The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-08
MERRITT'S MERRY MEN.
How They More Than Ratified the
Rascally Reds.
Payne'S Beleaguered Band Succ0red
At Last,
And The COlored Troops Fought
NObly.


rived, having left Snake River yesterday
(Tuesday) morning at 10 o'clock. He
brings important, cheerful and definite
news from both Payne and Merritt's COM
mands, which was borne to Snake River by
VIM. Lithy, one of Merritt's scouts, who
left Milk River Monday night. Lithy re-
ports that General Merritt, on his approach
to Payne's company, when only few
miles distant from it, discovered the hostile
Utes filing out from the neighboring can
yon.
The Indians discovered Merritt at the
same moment and the General perceiving
this fom their actions, ordered his men to
fall back in rapid retreat. The Indians
were encouraged by this maneuver to rush
from their hiding places and Merritt, push
ing his troops to a run, drew them out on
the open plain. He then gave orders to
wheel, which the men did with admirable
precision, showing in minutes space
bristlins front where before had been a
seeming struggling front. The General did
not wait for the foe to attack. In less than
two minutes his men poured into the Utes
fire which checked their advance and
forced them to seek every available cover.
The battle, which began Monday after
noon, lasted but a few hours, during which
time the Indians suffered loss of thirty
seven killed, while Merritt did not lose
man. In fact, the Utes got such severe
thrashing that they threw up the white
flag in token of wish for parley. This
was granted by Merritt, and several Chiefs
entered his camp forthwith. Several Chiefs
were willing to surrender, but others were
not. Merritt told them if they would give
up their arms and ponies he would do
nothing more with them for the present.
One or two Chiefs asked whether Merritt
intended to go to the agency with his
troops. He replied that he did. After a
brief consultation all the Chiefs agreed to
common answer, which was, that if the
United States soldiers invaded their reser-
vation they would fight them until the last
of the Utes lay dead.
After this they left Merritt's camp, and
returned to the canyons. General Merritt
then pushed forward with all haste and
joined Payne with the remnant of Thorn
burg's command. The same Monday
evening, before Merritt's arrival, Payne had
been most gallantly succored by colored
company of forty-ive men of the Ninth
Cavalry, under Captain Dodge His COM
pany came down Bear River past Steamboat
Springs last Friday night, and learning of
Thornburgh's fight and Payne's situation,
resolved to get to Payne's side at every
hazard. In their attempt they were met bv
the besieging Utes, who turned upon them
with fire so hot that they were compelled
to dismount. In course OF the subsequent
engagement this brave colored company
lost every horse but two. ,.
Nothing was brought by the scout Lithy
about their personal loss in killed or
wounded, but they succeeded in making
their way to Payne's relief and were hailed
in the camp with every expression of vel
come. Merritt, on his arrival, found Payne
had held out splendidly, losing only two
men since the Goth.
s FROM PAYNE's BFsIEGED BAND.
CHEYENNE, Oct. 8-A courier from the
front brings the following from an officer
with Payne's command:
BATTLEFIELD, MILK RIVER, COL,
Oct. 8, 1879.
A courier will leave some time tonight
with dispatches, if possible. li iJl-.l
The Indians still surround us and pour
in an effective fire from the commanding
bluffs at a distance of FIVE or six hundred
yards, having cross fire upon our posi-
tion, which was chosen hastily on the first
day of the fight.
All our horses and all but twelve mules
have been killed. We sheltered them. the
best we could with wagons, but, to no pur-
pose. Captain Dodge and Lieutenant
Hughes, with Company D, Ninth Cavalry,
came to our rescue Yesterday at day break
after forced nights march Of thirty-five
miles from Bear River Cheer upon cheer
rent the air from our trenches when it was
ascertained who were coming.
Before dark every horse but those of Cap
tain Dodge's command was shot down.
Very fortunate, for US 1t has been that the
Indians have left us unmolested at night.
with the exception of occasionally to make
US scatter to our pits. We have been able
at great risk to haul off our dead animals
every night otherwise the stencil would be
The Indians were but flew yards away and
were driven off by a volley from the guard
and trenches A rally was made every
night for water, distance of 200 yards
from our entrenchments. Last night Pri-
vate Erser, Company F, was shot in the
face while out with party after water.
WAsHIEGToN, Oct. 8.-The following tel
egram was received from Chicago last night
by Adiutant General Townsend:
Lieut.. Price, from Fertilization Creek,
writes October Sd that Captain Payne has
been ableto hold the Indians in check
that he has been joined by Dodges 8 Corf-
pany of the Ninth Cavalry, and that Mer-
ritt must have reached him the next day,
kt,o AN s,ss& sA 5t9ttAf1r 77s'