The New York herald., 1879-11-23

BATTLE.
On the morning of the 10Th Thornburgh with his
entire cavalry command three com panies-l5 so menl
resumed the march, intending the evening OF
that day to encsmp on Milk River. near the
ton liue, where he expected that Meeker, with
Douglass and Sorrowch, would meet him the
morning OF tho Both before resuming the
he reached the northern boundary of the
Ute reservation, along which white flags were
displayed as signals for parley. aud during the
whole of the engagement which followed flags Of
truce frequently displayed. The head Of the
column passed the Rubicon, the strength and
position OF the enemy who manned the hills and
ridges to the right and the left within easy rife
range being concealed, unlike the flags of truce
displayed at frequent intervals along the line. The
column passed and the horses drank at Milk
River. whose yellow milky waters not unlike
scamander's stream. called xanthus by the
gods, to become crimson
flood. The gallant Thornburgh. mindless of lurking
foe ambuscade, rode fcarlessly at the head OF
his column. without vanguard or lankers. aud his
train fingered mile behind. a rifle shot awakened
the echoes which had been sleeping in mountain
gorges and ravines undisturbed unless by the mur-
muring waters i'll the canyons, which perhaps lul. cd
to deeper rcpose. Echo answered echo until their
died IN the distance Another shot resounded,
and then another and another in quick succession
when simultaneous shots were heard and savage
shout went up on every hand. battle had CON-
menced and carnage swept the valley of the stream.
Horse and rider went down. and first among tho slain
the gallant Thornbnrgh in darkness closed his eyes,
Tho cool and dauptless Payne assumed commands
under his command. and the willy Jack with his
savage warriors manned the double line OF rdget
which the train had hardly crossed, making retrea.
impossible. The train speedily parked and in
tronchments were begun under tho imme-
diate direction Of Cherry, whose proud spirit
scorns danger, while Lawson, whose years
of noble deeds are yet unnumbered, aided
by Paddock, sans peur et sans reproche held
the enemy ut arms length notwithstanding his
well directed fire delivered from the protecting cress
of the hills and ridges surrounding the command,
aud only screening the enemy from the fire Of tho
troopers, but conceaIng his strength except In NO
far IL felt and recorded i'll blood by the killing
of dozen men, the woundng of nearly half hum
dred more and the slaughter of 800 animals. The
enemy set the grass and other herbage on FIRE. and
the flames threatened the destruction OF tho train,
which was averted by counter-fre. but not without
destroying the train of John Gordon, freighter,
whom have mentioned transporting supplies TO
the agency. The smoke enveloped the command.
preventing the delivery of an effective fire, but at
the time depriving the entmy's fire of its
deadly accuracy. until the day died and darkness
cast her protecting sable mantle the field.
Tho OF the days conflict ended I'm defeat.
And so the battle began and the irst days conflict
ended Milk River. During the night runners
were sent out under tho OF darkness to bring
relief TO the beleagucrod command. but when In
the morning the blood rel sun climbed the heavens
1t looked down upon two 6elds Of carnrge--tns ono