The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-10-09

deployed along the crest OF the hill Il
prevent the Indians fanking his posi-
tion or to cover the retreat If fount
necessary to retire upon the Wagon
train, which was then coming up slow
ly, guarded by Lieut.. Paddocks, Co. D
Fifth cavalry. Orders were sent t.
park the wagons and cover them will
the company guarding them. The twt
companies In advance were Capt
Payne, company F, Fifth cavalry. ant
Capt. Lawson, company E, Third cav
airy, which were dismounted and de
ployed as skirmishers, Capt. Payne OF
the left and Capt. Lawson on the right
From Cherry's position he could SET
that the Indians were trying to cul
him of from the wagons and at once
sent word to Maj. Thornburgh who
then withdrew the line slowly, keeping
the Indians in check until opposite the
point which his men held, when seeing
that the Indians were concentrating to
cut of his retreat Capt. Payne with
company F, Fifth cavalry, was ordered
to charge the hill, which he did in gal
liant style, his horse being shot under
him and several of his men wounded.
The Indians having been driven from
this point the company was rallied on
the wagon train. Mai. Thornburgh
then gave orders to Cherry to hold his
position and cover Capt. Lawson's re-
treat, who was ordered to fall back
slowly and lead the horses of his COM
pany. Cherry then called for volun-
teers Of twenty men who responded
promptly and fought with desperation.
Their names will be given in a later
dispatch, as nearly every man was
wounded before he reached the camp
and two men killed. Cherry brought
every wounded man in with him.
Capt. Lawson, the brave old veteran,
displayed the greatest GOODNESS and
courage during this retreat. sending. up
ammunition to Cherry's men when once
they were nearly without it. Maj.
Thornburgh started back to the wagon
train after giving his final orders to
Capt. Payne to charge the hill and to
Capt. Lawson and Lieut.. Cherry to
cover the retreat. He must have been
shot dead when barely half way there,
as his body was seen by one of Capt.
Lawson's men, life extinct and lying
on his face. Capt Payne, then in
command, at once set about having
wounded horses shot for breastworks
and dismantling the wagons Of boxes,
bundles of bedding, corn and flour
sacks, which were quickly piled up for
fortifications, picks and shovels used
vigorously for digging entrenchments.
Meanwhile calling fire was concen-
trated upon the command from all the
surrounding bluffs which commanded
the position. Not an Indian could be
seen, but the incessant crack Of their
Sharps and Winchester rides dealt
fearful destruction among horses and
men. The groans of the dying and
the agonizing cries Of the wounded told
what fearful havoc was being made
among the determined and desperate
command. Every man was bound to
sell his life as dearly as possible.
About this time . great danger was
approaching at a frightful rapid rate.
The red devils at the beginning of the
fight had set FIRE to the dry grass and
sage brush to the wlndward of our
position and it now came sweeping
down towsrd us, the flames leaping
high into the air and dense volumes Of
smoke rolling on to engulf US. 1t was
sight to make the stoutest heart
quail, and the fiends were waiting
ready TO give us volley as soon as we
were driven from our shelter. Now il
reaches the flank, and blankets, blouses,
and empty sacks were freely used to
extinguish the flames. Some Of the
wagons were set on fire which required
all the force possible to smother it.
No water can be obtained and the
smoke is suffocating, but the
fire passed and we still hold our posi-
tion. Meanwhile a constant fire is
poured in upon US. Capt. Payne being
wounded for the second time, and First
Sergeant Dolan, of company F, killed
instantly. McKinstry and Mckee
killed, and many others wounded. Oui
greatest danger now is past. The mer
have now mostly covered themselves,
but the poor horses and mules are con
stantly falling about us. Just about
sundown charge was attempted, but
repulsed, the Indians trying to run of
some our horses which had broken
loose. The attack ceased at dark and
pretty soon every man was at work en-.
larging the trenches, hauling out the
dead horses, caring for the wounded
and burying the dead. At daylight the
attack was resumed, and the firing Of
the sharpshooters has been kept up
every day ever since. and occasionally,
at night, sending us to our pits in a
scramble. This is the Hfth day of ouI
seige, but we are determined to hold
out IL 1t takes q month for succor te
reach us, but we are confident that
Gen. Merritt, whose name Is upon the
lips OF every one, is on the road to res
cue us.
The names of the killed and wound
ed are as follows: Killed = MaioI
Thornburgh, Fourth infantry; FRS
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