Connecticut western news., 1879-10-15

AGAINST FIRE AND BULLETs-THE DEAD
 AND WOUNDED THE ARRIVAL OF RE-
 LIEF.
 An officer with Payne's command at Milk River says:-The field of battle was admirably chosen for defense by the lndians, and had it not been for Major Thornburgh's advance guard, con- manded by Lieut.. Cherry, discovering the Rmbuscade, the entire command would have been annihilated. He saw small party of Indians disappear over 2 hill half mile in front, and at once divided his party to reconnoitre, and only discovered them when he had thanked their position by about 200 yards. Lieut.. Cherry rode back at full speed with one or two men who were with him, and notified Major Thorn burgh, who had already begun the descent into the deep ravine which was intended to engulf the command. The Indians were dismounted, and lying down along the crest of the high, steep ridge for hundred yards from the point where the deadly assault would have commenced. The troops were with drawn short distance, dismounted, and deployed in line of battle, with orders to await the attack of the Indians. Lieut.. Cherry was here ordered by Thornburgh to take a detachment of fifteen picked men and make re- connoissance and communicate if possible with the Indians, as it was thought that they only desired to oppose his approach to their agency, and would barley or have big talk if they could be communicated with. Cherry moved outat a gallop with his men from the right flank, and noticed like movement of about twenty Indians from the left of the Indian position. He approached to within couple of hundred yards of the Indians, and took off his hat and waved it, but the response was shot fired at him, wounding 8 man Of his party, and killing his horse. This was the first shot, and was instantly followed by volley from the Indians.
 The work had now begun in real earn est, and seeing the advantage of the po- sition he held, Lieut.. Cherry dismount- ed his detachment and deployed along the crest of the hills to prevent the h. dians fanking his position, or to cover the retreat, if it was found necessary to retire upon the wagon train, which was then coming up slowly, guarded by Lieut.. Paddock, Company D, Fifth Cavalry. Orders were sent to park the wagons and cover them with the con- pany guarding them. The two com panies in the advance were Capt. Payne's, Company F, Fifth Cavalry, and Capt. Lawson's, Company F, Third Cavalry, which were dismounted and s.deployed as skirmishers. Capt. Payne on the left and Capt. Lawson on the right. From Lieut.. Cherry's position he could see that the Indians were trying to cut him off from the wagons, and at once sent word to Major Thornburgh, who then withdrew the line slowly, keeping the Indians in check until opposite the point which his men held, when, seeing that the Indians were concentrating to cut off his retreat, Capt. Payne, with Company F, Fifth Cavalry, was ordered to charge the hill, which he did in gall lant style, his horse being shot under him and several of his men wounded. The Indians having been driven from this point, the company was rallied on the wagon train. Major Thornburgh then gave orders to Lieut.. Cherry to hold his position and cover Capt. Law sons retreat, who was ordered to fall back slowly with the horses of his con- pany. Cherry called for volunteers of twenty men, who responded promptly and fought with desperation. Nearly every man was wounded before he reached the camp. Two men were killed. Cherry brought every wounded man in with him. Capt. Lawson, the brave old veteran, displayed the greatest coolness and courage during this retreat, sending up ammunition to Cherry's men when, once, they were nearly without it. Major Thornburgh started back to the wagon train after giving his final orders to Capt. Payne to charge the hill and to Capt. Lawson and Lieut.. Cherry to cover the retreat. He must have been shot dead when barely halfway there, as his body was seen by one of Capt. Lawson's men, life extinct, lying on his face.
 Captain Payne, then in command, at once set about having the wounded horses shot, to be used for breastworks, dismantling the wagons of boxes and bundles of bedding, corn, and four sacks, which were quickly piled up for Notifications. Picks and shovels were used vigorously for digging intrench- ments. Meantime, galling fire was concentrated upon the command from all the surrounding bluffs which com handed the position. Not an Indian could be seen, but the incessant cracks of their Sharps and Winchester rifles dealt fearful destruction among the horses and men. The groans of the dying and the cries of the wounded told what fearful havoc was being made among the determined and desperate command. Every man was bound to sell his life as dearly as possible. About this time great danger was approach ing at frightfnlly rapid pace. The red devils, at the beginning of the fight, had set fire to the dry grass and to the sage-brush to the windward of our posi- tion, and it now came sweeping down towards us, the flakes Ieap1ng high into