the command off from the train, which
had, By Major Thornburgh's order, gone
into a park on the right bank of Milk
River, and to accomplish this purpose
passed around our left flank, beyond the
carbine range, and concentrated in great
force upon a knowl to the left of US, and
completely commanding our line of re-
treat. Major T~hornburgh, upon discover
ing this new danger, directed me to charge
the knowl with twenty men of my con-
pany, to sweep the Indians off, and then at
once, without attempting to hold the bill,
to fall back upon the train, and take meas
ures for its protection. This duty being
performed, and the way opened for a re-
turn of the led horses, l repaired to the
wagon train, and at once took steps look
ing to its defence. Major ~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, INC within five hun
dred yards of the wagons. His gallantry
was conspicuous from first to last, and the
grief for his death was general and pro-
found.
In the meantime Capt. Lawson, with e
Company, Sd Cavalry, and Lieut.. Cherry
with a detachment from E Company, Sd
and T, 9Th Cavalry, gallantly held the In
dams in check in font, gradually retiring,
Lieut.. Cherry, with his detachment, COW
ering the retreat. Upon reaching the train
| found it parked on the right bank of
Milk River, about two hundred yards from
the water, the wagons forming the north
side Of a corral, eliptical in shape, its long
axis running east and west, and the south
side exposed to the fierce fire from the
Indians, who, massing in the ~ravines
along the river and upon commanding
heights were making q determined effort to
ca pture and destroy the train before it
pOul6 no DlapQd in ponhifi0D for dofopoo
The animals were crowded within the area
indicated, and | at once directed twenty or
more OF those wounded to be led out and
shot, along the open space referred to, thus
making continuous our line of def nse, and
attOrding cover for our sharp shooters. As
soon asthese arrangements were completed,
the men were ordered to unload the
wagons and to use bedding, grain
and -four sacks for breastworks. /
can not speak too highly of their conduct
at this tine. Though exposed to a gall
ing fire, by which many men and horses
were stricken down, they worked with
alacrity and courage, and in a short time
our corral Was in as good a state of defense
as the means at hand woald permit. About
this time Lieut.. Paddock, who was en-
couraging the men by exposure of his per-
son, and intelligently and courageously
carrying out my instructions, was wounded
in the hip. AS Capt. Lawson and Lieut..
Cherry, whose gallant fight in covering the
retreat deserved high Communications, had
not yet returned to camp, / became So
llcitous for their safety, aud detached Ser
geant Pope, of ny company, with twelve
men to proceed down the road in the di>
rection from which they were approach.
ing. In a short time thereafter [ was
greatly relieved at seeing Capt. Lawson
and Lieut.. Cherry, with their commands.
enter the entertainments.
A new and critical danger now threat
ened us. The Indians, foiled in their
efforts to prevent a concentration of our
men at the train, or to drive US out of it bv
a furious and concentrated fire, took ad-
vantage of a high wind, blowing directly
toward US, and fred the tall grass and sage
brush down at the river. At the moment
this peril was realized, l observed that the
supply train of John Gordon was parked
within seventy-fve yards CT my position,
and so situated as to command our ap-
proach to the water. Seeing this, and
fearing that under cover of the smoke the
Indians might make a Judgment in this
train, which, in my judgment, would have
been disastrous to the command, and with
the further view of burning the grass on
the north side of the corral to present as
little substance as possible to the Indian
fire when it should approach, I directed
the grass on that side to be fred, and in a
few minutes was gratifed to see Gordon's
train in flames. The fire down the valley
approached with great rapidity and struck
the exposed point of the corral, and in a
few moments threatened us with destruc-
ton. The officers and men at this critical
Doon,opf whan tho Indians modo THAR