Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-08
kilograms to The Star.
FIGHTING THE UTES.
Thirty-seven Indians Killed.
MERRITT JOINS PAYNE'S COMMAND.
ACCOUNT OF THE MILK RIVER BATTLE.
COLORADO ELECTION.
A Republican Victory.
THE WALKING MATCHES.
Telegrams to The Star.
Thirty-seven Indians Killed.
MERRITT JOINS PAYNE's COMMAND.
ACCOUNT OF THE MILK RIVER BATTLE.
COLORADO ELECTION.
A Republican Victory.
THE WALKING MATCHES.

THE WALKING MATCHES.
ANOTHER BATTLE WITH THE
Merritt Kills Thirty.Seven Indians
and Reaches Payne's Command.
was received early this morning from Major
Gillis at RawlinS:
"Roarlins, Oct. s.-The mail carrier from Snake
River Is justin. He reports that Merritt reached
Payne's command Monday afternoon, after
severe fight, killing 81 Indians. He found them
Payne's commandl all right. The colored cav
airy company joined Payne last Friday night,
losing all their horses but two In doing So The
mail carrier knows nothing about the condition
Of the officers and men. The companies Of the
4th regiment were at least twenty-four hours
| behind Merritt's command.
{signed,) GILLIs.
A Colorado Call for Arms and Ann
DENVER, COL, Oct. s.-Gov. Pltkin has re-
ceived and sent the following additional dis
patches:
At a citizens meeting last night e; committee ]
on safety was appointed consisting Of MeSsr5.
Ferry, Sinrous, Finley, Henry and McDougal.
ized. We have plenty of men, but are without
arms and ammunition. We want 100 stand of
arms and plenty of ammunition.
Chairman of the Committee on Safety
No Indians Within Fifty Miles of
Lcadville.
The following dispatch was received at 1905
LEADvILLE, COL, Oct Information has
been received since my last dispatch to you
which leads me to believe that there are no IN
dians within fifty miles Of this place In any d.
rection. do not hear of any unusual excite
ment anywhere on the frontier II get any
GEN. j. c. WILsoN.'
Looking Out for the Settlements.
ALAMosA, COL, Oct. 7.-Gou. Pitkin, De,lcer:-
| have arrived at Alamosa, and am now moving
the troops to the southern Ute country l am
instructed by the department commander to
communicate with you. My first effort is to
secure the settlements II you have any in
formation from UncOmpahgre please sent 1t to
me. (sgned,) HATCH, Commanding.
The Resicged TrOOPs-Graphic Let
ter from One of the Officers.
CHEYENNE, Wy, Oct; s.-The courier from
with the Payne command;
BATTLE FIELD, MILK RIVER, Oct. 8, Pm
The courier will leave some time tonight with
US and pour in an effective fire from the bluffs
at distance Of five or six hundred yards, hav-
ing cross fire upon our position, which posi-
fight. All our horses and all but twelve mules
have been killed. We sheltered them as best
we could with wagons, but to no purpose.
d, 9th cavalry, came to our rescue yesterday
morning at day break, after forced march Of
th1rty-five miles from Bear river. Cheer upon
cheer rent the air from our trenches when it
was ascertained who were coming. A lull In
the firing enabled them to come In and shelter
nsaaa horses as well as possible taking to the doIt
its fury. Had the heights been accessl-
BILE Captain Dodge would have charged
fro or Wh r as na my This he Me feg nun
possible the ascent being nearly perpendicular,
all we could do during the day was to keep
fhe IRE when any Indian showed his head.
This, however, was very rare occurrence, as
the Indians have rifle pits and loop holes. Be-
command was shot down. A very fortunate
thing for US has been that the Indians have left
US unmolested at night with the exception Of
pits. We have been able at great risk to haul
off our dead animals every night, otherwise
the stencil would be intolerable. A sally is
made every night for water, distance Of two
hundred yards from our entertainments. Night
before last private Erser, of company F, was
shot in the face while out with party after
water. The Indians were only few yards
away and were driven off by volley from the
guard and trenches. Capt. Dodge brought us
river safely and would undoubtedly reach Raw
Inns. We have been counting the hours which
1t will probably take for relief to reach u.s. We
with the companies Of the nth cavalry S there
and all other available troops, will be ordered
to our rescue, as they Will all be needed to
finish the campaign.
HOW THORNBuRGH SAVED HIS FORCE FROM AN
The field OF battle was admirably chosen for
defence by the Indians, and had 1t not been for
ed by Lieut.. Cherry, discovering the ambuScade
the entire command would have been anniht-
lated: He saw say as small party Of Indians disap.
divided his party to reconnoitre, and only dts
covered them when he had f1anked their posi-
tion by about two hundred yards: Cherry rode
were with him, and notified Major Thornburgh,
who had already began the descent into the
deep aayine Sh which ans was Intended to enguf the
lying down along the crest OF the high steep
ridge for hundred yards from the point where
as Se aor
dismounted and deplOyed In line Of battle with
orders to await the attack of the Indians.
to take detachment Of fifteen picked men and
make reconnaissance and communicate, If pos
s1ble, with the Indians, as it was thought they
only desired to oppose his approach to their
agency and would parley, or have a big talk If
they could be communicated with. Cherry
moved out at gallop with his men from the
right flank, and noticed like movement Of
dian position. He approached to within a
couple hundred yards OF the Indians, and took
OIL , his hat @ aaa waved It, but the response was
party and killing his horse. This was
THE FIRST SHOT,
and was instantly followed by volley from
the Indians. The work had now begun In real
earnest, and seeing the advantage OF the posi-
ton he held, Cherry dismounted his detach-
ment and deployed along the crest Of the hill
to prevent the Indians thanking his position or
to cover the retreat If found necessary to retire
upon the wagon train, which was then coming
up slowly, guarded by Lieut. Paddock, COM
pany D, 5th cavalry. orders were sent to park
the wagons and cover them with the company
guarding them. The two companies ia advance
were Capt. Payne. company F, 5th cavalry,
and Capt. Lawson's, company 8, Sd cavalry,
which were dismounted and deployed as skir-
m1SherS Capt. Payne on the left and Capt.
Lawson on the right from Cherry's position.
He could see that the Indians were trying to
word to Major ThornbIrgh, who then with
drew the line, slowly keeping the Indians In
check until opposite the point which his men
held when seeing that the Indians were con-
centrating to cut on his retreat, Capt. Payne
with company F, 5th cavalry, was ordered to
charge the hill, which he did in gallant style,
his horse being shot under him and sew
eral OF his men wounded. The Indians
havinp heen driven from thia roinf