Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-10-10


dered charge, which he calamity led in per-
son, and succeeded in cutting his way out, and
when within about 800 yards of his wagons he
fell dead with two bullets through his brain.
Captain Payne now took command, and the
battle was carried on until eight O'Clock p. M,
the troops using the wagons and animals as
breastworks. The Indians fell back a short
distance, and went into camp during the en-
gagement. Lowry was killed. The casualties
are about as follows Maior Thornburg Low
ry and thirteen enlisted men, the wagon
master, McKinstry, and one teamster killed.
Captain Payne, Captain Lawson, Surgeon
Grimes, Lieutenants Paddock and Wolf and
thirty-five men wounded. Major Thornburg's
body was not discovered when Rankin left
with the dispatches. Captain Payne had forti-
fed his position and thought he could posi-
bly, hold it until the arrival of freinforcements
in case they were sent promptly. About $50
head of mules and horses were killed by the
Indians. General Merritt will arrive tonight
and leave Immediately with COED force.
LATER-lt is now reported that Agent
Meeker and family and all employees have been
murdered and the agency buildings destroyed,
but this report lacks confirmation. Settlers
from Snake and Bear Rivers are 1ocking here
for safety and considerable excitement pre-
walls.
CHEYENNE, October l.
General Merritt, who will command the ex-
pedttion for the relief of Thornburg's COM
mand, left here this afternoon on a special
| train. Accompanying him were Companies
A, b, l, and NJ, of the Fifth Cavalry, and
Company N, of the Fourth Infantry In ad-
dition to these there will be five companies of
cavalry from other posts in the department.
and four companies of infantry, the greater
number of which will be at Rawlins before
| daylight in the morning. From the Cheyenne
depot full equipment Of wagon transportR-
ton as well as a large pack train departed to-
night. Information believed authentic is re-
| ceived here tonight that General Tyner, As
sistant Postmaster General, Governor Hoyt
| of Wyoming, and military escort of eight
men are now with Thornburg's command on
Milk river.
The following is received from Lieutenant
Price, who is twenty-five miles back of Thorn
burg's command:
FoRTIFIoATIoN CREEK, Sept. g.
via RAwLINs, wy. I. Oct. l.
Major Thornburg's command was met by
| an overwhelming force of Indians at Milk
Creek, surrounded, and Major Thornburg
killed at the outset, and four officers, includ
| ing the doctor, wounded. Loss of men, eleven
| killed and thirty-four wounded. Most of the
animals are killed. ReInforcements must use
dispatch in order to save the command. 1 am
| left at this point with thirty men, and have
| just received orders to entrench and fortifv
well.
Signed PRICE, Lieutenant"
Two freighters named Kinney and Gardner,
who were recently engaged in hauling the
| baggage Of Captain Dodge's company to Steam
boat Springs from Middle Park, arrived here
| from North Park this evening They report
seeing fresh Indian signs through the Park,
| and meeting young Arapahoe buck who told
| them the Arapahoes had joined the Utes for
| the purpose of driving the colored soldiers,
| Captain Dodge's company, out of the Park.
| They think the Indians were about to proceed
to Steamboat Springs to attack Dodge, when
| Ihornburg's approach attracted their atten-
| tion and they attacked him instead.
! The cause of the outbreak as stated from
Washington is a mistake. There have been
no encroachments on the reservation, and
| prospectors never went to Washington to
urge Congress to disregard the treaty The
| Northern Utes who attacked Thornburg were
not interested in the demand of the Lospinus
| Utes. The cause of the outbreak was probably
| the failure of the Government to pay the S79,-
| 600 due under the Brunot treaty of 1873, by
which the San Juan mining region was ceded
! by the Utes to Colorado. Congress and Colo
! rado people have never asked for the transfer
of the Utes to Indian Territory.
The following is list of those at White
| River Agency probably killed: Agent n. C.
Meeker, wife and daughter, aged twenty-one;
| Frank and Harry Dresser, E. 5. Mansfield, w.
! II. Post, Mr.. and Mrs. Price and two children,
Fred Shepherd, George Eaton and a boy
named Thompson.
WASHINGTON, Oct. q
General Knapp, Chief Clerk of the Post
office Department, received tonight the fol
| lowing reply to his telegram to the Postmas-
| ter at Laramie, asking information relative to
First Assistant Postmaster General Tyner and
| party:
"Party just arrived. Saw General Tyner
| and party on Big Creek, about fifteen miles
| from Tinkham's ranch at the entrance to
| North Park. Messengers have been sent to
warn them of their danger from the Indians.
Think they are all right. Will telegraph you
/ when hear from them.
[Signedl c. W. sPAULDNG,
| Acting Postmaster"
| This places General Tyner and friends $50
miles east of the scene of Thornburg's dis
aster with mountain range between them,
| ana Tree from danger unless the outbreak
among the Indians is more general than is
now supposed.
| Assistant Postmaster General Tyner and
party arrived at Laramie City this morning.
RAw1.INs Oct 8.
There are no tidings from Captain Payue's
command. The mail from the South arrived
this morning, but as 1t was only from
Dixon it contained nothing of impor
tance. The worst may be expected,
and grave fears are now entertained
for the safety of Captain Payne and his COM
mand. Troops and supplies are being sent to
| the front with remarkable dispatch, Captain
Giles, Quartermaster, giving the matter his
| personal attention. General Merritt's com
mand probably reached the camp of Lieuten-
ant Price on Fertilization Creek this morning
and is expected to arrive at the battlefield
Sunday afternoon.
The opinion of those here acquainted with
| the hostile Utes, is that they are now many
miles from the scene of Thornburg's engage
| ment, and that the troops will be Obliged to
| follow them far into the mountain If they
| succeed in finding them at all. Should this
| theory prove correct General Crook will
| in all probability follow the trail of
| Ute families south from the agency
toward Blue River, and by this movement
may succeed in drawing the Utes into the
| open country. From the manner In which
| troops and supplies are being sent forward,
| General Crook evidently intends to prosecute
the campaign to the bitter end. The total
number of troops now sent forward is about
six hundred. Two more companies of cavalry
will arrive Monday, one from Fort Fetterman
and one from Robinson"
The following dispatch was received
at Denver, Col, on the 5th:
OURAY, Col, Oot.5.
thing is in readiness for the worst If news
from the agency is unfavorable will have the
women and children that are in the park re-
moved to town. We feel amply able to hold
| our own.
LAKE Cry, Oct. 8.
All seems to be quiet below at the Los Pinos
| Agency There were about l50 Ute squaws
and pappooses below here at the old agency
ON their way home to the agency from hunt.
| Win hear from Ouray tomorrow when Patton
returns. have also sent to Gunnison and Pit
kin to be on the lookout. From all indica-
tions in that part of the State everything is
quiet.
Signed CAPT. GEORGE j. RICHARDS.
LAKE Cry, Col, Oct 4.
The Indian Chief Ouray has notified the
whites to protect themselves, that he is pow
| eress and can afford no protection. Captain
| Richards has gone to Indian Creek to seize
ammunition destined to the Indian Agency
Dorley has just reached here from Ouray; he
left there to-day. 1t is reported that Onatio
is on the war path In the South. The town
| OF Ouray Is under arms and the country is all
on fire. We will do all we can, but want arms
Can you send themi We must have protec-
tiOn of some kind.