The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-11-10
Last NIGHTS Dispatches.
WASHINGTON.
GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF THE THORN.
EURGH FIGHT.
eallansry of the omcers ana Men

| WASHINGTON, Nov. She Treasur
Department has concluded to decline al
offers of bonds for the sinking fund abov
| LOG for bonds Of July. 1881.
| Gen. Sherman, in forwarding the fol
lowing report of Capt. j. Scott Payne
Fifth cavalry, to the Secretary of Wa
endorses it as follows; This modest ant
most admirable report is received after
have finished my annual report, else
should have embraced it almost entire al
better description of the fight at Mill
Greek on Sept. % last" Capt. Payne
says: Lieut.. Cherry, Adjutant in com
mand. accompanied by Guide Rankin anc
small party of soldiers. was in advance
and upon passing over some high GROUND
| intermediate between the road we haC
left and the trail discovered the Indians il
heavy force drawn up in line of battle, OF
more correctly speaking, lying in ambust
along the high ridge which completely
covered and commanded the road. With
quick and soldIerly perception OF a sol
der Lieut.. Cherry turned tack and made
a signal for the command to retrace its
steps, just as the leading company. L,
Seventh Cavalry, was descending the
ridge into the valley beyond. Company
Il was Immediately conducted to the side
Of the hill on its LETT flank. while the
Third Cavalry was halted on the high
ground it occupied, and both companies
were at once dismounted and deployed by
Major Ehornburg's orders as skirmishers.
the Third Cavalry on the right alo1g the
crest ca the ridge and T company, Fifth
cavalry, as well up the side of the bill,
which constantly ascending stretched
away indefinitely, as the nature of the
ground would permit. Onr Iiue at this
time resembied a letter V, the points
towards the Indians aud portion of it
formed by L company, Fifth cavalry.
projecting considerably beyond the
point of junction and being DETECTED to
the lett go as to prevent the enemy from
turning our flank. At this time ATTEMPTS
were made by iiajor Thornburg in person
and by Lieut., Cherry to communicate with
she lndiauS, but the efforts in that direc-
ton were met By shot and at once hot
tre was opened upon US and The fight
began all along the lines. The Indians
had displayed admirable skill in the seiec-
tlon o! the grounds Gpou which to give Us
battie With sound judgment and quick
and thorough perception Of the situation,
Maj. Vh0rnbUrg determined to form a
junction with company ID. Fifth cavalry,
which was protecting the wagon train, aud
with that end in view directed the com
panies engaged to fall back slowly. The
com mand retired as directed in perfect
order, the led horses being kept we'll pro-
tectfd between the skrmish lines OF the
two companies, whilst a heavy and effec
tive fire did great execution among the
savages AID prevented an attempt on their
part to break through our lines. Failing
in their effort in front the Indians cndeav
fho ,44 H.
train, which had by Major Thornburg' S
orders gone into park on the right bank Of
Milk river, and to accomplish this purpose
passed around eur lett flank beyond car
bine range and concentrated in great
force upon a knoll tn the left OF and con-
pletely commanding our line OF retreat.
Major Thornburg, upon discovering the
new danger. directed me to charge the
knoll with twenty men OF ny company, 10
sweep the Indians C4f, and ttleu at once,
without attic mp;iag to tolG the nil, 90 TALL
back upon the train and take measures Tor
its protection. This duty being performed
and the way opened tor the return of the
led horses, repaired 10 the wagon t.ain
and at once took steps looking Tor lis
defense, Major Thornburg doubtless
started for the train shortly after giving
me the order referred TO, and was shot aud
instantly kiiledsiust after crossing the river
and within 500 yards O! the wagons His
galaEtry was conspicuous from first 70
last, and grief :or his death was general
and profound.
Ii the mean tune Capt Lawson with
+ company, Thj:I cavalry, and Lieut.
Cherry, with a detachment from Il coiD-
pauy, Third aad Fifth cavalry, ga'iantly
held the Indians 10 check in front, gradu
ally retiring. Upon reaching the train.
which was found parked on the right bank
of Milk river, 200 yards from the wafer,
the wagons forming the north side of u
corral eliptical 10 shape. its long axis run
ning east aud west, and the south side ex-
posed to Gerce ere from the Indians, who.
massing iu the ravines along the river, and
upon commanding heights. were making
determined effort TO capture aud destroy
the train before it could be placed in con
diton for defence The animals were
crowded within the area indicated and | at
once directed some twenty or more of
those wounded to be led out and shot
along the open space referred to. thus
making continuous cur line of defense and
affordlDg cover for our sharp shooters. At
this moment | observed that the Indian
supply train of Jno. Gorden was parked
within seventy five yards of my position
and so situated as to command the only
approach to the water. Seeing this and
fearing that under the cover of the smoke
the Iudians might make a Judgement in
this tram, which in my train would have
been disastrous to the command aud with
the further view of burning the grass on
the north side of the corral TO present as
little surface as possible to the Indian fire
when it should approach. | directed
the grass on that side to be fired. In few
momekF.I was satisfied to see Gordon s
train in flames. The fire from down the
valley approached with great rapidity and
struck the exposed point of corral aud for
few moments threatened Us with des-
truction.
The Indians at this moment made their
most furious attack and displayed superb b
gallantry. Lives were lost and many
wounds received, but the fire was extiu-
guished aud our greatest danger passed.
From this time (about 2;45 p. m) rutil
nightfall the Indians kept up furious IRE
doing great damage to our stock, fully
three fourths of thew being killed or 50
severely wounded that they were killed by
my order, At dark large body OF Iudlans
charged down beyond Gordon's burning
train, delivering volley after volley. They
we're rspused easily aud fed, suffering the
loss OF several warriors who were distinctly
seen TO drop from their saddles. Daring
the night our dead animals were hauled
off. full supply OF water tor tweDty-four