The daily gazette., 1879-10-09
The attack Upon and Siege of
TVnrnh,,r0h's Command.

CkEHENNE, W. - wv " ihS
courier from the front brings the follow q
ing from ali Off :er with the iaync com c
mand -
BATTLE-FIELD, MILK KIvER oct.
--6 p. M.-The courier will leave some {
time tonight with dispatches, II posi-. !
BILE. The Indians still surround us and ]
pour in an effective fire from the COM
manding bluffs at a distance OF 800 or
800 yards, having a cross fire upon our
position, which position was chosen
hastily ON the first day of the fight.
All our horses, and all but twelve
mules have been killed. We sheltered
them as best we could with wagons, but
to no purpose. Captain Dodge and
Lieutenant Hughes W tn Co. ID, 9th Cav
airy, came to our rescue yesterday morn-
ing at daybreak after a forced nights
march of thirty-hve miles from Bear
river. Cheer upon cheer rent the air
from our trenches when it was ascertain
ed who we're coming.
A lull In the firing enabled them to
come In and shelter horses as well as |
possible, taking to the Notifications quick
| ly when the attack redoubled its fury. |
Had the heights been accessible, Captain
Dodge would have charged them with
his company while we covered him from
our rifle pits, but this being utterly i'm
pOssib @, the ascent being nearly perpen-
dicuar, all we could do during the day
was to keep a good lookout from the
loop-holes, and return the fire when any
Ildian showed his head. This, however,
was very rare occurrence, as the In
dams have rife pits and loopholes.
Before dark every horse but three of
Captain DOdse's command vas shot
down.
Avery fortunate thing for us has been
that the Indians have left us unmolested
a. nigl t,with the exception Of an occasion
al shot to make us scatter to our pits. We
have been able, at great risk, to haul OIL
our dead animals every night, Otherwise
the stencil would be intolerable
A sally is made every night for water
a distance of 200 yards from our entlench-
ments. Night before last Pr vateer Err
ser, of Company +, was shot in the face
while out with party after wa er. The
Indians, who were only few yards away,
were driven of by volley from the
guard and trenches.
Captain Dodge brought us cheering
news that our dispatches reached Bear
river safely, and would undoubtedly
reach Rawlins. We all agree that Cen
eral Merritt, from Fort Russell, with the
com panies of the 5th Cavalry there and
all other available troops, will be ordered
to our rescue, as they will all be needed
to finish the campaign.
The field of battle was admirably
II chosen for defense by the Indians, ane
had 1t not been for Major Thornburgh':
advance guard, commanded by Lieuten
3. ant Cherry, discovering the ambuseade
=, the entire command would have beel
annihilated. We saw small party O
Indians disappearing over hill half |
mile in front, and at once divided hi
party to reconnoltre and only discovere'
them when he had flanked their position
by about two hundred yards.
Cherry rode back at full speed, will
- two or three men who were with him
\ and notified Major Thornburgh who ha'
J already began the descent into the dee
ravine, which was intended to engulf TIN
command. The Indians were dismOunt
G and lying down along the crest of tn
high, steep ridge for hundred yeard
from the point where the deadly assault
would have commenced.
The troops were withdrawn a shol
dis .ance, dismounted and deployed !
line of battle with orders to await the a
|
was here ordered by Thornburgh to tax
a detachment of fifteen picked men au
make a reconnaissance and cUmmunlcat
# possible with the Indians Gas it wa
thought they only desired to oppose h
approach to their agency and would pa
ley or have big talk, if they could b
- communicated WITH
Cherry moved out at gallop with h
men from the right flank, and noticed
like movement of about twenty IndiaI
from the left of the Indian position. II
approached within couple hundre
81 Yards of the Indians and took OIL his h;
and waved it, but the response was
shot fred at him, wounding man OF
party and killing his horse. This WI
the first shot, and was instantly followt
by volley from the Indians.
The work had now begun in real ear
est, and seeing the advantage of the p
sition he held Cherry dismounted h
r. detachment, and deployed along u
crest of the hill to pre- vent the India
flanking his position, or to cover the 1
treat if found ne cessary to retire up(
the wagon train, which was then comiI
- up slowly, guarded by Lieutenant Pa
~ dock, Company d, 9th Cavalry. Orde
were sent to pack the wagons and GOV
d them with the company guarding thei
The two companies in advance we
Captain Payne, Company F, 9th Cavalr
aud Captain Lawson, Company e,
\ Cavalry, which were disnounted al
deployed as skirmishers, Captain Pay
- on the left and Captain Lawson on &
OF OF right from Cherry's position.
M He could see that the Indians we
to trying to cut him off from the wagor
ire and at once sent word to Major Thor
VI 70; burgh, who then withdrew the Ii
ia slowly, keeping the Indians in check u
OF ii! opposite the point at which his I'M
6y held when seeing that the Indians we
''- concentrating to cut off his retreat Ca
,h. tain Payne with Company F, 9th Cav;
Es ry, was ordered to charge the hill, viii
is; 1s he did in gallant style, his horse bel
''' shot under him and several of his IN
. wounded, the Indians having be-
driven from this point.
The company was rallied on the wag
train. Major Thornburgh then ga
orders to Cherry to hold his position al
cover Captain Lawson's retreat, who W
ordered to fall back slowly with L
horses of his company.
Cherry called for volunteers of TIVE
tv man who respOndQd PROMPTLY a