The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-10-10
The Massacre Of Maj. ThOrnburgh's
Command.


was suddenly corraled and attacked by several
hundred Ute Indians, near Milk river, In the
vicinity of the Ute Reservation, in Colorado.
Mai Thornburgh was killed and large num-
Der of men wounded, and the command entirely
surrounded. The whole story of the massacre
10 told in the following dispatch from Rawlins,
Wyoming Ter:
hostile Ute Indians, when within seventy miles
OF the agency, halted for the night Of the 10Th
inst and the Major sent Grafton Lowry, one
of his scouts, to the agency to communicate with
Agent Meeker, and to see how matters stood.
He found the utmost excitement and confusion
prevailing. The Indians had sent all their old
men, women and children south toward the
Blue river. The warriors were decorated and
painted In the usual war style. They were
about to murder Mr.. Meeker, but Mr.. Lowry
prevailed on them not 10 commit the deed. Mr..
Meeker told Lowry that he attempted TO leave
the agency with his family, but was prevented
by the Indians that they, the Indians, signified
their readiness for war, and seemed anxious for
the approach OF the troops. They then madean-
other move to kill Meeker and fire the buildings,
but were second time prevailed upon to desist.
Lowry now attempted to return to the com.
mand, but was informed that he must remain:
bat, after giving them number of assurances
of his peaceable mission, he was allowed to de-
part but was accompanied by about thirty
warriors, who rode with him number OF miles
and then left him. Lowry arrived at the COM
mand, then near Milk creek. on the evening OF
the 18th, and gave Maj. Thornburgh the above
information.
@The next morning, Sept 90, the command
advanced, under the guidance of Joe Rankin,
who is well acquainted WITH the country. About
9oclock a. III. Rankin discovered fresh Indian
signs, and, having arrived at a canyon through
which the road passed, and which would afford
an excellent opportunity for ambush, he led
the command around over the hill, over an old
trail well known to him. BY THIS movement
he saved the lives of the command, for, on ar
irving OH the top of the hill, he discovered the
Indians in ambush on either side of the canyon
through which the road passed.
"Ihornburgh formed his men in line and
awaited the coming attack. He was repeatedly
urged to FIRE on the Indians, but persistently
refused to do 30, saying that his orders would
not justify an attack. Two Indians now rode
up to within hundred yards, dismonnted and,
with a savage yell, fired, shooting Capt
Payne through the arm. At this signal the
Indians gave war whoop and the battle COM
menced. Thornburgh now found that he was
surrounded. He ordered charge, which he
calamity led in person, and succeeded in cutting
his way out and, when within about 500 yards
of his wagon, he fell dead with two bullets
through his brain. Capt. Payne now took COM
mand, and the battle was carried OH until
o'clock, p. m, the troops using the wagons and
dulHidlS us DTehstWOfhs. ue lcu DICK
short distance aud went into camp. During
the engag menr Lowry was killed.
The casualties are about "a follows:
killed-Naj. Thornhurgh, Lowry, and thirteen
enlisted men, the Wagon-Masier McKinstry,
and one teamster. Mounded-Capt Payne,
Capt. Lawson, Surgeon Grimes, Lieuts. Pad
dock and Wolf, and thirty-five men.
Maj. Thornburgh's BODY had not been re-
covered when Rankin left with the dispatches.
"Capt. Payne had fortified his position, and
thought he could possibly hold it until the
arrival of achievements, in case they were
sent promptly.
at is now reported that Agent Meeker and
his family and all employees have been MUIR
dered, and the agency building destroyed, but
this report lacks confirmation.
SETTLERS from Snake and Bear rivers are
focking in here for safety, and considerable ex-
element prevails.
Troops have been ordered forward from
Forts sanders, MCPHERSON, Fetterman and
Robinson, and will leave for the seat of war as
soon as they reach the railroad, by special
tram Gen. Merritt, to whom the command of
the expedition is gwen, is one Of the best In
dian fighters in the country, and his troops
have accomplished wonderful things.
"The Utes are warlike tribe, and have from
500 to 600 warriors. They started out on the
war-path because they became dissatisfied with
the treatment received from their Agent, who,
they claim, was starving them.
"A hunting party composed of Gen. Tyner, As
sistant Postmaster General; J. w. Hoyt, Governor
of Wyoming; j. H. Hayford, Postmaster at
Laramie lily, and editor of the Laramie Sen
tinel. two COOKS, and an escort of eight soldiers,
are with the beleaguered troops on Milk river"
"A Cheyenne dispatch of the Sd inst says:
Gov. Hoyt and Gen. Tyner returned to Lara
mic City this afternoon from their hunting ex-
petition in North Park. They saw no Indians,
and were unsuspecting of danger when mott
fed by courier that the Utes had attacked
Thornburgh's expedition.
"A hunter has arrived in Colorado from Middle
Park He notified the citizens of the park of
Thornburgh's defeat, and they are getting to
safe place "a rapidly as possible. He says the
colored company OF The Ninth cavalry had left
Steamboat Springs, and fears were entertained
that they We're massacred by the Utes, as moth
ing has been heard OF them since the battle,
and Agent Meeker had forwarded orders to
come to the agency two days previous to that
time Douglass, the Ute chief, had threatened
their lives before hostilities commenced, and
stated that negro troops must keep off the res
ervation, as his people had hatred for them
"Gov. Pitkn, of Colorado, is holding his Or
ganized militia companies in readiness for an
emergency, and says that as soon as the Indi-
ans commence bu'cherng settlers he will take
the matter in his own hands and settle it in his
own way.
1.-THE Arspahoe Indians, in Wyoming, are re-
ported making their way to the Utes in squads
and joining the hostiles, but this lacks confirm
alton, though not altogether improbable
ono news has been received from Meeker or
the Thornburgh garrison"
CHEYENNE, Oct. g.
There is every indication that the Ute Indian
war is to be bloody one. Scouts and others
who have arrived at various posts and cities
from the scene of hostilities report that the
country is swarming with savages belonging to
tribes not directly interested in this campaign.
Gen. Hatch is advancing from the south
with 500 men, and troops are concentrating
with great rapidity at several points near
the seat OF war. Fresh murders
and outrages committed by the bloodthirsty
Utes have occurred in the vicinity Of the out
break, and settlers and prospectors for many
miles around are hurriedly returning to the
towns on the Union Pacific raj road. A report
has been received at Los Pinos, Col, that
Agent Meeker and all the employees at White
River Agency have been killed. that another
fight has taken place in which all the officers in
command were killed, and the troops sur
rounded at point where no water is to be
had, and their trains captured Chief Ouray
head Of the Ute nation, has sent to the hostiles
&C White river order commanding them to
cease their war on the whites, but he has little
faith In the result of this attempt to exercise his