The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-12
THE UTE MURDERERS !
Fifteen Hundred Men in the Field
Against Them.
WAR DEPARTMENT EXPLANATIONS.
The Indians at the Uintah Agency
Reported Quiet.
lBy TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALp.l

ny TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.1
WASHINGTON. Oct. IL. 1879.
The only Official despatch received to-day at this
War Department from General sheridan, who
autographed General Sherman that General Merritt
would begin active operations against the Utes with
force of 1900 men, and was instructed to make
terms with them. If they desired to cease hostile
ties. short of IN unconditional surrender.
The letter of Miss Rose Meeker, the daughter Of
the Indian agent at White River. published in the
HERALD to-day. attracted much attention among the
army officials duty at the War Department. She
has the sympathy of them all in her terrible trial.
but it is claimed that she could not have
known that the letter of her father. of which
she speaks. did not reach the War Department
until long after Major Thornburgh's command was
the line of march for the agency in obedience to
the request Of the Interior Department to send
troops to White River to protect Agent Meeker and
the white employees there. The War Department
officials think but just to the army that the fact
should be known, lest tho charge made by Miss
Meeker be accepted true. Miss Meeker says
i'll her letter:-"IIad there been half as much
expedition and force put in operation from the time
OF my fathers calling for troops until the battle as
there has been since the battle this horri-
bio massacre would have occurred
The government with its slow move
nents has let my father be murdered. when
it could have been prevented. My father wrote
Governor Pitkin on September 10 that his and all
the lives at the agency peril. and requested
troops. After three weeks delay so small detach.
ment sent that it overcome. giving the Ind
ians more power than they had before"
DELAY COMMUNICATION.
The letter referred to as having been written on
the 10th of September did not reach Governor Pit
kin until the 14th of September and was two days
afterward sent to General Pope. commanding the
Department of the Missouri The day that
Governor Pitkin received the letter he photographed
General Pope and received despatch to
the effect that company OF cavalry had
been ordered to proceed at once to the White River
Agency. This the company commanded BY
Captain Dodge and operating at that time in break
ing up Indian and looking after the Utes. who
were charged with being OFT their reservation. In
this letter of Agent Meeker. after detailing to Gov
ernor Pitkin the troubles he had with the agency
Indians, he concludes by saying:-T have
no confidence in any of them and feel
that none OF the white people are safe
know they are not, if we 90 on to perform work
directed by the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs. 3
Here my wife and daughter in this condition.
Confer with General Pope, the Commissioner. and
Teller. At least hundred soldiers oughe
to como hither to protect and keep the Utes on
their reservation. Should be more. Don't let this
application get inthe papers for know the Indians
will hear of it in few days. OF course what the
Indians have done is matter OF news.
THE INDIANS FonEwARNED. F.s4
Three days after Agent Moeker wrote the letter in
which he appealed for troops and before it reached
its destination. he despatched courier to Rawlins
the nearest telegraph station. with telegram adj
dressed to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs set
ting forth that the of troops was absolutely
necessary for the protection of tho lives of tho
whites. This telegram received on the 18th. and
on the day formal application was made by the
Acting Secretary for troops. and OF the lotter
was immediately telegraphed to General Sheridan.
Not day lost in carrying out the instructions
and as it was possible tho command OF
Major ThornburQh was the march for
the agency. The letter Of MIR. Meeker was
promptly forwarded to General Sheridan by
General Pope. but did not reach Chicago
until after the orders of Major Thornburgh
were publicly known at Omaha and othea
points along the Union Pacific Railroad. and hence
the caution which Agent Meeker made that hia
application for troops should not DO made
public came too late. The War Depart
ment officials say, however. that 1t would
have been impossible to prevent knowledge Of the
movement OF the troops. 1t was necessary to order
cavalry from several posts. and reference s made to
long despatch. printed in the HERALD of the 10th
or September. from Omaha, giving the details q
tho expedition and the instructions under which
Major Thornbureh to act. This information. u
supposed, reached the agency some time before the
column was ready to move and warned the Utes OF
the approach OF the troops. Their conduct accused
them of the necessity for calling for troops. and
with their suspicious traits it is claimed that they
must have been the alert. and must have made
preparations accordingly to meet the forcc sent out
to protect the agent.
on A SAD ERIAND.
The Secretary of the Interior to-day appointed
Mr. Ralph Meckcr to be special agent Of the de-
partment for the purpose of visiting the White River
Agency the earliest practicable day and recovering
the bodies of his father. Agent Mccker. and such
other persons at tho agency may have been killed.
He is also intrustcd with the duty of gathering up
the papers. &C.. of tho agency. he starts tonight
for Rawlins.
QUIET AT THE urSTAH AGENCY.
Tho Acting Commissioners OF Indian Affairs has re.
ceved telegram from T. II. Parsons, dated Salt
Lake City yesterday, sayng:-"I LETT the Uintah
Agency Sunday. Agent Critchland desired to
inform you that his Indians well disposed
and remain at tho agency. II any trouble occurs,
it will be a new development" The Uintsh Agency.
situated in tho northeastern part of Utah. Is tho
Ute agency nearest tho White River and the depart
mcnt is encouraged by this despatch in its belief
that the Utcs OF the White River Agency will not be
assisted their hostilites by any other portion OF
their tribo.
CAPTAIN DODGE coMPIIMESrED IN ORDERS.
LEAvESwoRrH. Kan. Oct. IL. 1879.
General Pope, Commander of the Department Of
Missouri, yesterday issued general orders highly
complimentng Captain Il. \. Dodge, of the Ninth
cavalry The following is an oxtract:-
The department commander takes peculiar pleas
rre in exercising his privilege thus publicly and
formally to express his high appreciation and hearty
commentator of the gallant and soldicrly conduct
OF Captain Francis 5. Dodge, Ninth cavalry and tho
officers and mon of his Company, ID, Ninth cav
airy, in forcing n junction with the forces