The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-10-16

| lar I'll VIZ COulu 40 curing G16 Gay wa
to keep good look out from the lool
hole, and return the fire when any Ii
dian showed his head. This, howeve
was very rare occurrence, as the II
dams have rifle pits and loop holes. b
fore dark every horse but three of Car
tain Dodge's command was shot dowI
A very fortunate thing for US has bee
that the Indians have left us unmoleste
al night, with the exception of an occq
sional shot to make us scatter to our pitt
We have been able, at great. risk, t
haul off our dead animals every nigh
otherwise the stencil would be intolera
BILE.
A sally is made every night for water
a distance of two hundred yards fron
our intrenchments. Night before lasl
Private Erser of Company F, was sho
in the face while out with a party afte
water. The Indians were only few
yards away, and were driven off by
volley from the guard and trenches.
Captain Dodge brought us the cheering
news that our dispatches reached Bea
river safely, and would undoubtedly
reach Rawlins. We have been counting
the hours which it will probably take fol
the relief to reach us. We all agree tina
General Merritt, from Fort Russell, with
the companies of the Fifth Cavalry
there, and all other available troops
will be ordered to our rescue, as they
will all be needed to finish the cam
paign.
MAJOR THoRNBURGHs BATTLE.
The field of battle was admirably cho
sen for defense by the Indians, and had
1t not been for Major Thornburgh's ad
vance guard, commanded by Lieut.. Cher.
ry, discovering the ambuscade, the en-.
tire command would have been annihi.
lated. He saw a small party Of Indians
disappear over hill half mile in front
and at once divided his party to recon.
noiter, and only discovered them when
he had fanked their position By about
two hundred yards. Cherry rode back
at full speed with two or three men who
were with him, and notified Major
Thornburgh, who had already began the
descent into the deer ravine. The Indi.
ans were dismounted, and lying down
along the crest of the high, steep ridge
not hundred yards from the point
where the deadly assault would have
been commenced. The troops were with.
drawn a short distance, dismounted and
deployed in line of battle, with orders
10 await the attack of the Indians, but
Cherry was here ordered by Thoruburgh
take a detachment of fifteen picked men
and make reconnaissance, and commu-
niCate, if possible, with the Indians, as
it was thought they only desired to op.
pose his approach to their agency, and
would parley, or have big talk, if they
could be communicated with.
Cherry moved out at gallop with his
men from the right flank, and noticed a
likesmovement of about twenty Indians
from the left ofthe Indian position. He
approached to within couple of hund.
red yards of the Indians, took off his hat
and waved it, but the response was q
shot fred at him, wounding one of his
party and killing his horse. This was
the first shot and instantly followed by
volley from the Indians. The work
began in earnest, and Cherry, seeing the
advantage of his position, dismounted
his men, and deployed along the crest OF
the hill to prevent the Indians Aanking
his position, or to cover the retreat, il
found necessary to retire upon the wagon
train, which was then coming up slowly,
guarded by Lieut.. Paddock of Co. D, 9th
Cavalry. Orders were sent to pack the
wagons and cover them, with the com.
pany guarding them. The two compa.
MES in advance were Capt. Payne, fifth
cavalry, and Capt, Lawson's, third cav
airy, which were dismounted and de.
ployed as skirmishers, Payne's on the left
and Lawson's on the right. From Cher
ry's position he could see the Indians
we're trying to cut him off from wagons,
and at once sent word to Major Thorn.
burgh, who then withdrew the line slow
ly, keeping the Indians in check until
opposite the point which his men had,
when, seeing that the Indians were con.
centrating to cut off his retreat, Captain
Payne was ordered to charge the hill,
which he did in gallant style, his horse
being shot under him and several of his
men wounded. The Indians having
been driven from this point, the com.
pany was rallied on the wagon train.
Major Thornburgh then gave Cherry
orders to hold his position, and cover
Lawsona retreat, who was ordered to
fall back slowly with the lead horses OF
his company. Cherry called for volun.
teers of twenty men, whe promptly re-
sponded, and fought with desperation.
Their names will be given hereafter, az
nearly every man was wounded before
he reached camp, and two were killed.
Cherry brought every wounded man in
with him. Capt, Lawson, the brave old
veteran, displayed the greatest coolness
and courage during the retreat, sending
up ammunition to Cherry's men, when
once they we're nearly without it.
HOW THoRNBURGH FELL.
Major Thornburgh started back to the
wagon train, after giving his final orders
to Capt. Payne to charge the hill, and to