The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-10-16

tlHt Gen. Merritt. from GOTU huSStll, Will lllt
of the 9Th Cavalry there, and all
other available troops, Will be ordered to our
rescue, as they will all be needed to finish the
campaign.
A Graphic History of the Fight.
The field of battle was admirably chosen for
defense by the Indians, and had it not been
for Mai Th0rnburgh'S advance guard, com
by Lieut.. Cherry, discovering the
the entire command would have
been annihilated. He saw small party of
Indians disappear over a hill half mile in
front, and Mt once divided his party to recon-
hotter, and only discovered them when he had
fianlled their position by about 200 yards.
Cherry rode back at full speed with two or
three men that were with him, and notified
Mai. Thornburgh, who had already begun the
descent into the deep ravine intended to en-
gulf the command. The Indians were dis
mounted and lying down along the crest of
the high, steep ridge, not 100 yards from the
point where the deadly assault would have
The troops were Withdrawn
short distance, dismounted and deployed in
line of battle with orders to await the attack
of the Indians, but Cherry was here ordered
by ThOrnburgh to take a detachment OF 10
picked men and make a reconnaissance, and
if possible, with the Indians, as
it was thought that they only desired to OPP
pose his approach to their agency ana would
parley or have big talk if they could be
with. Cherry moved out at
gallop with his men from the right Hank and
noticed like movement from about
90 Indians. From the left of the Indian
position he approached TO within
couple of hundred yards of the In
dians, took off his hat and waved it, but
THE RESPONSE WAS SHOT
fired at him, wounding man of his party and
killing his horse. This was the first shot, and
was instantly followed by vollev from the
Indians. The work had now begun in earnest,
and seeing the advantage of the position ne
held. Cherry dismounted his detachment and
deployed along the crest of the hill, to pre-
ha fanlipO his nOSitlOn. to
cover the retreat If found necessary, ana 10
retire upon the wagon train which was tnen
coming up slowly, guarded by Lieut. Padoock'
of Company ID, Fifth Cavalry. The two com
panies in advance were Capt. Paynes, Cam
pany F, Fifth Cavalry, and Capt. Lawson's,
Company f, Third Cavalry, which were dis
Payne on the left and Capt. Lawson on the
right. From Cherry's position he could see
that the Indians were trying to cut him on
from the wagons and at once sent word TO
Major Thornburgh, who then withdrew the
line slowly, keeping the Indians in check until
opposite the point which his men formerly
had, when seeing that the Indians were con-
centrating to cut off his retreat, Capt. Payne,
dered to
CHARGE THE HILL,
which he did in gallant style, his horse being
shot under him and several of his men
wounded The Indians having been driven
from this point, the company rallied on the
wagon train. Major Thornburgh then gave
orders to Cherry to hold his position and
cover Capt. Lawson's retreat, who was or
dered to fall back slowly with the led horses
of his company. Cherry called for volunteers
of 20 men, who responded promptly ana
fought with desperation. Their names Will De
givcd in later dispatches, 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, a
brave old veteran, displayed the greatest cool
ness and courage during this retreat, sending
up ammunition TO Cherly's men when once
they were nearly without it.
MAJOR THORNBURGH
started back TO the wagon train after giving
his final orders to Capt. Payne to charge the
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
then in command, at once set about having
the wounded horses shot for breastworks ,dls,
mantling the wagons OF boxes, bundles OF
bedding, corn and -four sacks, which were
quickly piled up for fortificatiOns. Picks ana
shovels were used vigorously for digging in
trenchments. In the meantime q CALLING hre
was concentrated upon the command from all
surrounding bluffs which commanded the po-
sition. Not an Indian could be seen, but the
incessant cracks of their Sharp's and Win
chester rifles dealt fearful destruction among
the horses and men. The groans of the dy-
ing and the agOniZing Cries of the wounded
told what fearful havoc was being made
among the determined and desperate com
mand-eVery man bound to sell his lite as
dearly as possible. About this time n great
danger was approaching at n frghtfully rapid
pace The red devils at the beginning of the
fight had
SET FIRE TO THE DRY GRASS
and TO the sage brushes to the windward OF
our position. and it now came sweeping down
toward us, the flames leaping into the ar ana
immense volumes of smoke rolling on 70 en-.
gulf US. 1t was n sight to make tie stoutest
Nl,of dc NNait
to give us Volley as soon as we were driven
from our shelter. Now it reached the flank
and blankets, blouses and empty sacks were
freely used to eXtingulSh 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 Sufocatlng
but the fire passes, and we will hold our posi-
ton. In the meantime constant VolIey
poured down upon US, capt. Payne Delne
wounded for the second time, and FIRST ser
geant Dolan, of Company +, killed instantly
McKinstry and Mckee were killed, ana many
! others wounded. Our greatest danger now L
past. The men have now mostly coNeIet
themselves, but the poor horses ana Inule'
are constantly falling about US. JUST apo ~
shutdown charge was attempted, put re
pulsed, the Indians trying to drive off some Of
! our horses which had broken loose. The at
tack ceased at dark, and soon every man
was at work enlarging 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 since, and occa'
siOnaIly at night, sending us to our pits in q
scramble. This is the fifth day OF our siege
but we are determined to hold, If it takes 6
month for succor to reach us. We are conf
dent that Gen. Merritt, whose name is upon
the lips of every one, is on the road to rescue
I US.
THE KILLED.
| The names of the killed are as follows.
Mai Thornburgh, 4th Infantry.
LIST. Sergt. John Dolan, Company +, 9th Cav
airy.
Private John Burns, Company F, 9Th Cav
airy.
Michael Firerton, Company F, 9Th Cavalry
Samuel Mckee, Company F, 5th Cavalry.
Amos ID. Miller, Company F, 5th Cavalry.
Thomas Morey, Company ID, 9th Cavalry.
Michael Lynch, Company ID, 9TH Cavalry.
Charles Wright. Company ID, 9TH Cavalry.
Dominic Cuff Company L, Sd Cavalry.
THE WOUNDED.
Capt. Payne, 5th Cavalry, slightly wounded
in the hip.
Lieut.. Paddock, 9Th Cavalry. flesh wound in
the hip.
Dr. Gcrmes. flesh wound in the shoulder.
Company T, 5th Cavalry-Sergt. John Nor
ril; Trumpetcr Fred. Sutciif and 1rumpeter
John Mcdonald: Privates Jas. F. Gibbs, John
HoaXey, Emil kursenal, Eugene Patterson
Frank simmons, Eugene SchickedouZ, W m
ESser Goitlicb Steiger.
Company ID, 9th Cavalry-Privates Nicholas
liecney, Thomas Lynch, Fred Bernhard, and
r. Miller.
COMPANY E. Sd Cavalrv-Sergt. Jas Mont