Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-10-08

THREE COMPANIES OF CAVALRY SUR
PRIsED--MAJoR THoRNBURGH AND
FIFTEEN MEN KILLED-TwENTY-
FIVE OTHERS woUNDE D-THE
TROOPS sURRoUNDED-MovE
OF RELIEF.
WASHINGTON, Oct. IA dispatch
fromMilk river, COL, states that Major
Thornburgh's command, composed OF
three companies Of cavalry, was attack
ed in bad canyon, September 90, near
that place, by several hundred hostile
White River Ute Indians, and retreated
to the wagon train and entrenched. Du.
ring the retreat Major Thol burgh was
instantly killed. Capt. Payne was woun-
ded in two places slightly, and Lieut..
Paddock and Capt. Grimes were each
painfully, but not dangerously wounded,
Thirteen enlisted men, Lowery, cour-
Ter, and Wagonmaster McKinsley were
killed, and twenty soldiers and team
sters wounded. The hostile Indians
pursued. and besides picking off the
horses and mules whenever seen, fired
the grass all around to burn out the
camp. Gordon's freight outfit Of In
dian supplies, which was near, was
burned by the fire, also the wagons of
company f. Cayt. Payne had his horse
killed, and Lieut.. Cherry's was shot
during the retreat. About three-iourths
Of the horses and mules were killed.
The command expected to be able to
hold out for five days, within which
time they hoped to get reinforcements.
Joe Rankin, the courier oft command
volunteered 10 carry dispatches TO Raw
Inns. The wife of Capt. Payne, now IN
Washington, received a telegram from
him this afternoon corroborrting the &C.
count Of the fight.
A dispatch was also received at the
War department this afternoon, dated
Milk River, Sept. 20, $50 2. NJ, via
Rawlings, Wyoming, Oct. l. from Capt.
Payne, confirming the foregoing &C
count, announcing the death of Maj
Thornburgh, "who fell in harness"
and adding: II am carrolled near wa
ter, with about three-fonrths OF my ami
mails killed, after desperate fight since
IN. We hold our position. l shall
strengthen during the night, aud believe
we can hold out until reinforcements
reach US if they are hurried. Officers
and men behaved with the greatest gal
lantry'"
Col. Merritt has been ordered with
four companies from Fort Russell, two
from Fort Mcpherson, all that can be
spared from Sanders, and four compan-
les from Douglass, 10 rendezvous at
once at Rawlings. This gives $50 men.
Two companies have been ordered from
Robinson and one from Laramie to
march at once to the railroad to meet
emergencies. The White River Ctes
are superior warriors, and very difficult
to handle.
HER PAR TICULARS OF THE
FIGHT.
RAwLINa. Oct. 1.-The courier whe
brought the dipatches from Capt. Payne
saws The Indians at the agency two days
before the fight had sent all their old
men. women and children South, the
warriors were decorated and painted in
the usual war style, and they had
treatened to kill Agent Meeker at the
agency, and attempted to burn the
buildings. Major Thornburg, in moving
forward, avoided a canon which he
knew to be dangerously suitable for an
ambuscade, and went over hill, when
he discovered the Indians in ambush on
either side OF the canon. He was urg'
ed to fire, but desisted, as his orders
would net justify an attack. Two In
dams now rode up within a hundred
yards, dismounted, and with a savage
yell fir ed, shooting Capt. Payne through
the arm. At this signal the war whooE
was sounded by the Indians, aud the
battle commenced, with the result stat
ed.
Thornburgh found that he was sur
rounded, and ordered charge, which he
CALAMITY led in person, and succeeded
IN cutting his way out, and when with
IN about 500 yards of bis wagons he Eel
dead, with two bullets through bis brain
Capt. Payne now took command, anC
the battle was carried on until z. 81.
the troops using the wagons and ami
mails as breast works. The Indians fel
back short distance and went int
camp. The casualties are about as fol
lows Major Thornburgh, Lowry, thu
guide, and Is enlisted men, the wagoa
master, McKinstry, and one teamste
killed Capt. Payne, Capt. Lawson
Surgeon Grimes, Lieuts. Paddock ant
Wolf and IS men wounded, Majo
Thornburgh's body was not recovered