The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-10-02
Last NIGHTS Dispatches.
THE INDIANS.

OMAHA, Oct. 1.-Respecting Thorn.
burg's encounter with the Indians, a wrong
inference may be drawn unless the true
state of things be fully given. The Utes
are to the mountain Indians what the
Cheyennes are to the crafty aDd willy plain
| Indians. They arc feared by all other
tribes, " no can not combat with the them
In their own homes. The country which
they inhabit is very rugged and mountain
Gus and heavily tim mbered and Just the
place for amDuscades Old Indian fight
ers with whom we have to-day held con-
verse are united in saying that the Utes
are willy. hard fighters and ferocious. I he
best at planning amDuscades, they are at the
same time teacherous to the greatest de-
gree. and though Major Thornburg ex
pected they would remain peaceable re-
ported that he was nevertheless most
vigilant and cautious. There is nothing
to tend to the inference that he was other
wise than brave aud intrepid. He was yet
caution itself and never lmpetuous. His
early training in the service amidst scenes
calculated to school him to become a
cautious leader aud good judge in such
matters, have fitted him for just this sort
OF work. As United States paymaster
and traveller he has been in various scenes
tending to nerve him and keep him well
balanced, winning for himself high reputa-
ton as a scout and Indian fighter. Thus
the only inference that can be drawn is
that Major Thornburg did not blunder. but
fell into one of the most carefully laid
ambuscades and could not extricate the
brave fellows he had with him, and when
the gallant leader fell bis late command |
fell upon good shoulders, Lieut.. Payne.
j'he couriers courageous act in bring |
Nt off Il han IL /
ton; though under cover of darkness it |
may be difficult task to cut off from the |
lines. yet on such nights as these, with ,
bright moon shining cut the deed is at
tended with greater hazards. The military |
authorities are unanimous ia their belief |
that the worst has now been told for
Lieut.. Payne is strongly entrenched near
to water, well provisioned, and will further
fortify himself by throwing up earth works
which, with the wagon train. will enable
him to hold his own till reinforcements ap-l
pear to aid him, which will be soon. The
courier brought the news direct to Rawlins
and by o'clock the Intelligence had been
flashed to Fort Omaha. Gen. Williams
in less than quarter of an hour was at
work giving orders, consulting Gen Crook,
who is in Chicago, and ordering matters
forward. Gen Merritt at Ft d. A. Rus
sci, Cheyenne, was telegraphed to and |
ordered to the command of the expedi-
ton. The message was carried by the |
operator who received it at the latter
place to the general at his headquarters on
horse back at breakneck speed. Gen.
Merritt at once began preparing for the
The same was true of the
arrangements at Camp Douglas, Salt
l. AXE, and no time was lost but everything
perfected at short notice. At Fort Me-
oh 'rson and Sanders this activity was
duplicated. The Union Pacific railway
though called upon to do all the most ex-
traordinary things, yet worked 10 harmony
With the military and troops. All are now
en- route to Rawins. from which point
succor will be sent out. \ special train
1f four cars Of troops from Camp Douglas
left Ogden at 2 p, m today for the scene
Of the late outbreak. The train is under
men aud GOO horses left Cheyenne to day
For Rawlins. Our company left Fort
Saunders and two companies of cavalry
left Fort Mcpherson to-day for Fort
Steele. The latter had their horses, bag
gage, etc., with them Troops have been
ordered forward from Forts Fetterman
and Robinson and will leave for the seat of
war as soon as they reach the railroad by
special train.
Gen, Merritt, TO whom The command Of
the expedition was given, is one OF the :
best Indian fighters in the country, and
his troops have accomplished wonderful
hings. At ll:45 o'clock this forenoon he
Gen. Williams that he would
De ready to start at 4 o'clock tomorrow
morning with force Of $50 men and ami
mails and provisions in plenty. i rapid
march viii be forced and relief will soon
each the men II peril Maj. Thorn
ourgh's body, as fret ,8eutioned has not
oeen recovered, bat lies in front of his
and cannot be procured.
MAJ. Thornburgh was a very powerful
nan, fully six feet two inches 10 height,
'otive and very muscular, magnificent |
hot. and "a daring horseman. He had .
piercing black eyes and wore : black
,eard in Englisa style. with black hair :
.nd was withal a handsome officer. He
caves wife and two children, one hav-
ug recently died, who are at Fort Steel,
shither his father-in-law, Mayor Clark,
ourneyed this morning.