St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-10-17
The Ute War.
Yours sincerely,
H. I. FULLER.

GEN. MERRITT REACHES CAPT. PA1NE'S
CAMP -PAYNE's TERRIBLE EXPERT
ENCE WITH THE REDSKINS.
Gen. Merritt who left Rawlins, wy,
Immediately after Major Thornburgh
had his battle with the Ute Indians,
and who was killed at Bad canon, Col,
arrived there last Sunday to the great
relief of Capt. Payne, who has been in
command of the little force penned up
by the Indians. A mail carrier from
Snake river reports that Merritt, on his
way, had fight with the Utes in which
81 Indians, and not one white, were
killed, but later reports from the front
contradict the story, and from the most
reliable sources it is learned that Merritt
had no engagement with the hOstiles
up to the time of relieving Payne.
Merritt found that Payne had held
out splendidly, losing only two men
since Sept. %, when Thornburgh was
killed. An officer of Payne's command,
writing from Milk River, the Sd. says:
The Indians still surround us, and pour
in an effective fire from commanding
cliffs at distance of five or sick hun
dred yards. Our position, which was
chosen hastily on the first day of the
horses and mules, except IL of the
latter, have been killed. We sheltered
them as best we could with wagons, but
to no purpose. Capt. Dodge and Lieut..
Hughes, with Co. D, 9th cavalry, came
daybreak, aIUer IL IurUeu nISnV 'uI"r~,n
of 35 miles from Bear river. Cheer
upon cheer rent the air from our
trenches when it was ascertained who
were coming. A lull in the firing
enabled them to come in and shelter
their horses us well as possible. They
took to the Notifications quickly, when
the attack redoubled its fury. Had the
nights been accessible, Capt. Dodge
would have charged them with his
company, while we covered him with
our Iitle pits, but this was utterly i'm
possible, the ascent being nearly per-
the day was to keep a good lookout
from the lOophOles and return the fire
when any Indian showed his head. This
however was a very rare occurrence, as
the Indians have rifle pits and loop
holes. Before dark every horse but
three of Capt. Dodges command was
shot down. A very fortunate thing for
us has been that the Indians have left
US unmolested at night, with the eXcep-
ton of an occasional shot to make US
scatter to Our pits. We have been able,
at great risk, to haul off our dead ami
mails every night, otherwise the stencil
would have been intOlerable. A sally
is made every night for water a distance
of 200 yards from our intrenchments.
Night before last Private Erser of Co. F
was shot i'll the face while out with a
party after water. The Indians were
only few yards away, and were driven
off by a volley from the guard in the
trenches. He then gives an account oi
the battle at Bad canon, which shows
that its desperate character has not
been exaggerated. After ThOrnburgt
had beeu killed a new danger approach
ed at frightfully rapid pace. ''The
red devils at the beginning of the fight
had set fire to the dry grass and sage
brush to the wlndward of our position
the fire now came sweeping down to
ward US, the flames leaping high into
the air, and immense volumes of smoke
rolling on to engulf us. 1t was sigh
to make the stoutest heart quake. anC
the tiends were waiting ready to give
: us vOlley as soon as we were driver
5 from our shelter. Now the flames reach
ed the flank, and blankets, blOuses ant
empty sacks were freely used to extin
, guish them. Some of the wagons wer
set on fire, and it required all the fOrc'
. possible to save them. No water coult
be obtained, and the smoke was suffo
eating, but the fire passed and we still
held our position. In the meantime
constant volley is poured upon us, Capt
r Payne being wounded for the secon
= time, and Sergeant Dolan of Co.
& killed instantly" He sends this list c
the killed: Maj. Thornburgh, 4th in
fantry; First Sergeant John DOlan, CO
e F, 5th cavalry; Private John Burns
: Co. F, 5th cavalry Samuel Mckee, CO
F, 5th cavalry Thomas Mooney, Ct
:, D, 5th cavalry Michael Lynch, Co. [
} 5th cavalry; Charles Wright, Co. L
h 5th cavalry Dominick Cuff, Co. E, 3
il cavalry Wagon master McInstrey an
II Teamster Mcclure. Of the wounde
4 only Guide LauIy was fatally hurt.
There is report that Jacks bant
C known as the Denver Indians in Colt
RADIO, have entered the Office, seized tt
If agent, thrown him on the floor and sht
him through the head. The agency an
troops were attacked Simultaneous
The employees took refuge in the builC
1t ings, which was fired, and the men We
,r shot on attempting to escape.
g.,