The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-10-16

But wake to day that knows no sunset sky,
And beach our PROV on unimagined shore!
Merritt's Forces Reach Capt. Payne Com
mand in Safety.
TERRIBI E SITUATION OF THE BELEAGURED
BAND-THRILLINa INCIDENTS OF THEIR
srAGE-A BATTLE WITH THE REDSKINS
CAPT. DoDGEAND THE COLoRED TROOPS.
RAwL1Ns, Oct. S.-The mail carrier from
Snake river Tuesday morning is just in
He reports that Merritt reached Payne's
command Monday afternoon, after severe
fight, killing thirty-seven Indians. He
found them (Payne's command) all right
The colored cavalry company joined Payne
last Friday night. losing all their horses but
two in doing so. The companies OF the Fours
tenth regiment were at least twenty-four
hours behind Merritt's command. The mail
carrier brings important, cheering and def
mite news both from Payne's and Merritt's
commands, which was borne to Snake river
by William Lthy, one Of Mcrritt's scouts,
who left Milk river on Monday night. Gen.
Merritt, on his approach to Payne's camp,
and when only few miles distant from it,
discovered hostile Utes filing out from their
neighboring canyons The Indians discov-
cred Merritt at the same moment and the
General perceiving this from their action.
ordered his men to fall back in rapid retreat.
The Indians were encouraged by this ma
neuvre to rush from their hiding places,
and Merritt, pushing his troops to run,
drew them out on the open plain. He then
gave the order to wheel, which the men did
with admirable precision, showing in min
ute's space bristllng front, and in less than
two minutes his men poured into the utes
fire which checked their advance and forced
them to seek every available cover. The bat
tie, which began Monday afternoon, lasted
but few hours, during which time the In
dams suffered a loss of thirty-seven killed,
while Merritt did not lose man. In fact,
| the Utes got such severe drubbing that they
! threw up the white flag in token of their
| wish for parley. This was granted by
Merritt, and several chiefs entered the camp
forthwith. Several chiefs were willing to
| surrender-others were not. Merritt told
| them if they would give up their arms and
\ ponies he would do nothing more with them
| for the present. One or two Of the chiefs
asked whether Merritt intended to 60 to the
agency with his troops, and he replied that
he did. After brief consultation, all the
| chiefs agreed to common answer, which
was THAT, if the United States soldiers in
vaded their reservation, they would fight
them
| UNTIL THE LAST OF THE UTEs LAY DEAD.
After this they left Merritt's camp and
returned to the canyons. Gen. Merritt
then pushed forward and joined Payne with
he remnant OF Thornburg's command. The
sa me Monday evening before Merritt's arri-
val, Payne had been most CALAMITY succored
BY a colored company of forty-fve men of
the Ninth Cavalry, under Capt. Dodge. His
com pany came down Bear river past Steam
boat Springs last Friday night, and learning
of T oornbulg's fight and Payne's situation,
resolyed.to get at Psyne's side at every haz-
ard. In their attempt they were metby the
besieging Utes, who turned upon them with
fire so hot that they were compelled to dis
mount. In the course Of the subsequent en-
gagem..nt this brave colored company
lost ev cry horse but two. Nothing was
brought by Scout Lthy about their per-
sonal loss in killed or wounded but they
succeeded in making their way to Payne's
relief, and were hailed in camp with every
expression of welcome, the long besieged
soldiers making the hills resound with their
cheers. Merritt on his arrival found Payne
had held out splendidly, losing only two
| men since the Goth, when Rankin.left.
CALAMITY OF THE TROOPS.
| Col. Merritt, in his report, adds: ''Too
much praise cannot be given to Capt. Dodge
| and his command for the very praiseworthy
act in the reinforcement of Payne. Words
fail to describe the scene in the vicinity OF
this wretched intrenchment. Over three
hundred dead animals are lying outside the
breastworks. The stencil from them is some
thing horrible. The wounded are doing well.
Capt. Payne and Lieut.. Paddock are both
improving. cannot give too much cre6lt
| to nv gallant officers and men for their ad-
mirable conduct during the march. In some
thing like forty-flve hours my command has
\ marched 40 miles over a miserable dusty
road, the worst ever travelled" The rest OF
the despatch is devoted to praise OF his SUI
bordinates, whom he commends in the
w.armest manner, mentioning, especially,
Lientenants Swift and Bishop, Burke, Schuy-
Ter and Weir, Colonels Compton and Sum-
ner.
1t may be observed that he says nothing oil
the fight which he is reported to have had
with the Indians en- route, and the report
NAV, therefore, be set down as fiction,
CAPTAIN PAYNE's COMMAND.
Capt. Payne made the following statement as
to his situation ''Indians still surround us
and pour in an affective fire from the COM
handing bluffs, at distance OF five or six
hundred yards, having a cross fire upon our
position, which position was chosen hastily
on the first day Of the fight. All our horses
and all but twelve mules have been killed
We sheltered them the best we could with
wagons, but to no purpose. Captain Dodge
and Lieutenant Hughes, with Company D,
Ninth Cavalry, came to our rescue yesterday
morning at daybreak, after forced nights