New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-10-09
THE SIEGE AT MILK RIVER.
MERRITT REACHES THE SPOT.

Telegrams from Wyoming Territory state
that General Merritt has reached the battle
ground at Milk River. in Colorado, and rem
forced the command of Captain Payne, which
WAS still CALAMITY holding its own in the IN
trenchments though constantly under hot IRE
from the Indians. The casualties in Paynes
command had been twelve men killed and forty
three wounded. Captain Dodge had already
arrived with a company of cOlored cavalry,
but all of his horses had been shOt ny
the Indians except two, and lie was
Obliged to remain passive behind the intrench-
ments until General Merritt arrived. mail
carrier reports that Merritt had fight with
the Utes. in which thrty-seven Indians were
killed, but the report Is contradicted.
A runner has arrived at Los Pinos Agency
with word that the women and children at
White River were not massacred.
GRAPHIC ACCOUNT BY AN OFFICER.
FULL DESCRIPTION OF TIE BATTLE AND OF TIE
SIX DAYS sIEGE-NAMEs OF The DEAD And
WOUNDED.
CHEYENNE. Wyoming, Oct. s.-A courier from
the front in the Ute country brings the following
letter from an officer with Captain Paynes com
mand. describing the experiences Of that detach-
meut up to the time OF being relieved by Merritt
BTur-FIrLD. MILK RIVER. oct. SO p. ma
courier viii leave some time tonight with dis
pache, if possible. Indians still surround u.s. and
pour in an effective fire from commanding bluffs, at
n distance of tive or six hundred yards. Our posi-
ton, which was chosen hastily on the first day of
the fight Is under q cross-hre. All our horses and
mules except twelve of the latter have been
killed. We sheltered them as best we could with
wagons. but 10 no purpose
nod mud fapfq Hughes
Company ID. 9th Cavalry. to our rescue yester-
day morning at daybreak. after forced night
march of thirty-tve miles. from Bear River. Cheer
upon cheer rent the air from our trenches when 1t
WAS ascertained who were coming. luil in the
firing enabled them to come in aud shelter their
horses as well as possible They took TO the FORTH
cations quickly when the attack redoublcd its
fury.
Had the heights been accessible. Captain Dodge
would have charged them with his company while
we covered HIM from nhe pits. but this was ut
terly impossible. the ascent being nearly perpen-
dicular. All could do during the day was TO
keep good lookout from the oop-holes and return
the fire when any Indian showed his head. This,
however, was very rare occurrence as the Indians
have rife-pits and loop-holes. Before dark every
horse but three of Captain Dodges command had
been shot down.
very fortunate thing for has been that the
Indians have left us unmOlested at night with the
exception of an occasional shot 10 make scatter TO
our pits. We have been able at great risk to haul
off our dead animals every night, otherwise the
stencil would have been Intolerable. sally Is
made every night to water. distance of 200 Yards
from our lntrenchments. Night before last Private
Erser of Company E. shot in the face while
out with party after water The Indians were
only few yards away and were driven oil by
voley from the guard in the trenches.
CAPTAIN Dodge brought Us the cheering news that
our dispatches reached Bear River safely. and
would undoubtedly reach Rawlins. We have been
counting the hours which il Will probably take Tor
relief TO reach us. We all that General Mer-
ritt from Fort Russell, with the companies OF the
9th Cavalry stationed there and all other available
troops will be ordered to rescue, aud they will
all be needed TO finish the campaign.
WHAT BROUGHT on THE FIGHT
The field of battle was admirably chosen for de-
fence by the Indians; and had It not been for
MAJOR Thornburgh's advance guard, commanded by
Lieutenant Cherry, discovering the ambuscade, the
entire command would have been annihilated. He
saw small party of Indians disappear over hill
half mile in front. and at once divided his party
to reconnoitrc, and only discovered them when he
had lanked their position by about 200 yards
Lieutenant Cherry rode back at full speed with one
or two men who with him, and notified Major
Thornburgh who had already begun the descent
the command. The Indians were dismounted and
lying down along the crest of the high steep ridge
for hundred yards from the point where the
deadly assault would have commenced.
The troops withdrawn short distance, dis
mounted and deployed in line of battle,wth orders
10 await the attack of the Indians.
Lieutenant Cherry was here ordered by Thorn
burgh to take a detachment of fifteen picked men
and make reconnaissance, and communicate, If
Ill. IL, l. ffnrt rrlf hot
they only desired To oppose his approach 10 their
Agency. aud would parley or have IA big talk if
they could be communicated with. Cherry moved
out at a gallop with his men from the right flank
and noticed like movement of about twenty In
dams from the left Of the Indian position He APP
preached TO within couple of hundred yards of
the Indians and took off bis hat and waved IT. but
the response was a shot fired at HIM. wounding
man of his party and killing his horse. This was
the first shot, and was instantly followed by vol
ley from the Indians.
The work had now begun in real earnest, and
seeing the advantage of the position he held Lieu
tenant Cherry dismounted his detachment and de-
ployed ong the crest of the hill, to prevent the
Indians from Ranking his position, or 10 cover the
retreat, if found necessary to retire upon the
wagon train, which was then coming mp slowly,
guarded by Lieutenant Paddock, Company ID, OH
Cavalry. Oroers were sent 10 park the wagons ana
cover them with the company guarding them.
BRILLIANT CHARGL-THE RETREAT.
The two companies in the advance were Captain
Pavne's, Company +. 9th Cavalry, aud Captain
Lawson's. Company L. Sd Cavalry. which were dis
mounted and deployed sxrmishers, Captain
Payne on the left and Captain Lawson on the right.
Prom Lieutenant Cherry's position, he could see
that the Indians trying to cut HIM oil from the
wagons, and at once sent word to Major Thorn
burgh, who then withdrew the line slowly. keeping
Il. III.