Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-10-02
and Capt. J. Scott Payne is now In
command. E. J. SANFORD,
II. 8. WEBB.
To the Associated Press.


canon at noon to-day, me mile south
from here, On our march to the Agen-.
cy, and retreated in good order to the
wagon train, where we are now en-
trenching ourselves.
4:30 p. m.-Msjor Thornburg was
killed instantly during the retreat.
Capt. Payne was wounded in two
places slightly. Lieutenant Paddock
and Capt. Grimes were also painfully
wounded. Ten enlisted men and the
wagon.master, MeKinstry, Were kill
ed and twenty-five men wounded.
The command is now very well shell
tered, but now and then are heard the
guns of new hostiles who have just
arrived. Our mules aud horses are
getting it all around. The red Devils
fred the grass all around US to burn
US out.
9P. M.-We still hold our position.
Every msn is bury digging trenches
and hauling out the dead animals for
defense. Tomorrow we expect to be
attacked at daylight. Our courier,
Joe Rankin, has volunteered TO carry
dispatches to Rawlins. Mr.. Gordon's
freight outfit of Indian supplies
near US has been burned, also
the company wagons of COM
pauy Of" 5th Cavalry. About three
fourths of our horses and mules have
been killed. Should reinforcements
reach US in five days we can hold out
very well with our ammunition.
CHICAGO. ILL, Oct. 1.-The dis
patches to General Sheridan corrobo-
rates the following: Msj. ThorDburgh's IS
command consisted of three compa-
nies of cavalry. The Indians, who
were several hundred in number, were
of the Ute tribe, aid are said to be
we'll armed and very brave. Over five
| hundred sOidies are ordered to rem
devious at Rawlins, and will reinforce
the imperiled party as soon as possible.
Major Thornburgh was born at New
Market, Ia this State, on the 26th day
of December, 1912. He lived with his
parents at that place until the begin
ming of the late war. In the spring
of 1862, when little more than nine
teen years old, he left his home
crossed the Cumberland mountains
into Kentucky to join the Unior
army. He enlisted as a private soldier
in Company "A,' 9th Tennessee In
fAntry, organized about that time By
Colonel, afterwards General Joseph
A. Cooper. He was appointed Ser
geant Major Of the Regiment and
soon afterwards was detailed on the
staff of Brigadier General Spears
commanding a brigade of Tennessee
troops. While in the army the writel
served with him in the same regiment
and can bear testimony to his gallan
try, which was displayed on all occa
sions. He never quailed in the face O
danger, and was always ready TO q
where duty called. He was as far from
anything approaching cowardice a
any man we ever met in or out of tn,
army.
In the summer of 1868 he was offer
Ell an appointment to West Point
which, after some hesitation he &C
cepted, and entered the Military Aca
denny there soon after. He made al
excellent record there, and, upon grad
uating, was appointed to lieu
tenancyin the artillery brancI
Of the Eervice-the Seem U. s
Artillery, we believe. He was pro
moted to a First Lieutenancy after
wards. In 1871. he was detailed 8
Instructor of Military Tactics, AM
} Commandant of Cadets in the Eas
Tennessee University here, and serve
with credit to himself and to th
satisfaction of the mans gers of th
Institution, for some two years. 81
was relieved from there and assigue
to duty at Fort Foote, below Wash
ington, In the State of Maryland
where he remained some time. Tw
or three years ago he was ar
pointed a paymaster in the army
with the rank Of Major, an
served in that capacity until yea
ago, when he was tran ferred to th
f. urih Infantry, retaining his rank c
Major. His rapid promotion wa
something unusual in the army i
time OF peace, and it is the best evi
deuce of the high estimation in whic
he was held by his superior officers
He was an intimate friend of Geners
Crook, and enjoyed the confidence {
that excellent officer. He led an ez
5 petition against the Indians last win
ter, in which, though rot altogetbe
successful, We know bis conduct me-
with the appreciation of Gen. Crooi
, in command Of that department.
! On his 2Sth birthday, Decembe
PEE b, 1870, Maj. Thornburgh was MAJ
ried to Lida w. Clark, daughter {
! Colonel Clark, Paymaster i
: the regular army, who, togethe
with two children, boy and a gir
. are left to mourn his cruel and untime
u death. They will have the SINGER
{ sympathy of host of warm persons
friends, and a Nation will join ther
in mourning the death of the gallar
e young officer.
We have known Major Thornburg
Intimately for neagly twenty years
since before he was grown. He was