The New York herald., 1879-10-02


Williams informed your correspondent that the
Utes had evidently chosen their ground, and
to some extent surprised the command, who,
however, acted with the greatest Judgment and
gallantry. The command has twenty-five or
thirty wagons packed, which will greatly assist
in the defence. They have picks and spades for
of provisions, and it will be strange if, in their
intrenchments, they cannot hold the enemy at
bay until Merritt arrives.
THE INDIAN FORCE.
The officers and soldiers in this department.
are laboring under embarrassment from the
fact that the Ute Agency is in the Depart
ment of the Missouri. No officers of this de-
partment have campaigned through the region
or are familiar with it. From what can be
learned it is believed the Unitahs have gone on
the warpath with the Utes and number from
four hundred to eight hundred men
From the fact that Thornburgh's command
is in the intrenchments and his body is left out
side, it is believed the soldiers were attacked
by an overwhelming force and driven back
Thornburgh's command numbered 200
men. The Ute warriors are in the
mountains what the Cheyennes are on
the plains-equal to soldiers, man to
the Utes and Cheyennes the former were in
vincible in the mountains and the latter ON tho
plains.
The despatch received from Payne is some
what vague, but is understood to mean that ten
soldiers and q wagon master were killed and
twenty-five men and teamsters wounded.
GENERAL MERRITT.
General Merritt, commanding relief force,
is one of Sheridan's favorite cavalry command
brevetted for gallant and meritorious service
He took prominent part in the battles of Get
tysburg Winchester, Fishers Landing and
other fields. He took gallant part in Crooks
late Indian campaigns, and punished the Chey-
ennes severely in 1876 near Old Woman's Fork,
south of the Black Hills.
telegram has been received by the Depart
ment Quartermaster from Colonel Brownson,
freight contractor for Thornburgh's command,
on the road to Thornburgh, which are un-
doubtedly captured by the Indians.
MAJOR TnoRNBURGns CAREER.
Major Thornburgh was native of East Ten
nessee, and enlisted in the volunteer service
during the early part of the late civil war. He
soon rose to the rank Of captain and adju-
tant general, serving on the staff of
Brgadier General Spear, who commanded o
brigade Of Tennessee volunteers. About tho
year 1868 Captain Thornburgh, then mere
youth was appointed cadet at West Point,
where he graduated in the artillery department.
He was assigned to duty sucessively in Alaska,
| Washington Territory and California, and was
afterward transferred to tho Atlantic coast
He was subsequently appointed paymas-
ter with the rank of major, and after
remaining some time in the Pay De-
partment, tired of the monotony and
inactivity in this branch of the service and
wishing for outdoor life, sought and effected u
transfer with Major II. G. Thomas, of the
Fourth infantry, being the first case of the kind
ON record. BY this change Major Thornburgh
stepped above several ranking captains This
transfer occurred early in 1878.
CHASING TIE cHEYENNEs LAST YEAR.
During the Cheyenne outbreak of last year
Major Thornburgh was in command of the
troops sent to intercept them on the limo of the
Union Pacific Railroad, General Crook giving
him the command on account Of his being
great favorite and having much confidence in
him. The command was almost entirely
composed of recruits and infantry men
unused to horses, while the Cheyennes
were finely mounted and acquainted with the
country. He failed of success; yet he did good
and faithful service, some of the hardest work
on record, travelling the first day between sixty
and seventy miles, pursuing the Indians SO
closely that they abandoned nearly all their
plumber. Major Thornburgh was one of the best
rifle shots and horscmen in the United States
Army. 1t is said by his friends that with prac-
tice he could have equallcd Carver in rifle
shooting. He was man of splendid physique,
with u noble, manly appearance, which im-
pressed every one. He was an ambitious, brave
and gallant officer, and n genial, hearty and
wholcsouled gentleman, the very embodiment
of jovial good nature In Omaha where
he resided for some time, hc was well known and
he has host of friends here. lie was brother
of cx-Congrcssman Thornburgh, of Tennessee.
He leaves wife and two children, who are now
at Fort Fred Steele. Major DIR. Clark, pay