Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1879-10-14

CHEYENNE (Wy. T., Oct. T.
Morning.-rhe latest news from
Merritt's command is of a startlin,
nature. A courier has come int,
Rawlins with important dispatche
from Merritt, the nature of which
the courier is not aware of, eXcep
that mountain howitzers are asked
for. The courier states that heavy
fighting has been going on since
Tuesday morning. AT that time
an attempt was made to dislodge
the Indians, who were located OF
commanding bluffs. Their position
proved too strong for the troops en-.
| gagged, and the whole force availa-
BILE was brought cut, when the In.
dians retired TO u line of natural
| Notifications about three miles
nearer the White River Agency.
General Merritt took advantage of
this move and transferred his camp
to the open ground on Milk Creek,
where the hostiles could not reach
him from any surrounding bluffs.
The stencil at the other camp COM
PEELED the change, and better posi-
ton WAS secured and near water.
A accommodating party was sent
out under com mand of Captain
Montgomery, of the Fifth Cavalry
to feel the enemy's position, when
it was discovered to be
ALMOST IMPREGNABLE,
And evidences given that over 500
Indians were intrenched there.
This proves that reinforcements
came from the southern Ute Agen-
cies. General Merritt posted the
various companies Of his command,
several of them being composed of
infantry which had arrived the day
before, on eminences near the In
dian line, and poured in heavy
fire. Still shot for shot was eX-
changed, and tho Indians showed
that they were well armed and had
abundance of AMMUNITION. Once
they tried to cut off one company
of troops that were driven back to
their intrenchments in hot haste.
Through field glasses the Indians
could be seen piling up rocks 10
make their position more secure.
They seem determined to stay.
Three companies under Lieutenant
Colonel Compton were ordered to
detour and flank the Indi-
ans, but the nature Of the country
was such as to prevent its success.
The Indians know every rock, and
as the road leads through cations
they know
THE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR POSI-.
TIoN.
With mountain howitzers Merritt
thinks he can drive them from
their present position. Should
their supply of ammunition fail, they
would naturally retire, and the
troops are enticing their fire. Sew
eral privates have been killed and
Lieutenant, was wounded slightly.
1t is not known how many Indians
have been killed or wounded. The
smoke from their camp fires curls
up regularly. Colonel Merritps
command is in no danger of annihi-
latioD, although Indians seem nu-
merous enough to accomplish it.
The troops will probably remain
on the defensive. The situation on
"Wednesday night was a "stand.
off, The savages yelled OCCASION
ally and fired stray shots, probably
to let the troops know they were
still there.
THE UTEs FORTIFYING.
RAwLINs, w. T., Oct. 11.-Ru-
n1ors are currant here tO-nipht and
are authenticated by information
obtained direct from General Mer-
ritt's command, through citizen
named Duffy, who left the com
mand Thursday morning, that ever
since General Merritt reached Cap
tain Payne's command he has been
fighting the Indians. The savnoes
seem determined to keep the tt
from reaching the Agency,
have fortified themselves in
manding position. They la
structed line of fortificati
are continually at work s
ening their position, and
lodge them will require dtI.
tional force.
Colonel Bracket, Of Ha
Cavalry, with detach
companies of cavalry
infantry, will leave So
Monday. Horses to
dismounted men ofC
command will be 81
morrow.
ROSE MEEKER ,