The New York herald., 1879-10-03
CAUSES OF THE HOSTILE MOVEMENT.
Encroachment of Miners and Too
Many Improvements.
THE GREAT UTE RESERVATION.
Strength and Resources Of
the Tribe.
[nY TELEGRAPH TO THE HKnA1D.1

General Merritt started at eleven O'CLOCK thls
morning with the advance Of his column.
consisting Of four companies of cavalry,
$50 infantry in wagons, altogether about
three hundred and fifty men and officers. Two
companies of infantry are encamped in town
awaiting wagon transportation The advance
have 100 mules, heavily packed with ammuni-
tion and rations. +.
PROSPECTS FOR RELIEF.
1t will be impossible for the advance of this
command to reach the Thornburgh expedition
before sunday night or Monday morning, before
will be very great, if they are able to retain
their position that long. There is no grass
along the route, the Utes having burned it all
before the outbreak and it is necessary to
transport forage for all the animals by wagons.
THE LAST INFORMATION.
No information has been received from the
unfortunate expedition since the night Of the
29th, at which time they were entering in a
narrow bottom Of Milk River, point 100 miles
south of Rawlins and 25 Wiles north of the Ute
reservation in Colorado, when they were COM
pletely surrounded by Indians, who held a posi-
ton on the high ground above the command
about four hundred yards distant. There is
water in the bottom, but it is not known if it is
enclosed within their breastworks If outside
they will be able to reach it only in the night
aud then ut great risk to those who undertake
it. Their position is as perilous as it possibly
could be, and one likely enough to follow when
$50 soldiers arc sent against q thousand or
more hostile Indians.
PRIOR TO THE FIGHT.
The night preceding the Milk River battlo
C0lorow and Ute Jack, two Ute chiefs Of very
bad reputation, visited the camp of Major
Thornburgh and informed him that he might
visit the agency with five men, but the
command would not be allowed to pro-
coed further, they acting under the
impression that the expedition were to
were asked by the officer to smoke, which they,
in contemptuous manner, refused to do. Yet,
after this, and knowing also from reliable nfor-
nation that the Indians had q war dance at the
agency, Thornburgh was obliged to obey his
orders and march on to almost certain death.
THE STORY OF THE FIGHr TOLD AT DENVER
THE INDIAN TAcTIcs--sAvAaEs WHO OBJECT
TO BEING CIVILIZED INTERVIEW WITH Gov-
ERNoR PIrKIN, OF COLORADO
by TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
DENVER, Oct. 2, 1870.
Information of the fight between Indians and
troops reached Denver about noon yesterday,
and was succeeded by general excitement, as it
was expected the militia would he ordered out.
Governor Pitkin being spoken to on. the subject
says:-"As the federal soldiers have taken the
matter in band the State will take no action, un-
less it becomes necessary. but when it does the
the frontier. A despatch was received here giving
the account Of the fight, of which send some
particulars that may not have reached you. A
supply train Of thirty three wagons and q com.
pany of infantry, with three cavalry companies.
made up Major Thornburghs command The
infantry company was dropped at Old Fortifca-
ton Camp to act guard to passing supply
trains and as u reserve Thornburgh's COM
mand, numbering about one hundred and sixty
Bear River, sixty-fivc miles north of the agency,
and outside of the reservation.
A FARLEY AND AN ADVANCE.
Ten Utcs came up and said they were hunt
ing, merely. The same ten Indians were met
ut Williams Fork Of Bear River This time
they suggested that Major Thornburgh should
leave his command where they were and pro-
coed with them, taking an escort of only five
men, to the White River Agency. Thornburgh,
however, feared another Modoc affair, and tie
cned to accept the invitation. lie then pro-
ccedcd ON his way with tho entire command,
and was met twenty-five miles north of the
agcncy by about three hundred warriors, who
had men lying in ambush.
INDIAN TACTICS.
Under the guidance of Scout Rankin they left
ti,c road above where the Indians were am
bushed, sthus avoiding another event which
wouldshavc been similar to the Custer massa-
ere. The command took the trail and met the
foe at several places.
Once tho Indians came up iu line about three