Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-10-17

i OF ms men wounded, Ihe Indians
! having been driven from this poiut. the
company was rallied in the wagon
train. Major Thoruhurgh then gave
orders to Cherry TO hold his position
and cover Capt, lawsonss retreat, who
was ordered TO fall back slowly with the
led horses of his company. Cherry
called for volunteers of - men, VINO
responded promptly and fought with
| desperation. Their names will be
given III later dispatches. Nearly every
man was wounded before he reached
camp, and two men were killed,
Cherry brought every wounded man in
with him. Capt. Lawson, brave old
veteran, displayed the greatest GOODNESS
and courage during this retreat, serd.
ing up ammunition 20 Cherry's men,
once, when they were nearly wita-
out ii.
MAJ, ruoRNprRGu
started back to the wagon tram, after
giving his final orders "a Can't. Payne
10 charge the hill and 10 Can't lawson
and Lieut.. Cherry To cover the retreat:
I he must have been shot dead when
barely half way there, rs when his body
was seen by one OF Capt lawson's
men, life was extinct and he was lying
on his face, Capt, Payne, who was
then in command, at once set
about having the wounded horses
shot for hreastmorks. DlSmount,ng the
wagons of boxes, bundles OF beddmgs,
corn, flour sacks, etc, they were quick
" piled up for defense. Picks and
shovels were used vigorously for dig.
gine entertainments. In the meantime
u CALLING fire was concentrated upon
the command from all the surrounding
bluffs which commanded the position.
Not an Indian could be seen, but the i'm
cessant crack of their Sharps and Vim
chester rifles dealt fearful destruction
among the horses and men; the groans
OF the dying, and the agonizlng cries OF
the wounded told wha: fearful havoc
was being made among the determined
ana desperate command Every man
WAS bound to sell his life as dearly rs
possible about this time, as great dan
ger was approaching NJ frightmlly
rapid pace.
THE RED DEVILS
al the beginning OF the fight had set
fire to the dry grass and 10 the sage
brush to the windward of our position.
and il now came sweeping down To.
wards us; the flames lcaping high into
the air, and immense volumes ot smoke
rolling III to engulf us, formed sight
To make the stoutest heart quail; the
tends were waiting ready to give us n
volley NJ soon ~ we were driven from
our shelter. Now 1t reached tho flank,
Md IN. hla,lya l,lnnanu nnl nn,,tv
sacks We're freely used to extinguish the
flames. Some of the wagons were set
ON fire, which required all tho force
possible to smother il. but the fire pass
ed and we still held our position. In
the meantime constant volley ia pour.
ed III upon us, Capt. Payne being
wounded for the second time, anu LIST
Sergeant Dolan, of Go. II, killed in
stantly. Mckenzie and Mckee are
killed and many others wounded. Our
greatest danger ia now past. Tho men
have now mostly covered themselves,
but the poor horses and mules are con.
stantly falling about us. Just about
shutdown
A CHARGE WAS ATTEMPTED,
but was abandoned, as the Indians was
trying to drive of some of our horses
which had broken loose. The attack
ceased mt dark and soon every man wac
ut work enlarging the trenches, hauling
out the dead horses, caring for the
wounded aha hurying tho dead.
AT daylight the attack was resumed,
and the firing Of sharp-shooters has
been kept up every day since-ocoa-
sionally at night, sending M to our pits
in scramble.
This is the fifth day Of our siege, but
we are determined to hold out, " il
takes month for tuceor to reach us;
hut we are confident that Gen. Merritt,
whose name il on the lips of every one,
is ON the rond to rescue M. Total killed,
~; total wounded, AZ.
LATER-O Oct. 5,--G A. M.-IIurrahY
hurrahl Merritt has come, and the
surrounding hills resound with the
cheers Of welcome. Courier goes out
mt once.
THE following dispatches were receiv.
ed nj General Shertdan's headquarters In
Chicago on the 9Th inst:
FoRr STEELE, Wyo. Ty., Oct, So n.
m-Licu:,. Gen. i. II Sheridan, Chicago
The following just received nj Rawlins
ana given you Tor what IL IL worm. inns
mail-carrier says in response 70 why Gen
Merritt Ind not sent courier, that hc
+ thought probably he had sent one, and
that lie WINS picked up by the Indians:
"RAwLINs, Oct. 81 $50 n. m--Gen
Crook: Fort Steele mail In. No
dispatches, Mail carrier reports
That he left Snake River nj 10
O'Clock yesterday morning, and that
William Lishgo went out with Merrltps
, command from Snake River to Payne's
! command, and returned TO Snake River
|, yesterday morning. Merritt had severe
fight with Indians Monday afternoon,
+ two miles east Of Paynes command. lie
thrashcd the Indians, killing thirty seven
of them, and formed junction with the
bosiegcd garrison. The latter were
all right, having lost but two
men killed since they intrenchcd. The
cavalry company Joined Payne last
Friday night, but they had q severe fight
In doing so, losing all their horses but
two Merritt had conversation with
, the Indians under Whitcleg, and told
them they could surrender II they would
rive mn their arms and Douies They