Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-08
THE NEWS.
The Long and 0minous Silence
Finally Broken.
A Courier Arrives with Intelligonce
that Payne's Command Still
Exists.
Merritt Has Reached them and the
Ute Investment is Raised.

Merritt Has Reached them and the
Ute Investment is Raised.
To.Days Colorado Flcctisn Results In
an Increased Republican Majority.
Cheyenne, Oct. ga courier from the
front brings the following from an officer
With Payne's command:
Battlefield, Milk River, Oct. 80, six p.
ma courier will leave tonight with dis
patches If possible. Indians still surround
us and pour in an effective ERE from COM
manding bluffs at distance Of five or six
hundred yards, having cross fire upon our
position, which position was chosen hastily
on the first day Of the fight. All our horses
and al! but IL mules have been killed.
We sheltered them as best We could with
wagons, but to no purpose. Capt. Dodge
and Lieut.. Hughes, with Company D, 9th
cavalry, came to our rescue yesterday a.
IN, at daybresk, after forced march of
thirty-6ve miles from Bear river. Cheer
upon cheer rent the air from our force
when it was ascertained who were coming.
A lull in the firing enabled them to come
in and shelter their horses az we'll as po,-
sible, taking to the fortifcation quickly,
when the attack redoubled its fury. Had
the heights been accessible Capt. Dodge
would have charged them with his comps.
ny, while We covered him from our rifle
pits, but this being utterly impossible, the
ascent being nearly perpendicular, all we
could do during the day was to keep a
good look out from the loop holes and
return the fire when any Indian showed his
Suoa n
as the Indians have rltl: pits and loop
holes. Before dark every horse but three
of Capt. DOdge's comm,nd was shot down.
A very fortunate thing for Us has been that
the Indians have left us unmolested at night,
with the exception OF an occasional shot to
make US scatter, to our pits. We haye
beea able at great risk To haul of our dead
ANIMALS every night. otherwise the stencil
would be intolerable. A sally is made
every night for water distance of 200
yards from our entertainments. Night be-
fore last Private Erser of company F, was
shot In the face while out with a party af-
ter water. The Indians were only Z few
yards away and were driven off by volley
from the guard in the trenches. Capt,
Dodge brought US the cheering news that
our dispatches reached Bear river safely,
and would undoubtedly reach Rawlins.
We have been counting the hours which it
wilFpro6ab!y take for relief to reach US.
We all agree that Gen. Merritt from Ft. Rus
sell with the companies of the 9th cavalry
there and all other available troops will be
ordered to our rescue, as they will be all
needed to finish the campaign.
The field Of battle was admirably chosen
for defence by the Indians and had it not
been for Major Thornburg his advance guard,
commanded BY 1t. Cherry, discovering the
ambuslsde, the entire command would have
been annihilated. He saw small party OF
Indians disappear over hill half mile
in front, and at once divided his
party to reconnoiter, and only
discovered them when he had Aanked
their position by about two hundred yards
Cherry rode back at full speed with two OF
three men who were with him. and notified
Maj. Thornburg, who had already begun
the descent into deep ravine, which was
intended to engulf the command. The In.
dians dismounted and lying down along the
crest Of . high, steep ridge. not : hundred
yards from the point whore this deadly as
sault would have commenced. The two
companies were withdrawn q short distance
dismounted and deployed in line of battle
with orders to await the attack of the In.
dians. 1t. Cherry was here ordered BY
Thornburgh to take detachment of fifteen
picked men and make reconnaissance and
communicate, il possible, With the Indians
as it was thought that they only desired te
would psrley or have big talk, if they
could be communicated with. Cherry
moved out at gallop, with his men, from
the right aank, and noticed like movenen
of about twenty Indians from the LEFT of th,
Indians position. He approached to with
in couple of hundred yards of the indiana
and took off his hat and waved it but th,
response was shot fred at him voundinl
man of his party and killing his horse
This was the first shot and Vas instantly
followed by volley from the Indians
The work had now begur
in real earnest. and seeing the advantage o
the position he then held it. Cherry dis
mounted his detachment, and deploye.
along the crest of the hill to prevent the In
dians from aanking his position. or to cove
the retreat, if found necessary to retir
upon the wagon train, which was thel
coming up slowly, guarded by 1t. Paddock
of Co. D. 9Th cavalry. Orders were sent t
protect the wagons and cover them with tn
company guarding them. The two companie
Ia advance were Capt Page, 90. F. 9th cav
airy, and Capt. Lawson. Co. +. Sd cavalry
which were dismounted and deployed .
skirmishers. Capt. Payne was on the lei
and Capt. lawson ON the right. Frol
Cherly's position be could see that the Ii
disns were trying to cut him Of from Ii
wagons and at once seut word to Majc
Thoruburgb, who then withdrew the III
slowly, keeping the Indians in check unit
opposite the post which his men held. whe
seeing that the Indiana were concentratiu
to cut OF his retreat. Capt. Payne, with
Co, 9Th cavalry. was ordered 10 charge Il
hill. which he did In gallant style, his hor
being shot undor him and several Of his mi
wounded. The Indians having been driv,
from this position, tho company wss ralli
on the wagon train. Major Thornbute
then gave orders N Cherry To hold mis- I,
ss!ion. aud cover Can't. LAwson's retire
Who VA oedssed TO fall back slowly vi
shs led ho'sss Of HE company.
cherry called fos volunteers of sssa