The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-10-09
Gallant Defense Of the Brave Little
Band-Arrival Of Capt. Dodge's
Colored Eoys = The
Dead, Wound,d,
ant Dying.
HURRAHl HURRAH! !
sRN. MERRITT HAS COME
How the Beleagnred Forces Welcomed
the Reinforeements = List Of
Casualties Graphic
Description.

II description. III
Battle Field, Milk river, Oct. a.
Six O'Clock, p. ma courier will leave
some time tonight with dispatches II
possible. The Indians still surround
us and pouring an effective FIRE from the
commanding bluffs at distance of
four or five hundred yards, having a
cross fire upon our position, which po-
sition was chosen hastily on the first
day of the fight.
Allour horses and all but twelve mules
have been shot. We sheltered them
as best wecould with wagons, but to no
purpose
Capt. Dodge and Lieut. Hughes with
Co. D. Ninth cavalry, came to our res
cue yesterday morning at daybreak,
after forced night march Of thirty
Eve miles from Bear river. Cheer upon
cheer rent the air from our trenches
when it was ascertained who we're COM
ing. A lull in the firing enabled them
to come in and shelter their horses
as well as possible, taking to the
Notifications quickly, when the attack
redoubled Its fury.
Had the heights been accessible, Capt.
Dodge would have charged them with
his company while we covered him
from our rifle pits; but this being ut
terly impossible, the ascent being near
ly perpendicular, all we could do was to
keep good lookout from the lsopholes
and return the fire when an In
dian showed bis head. This, however,
was very rare occurrence as the In
dams have rife pits and loop holes
Before dark every horse but three Of
Capt. Dodge's command was shot
down.
A very fortunate thing for Us has
been the fact that the Indians did not
molest us at night, with the exc option
Of an occasional shot to make us scat
ter to our pits.
We have been able at great risk to
haul of our dead animals every night
otherwise the stencil would be intolera-
BILE.
A sally is made every night for water
at distance of 2O0 yards from our en-
trenchments.
Night before last Private Erser of
Fcompany was shot in the face while
out with party for water. The In
dams were only few yards away and
were driven of by volley from the
guard and trenches.
Capt. Dodge brought us cheering
news: that our dispatches. had reached
Bear river safely and would undoubted-
ly reach Rawlins..
We have been counting the hours it
will probably take for relief to reach
US. We all agree that Gen. Merritt Of
Fort Russell with the companies Of the
Fifth cavalry there and all other avail
able troops will he ordered to our rescue
az they will be needed to finish the cam
paign.
The field Of battle was admirably
chosen for defence by the Indians and
had 1t not been for Major Thornburgh's
advance guard commanded by Lieut..
Cherry, discovering the ambuscade, the
entire command would have been anni-
hilated. He saw small party of In
dians disappear over hill, half mile
in front and at once divided his party
to reconnoitre and only discovered
them when he had fianked their posi-
tion 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 deep ravire which was intended to
engulf the command.
The Indians were dismounted and
lying down along the crest of high,
steep ridge not a hundred yards from
the point where the deadly assault
would have commenced.
The two companies were withdrawn
ashort distance, dismounted and de-
ployed in line of battle, with orders tc
await the attack Of the Indians.
Lieut.. Cherry was here ordered BY
Thornburgh to take . detachment Of
fifteen picked men and make recon
noissance and communicate with
the Indians II 1t was possible, a.
1t was thought that they only desired
to oppose his approach to their agenc,
and would parley or have a big talk i
they could be communicated with
Cherry moved out at gallop with bill
men, from the right flank and noticed
like movement Of about twenty Indi
ans from the left Of the indiana
position. He approached to within
acouple Of hundred yards of the Indians
e1d took OF his hat and waved it, bul
the response was shot fred at him
woundIng man Of his party and kill
Ing his horse. This was the first sho'
and was instantly followed by q volle,
from the Indians. The work had nov
begun in real earnest and seeing th'
advantage Of the position he then hex
Cherry dismounted his detachment ant