Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-10-03
KILLED BY INDIANS.
Death of Major 7. T. Thornburgh.
He is Killed in Fight With Ute
Indians,
One Hundred and Fifty Miles from
Fort Steele.
Capt. J. Scott Payne Wounded in
two Places, but Not
Seriously.
Ten Men Killed and Twenty-Five
Wounded.

the city Wednesday afternoon that
Major Thomas T. Thornburgh was
killed last Monday by Ute Indians.
The following brief dispatch an
nounced the sad news.
FORT STEELE, WYOMING TERRI
TORY, October 1st, 1879:
W p. Chamberlain
Msj. Thornburgh's command was
attacked by Utes Last Monday.
Thornburgh, with ten men, killed.
The fight was $50 miles from here.
The dispatch was signed by Maj. T..
8. Webb ard E. J. Sanford, of the
firm of Sanford. Chamberlain q
Albers, of this city. who have been at
Fort Steele several days.
The OILY information of the ez pe~
dition against the Utes. except the
meagre teiegrsphic reports in our ex~
changes. is from printed letter writ
ten by Hon. J. M. Thornburgb. who
has spent most of the summer with his
brother, Maj. Thornburgh, at For,
Steele, to his wife in this city. The
letter is dated September 20th. 1t Gays:
"The Ute Indians are about 200
miles South of here and are getting
bell gereDt aud are threatening
trouble. This morning two com panies
of cavalry reached here by railroad.
J. Scott Payne ia in command of one
of the companies. There ia one COM
pany stationed here. These three
CON panies and one of infantry will
compose tbs command that goes on
the expedition against tue Utes."
Mej. Thornbursh. We presume, was
in com mand of the expedition. Capt.
J. Scott Payne, who is mentioned as
being in command Of cDe of the com
panies, was once a resident of this
city. and was married here to Miss
Lucy Alexander. He is safe, we pre-
sumo, or something would have been
said in the dispatch to the contrary
/ he letter.frOm Hon J. M. ThOrnburgh
was written week ago last Saturday
and the expedition doubtless set out q
day or two later.
Since writing the above we have re-
c4iVed the following special dispatch
from Hon. J. NJ. Thornburgh:
FORT STEELE. WY, Oct. l, '79.
Special DispaIc h 40 ans hrOnicie.
Maj. TtOrnburgh's command OF
three companit of cavalry, fought the
Ute Indians day befole yesterday at
Milk River. The following dispatch
has just been received here: maj
T. I. Thorpburgh was killed instant
ly while gsllantly directing the move.
ment of his troops. A more perft ct
gentleman aud gallant soldier never
lived. CHERRY, Adjutant.n
O.her Information received states
that J. Scott Payne is wounded in two
places. but not seriously. Lieutenant
DR.. Grimes was wounded; AdjutanC
Cherry's horse shot and about ten men
were killed and twenty five woun ed.
About three-fourths OF the horses vi
the command were also killed and
| wounded. The troops are in a good
position and will hold their own, II
islbelIeved, until reinforcements reach
them. General Morrill,, and perhaps
Genera! Crook will go at ones to theiI
relief. j. NJ. THoRNBURGH.
| We are also permitted, through the
courtesy of Mr. J. c. Duncan, As-o
ciated Press Agen', to use the follow
| ing: .a
FORT STEELE, Wy. Oct. l, 1879.
To j. G. Duncan, Agt. Asso. Press
Information receised here shows
that tie fight between Maj. Thorn
burgh's com mand of 100 cavalry ant
from four to five hundred Ute indiana
on Milk Greek, Colorado, was brough
about as follows:
Several Ute Chiefs had met Mi
Thornburgh and expressed friendship
but large bodies of Indians were seer
lowering about the command whil
on the march. Maj. Thorn5urgh wa
moving. with caution, his comman,
we'll In hand, aad prepared for the de
Tense, the Indians getting thicke
AID bo!d4r around the command
Rankin, guide and scout. urged Maj
Th0rnburgh 10 fire on them, bu
Maj. Thornburgh replied, Il hav
DO orders to kill them, onl!
to arrest the leaders of tn
trouble, as they are pointed out b.
the Indian agent" About this time
shot was fred in the rear of the wagon
train, when the Indians attacks ct
all around. The fighting was des
perate. The train was prompt,
parked, and our troops went int goo,
position, where it Is believed they will
hold out until rein folcemenls react
them. Msj Thornbnrgh was killed
al d Capt. J. Scott Payne is now il
com nand. E.. J. SANFORD,
L. 3. WEBB.
To the Associated. Press.
MILK RIVER, Col, Sept. 29.-Thorn
buTgh's command Was attacked in
canon st noon TO day, ne mile soutl
from here, on our march 10 the Agen
cy aud we retreated IN good order to th
wagon train, where we are nov Ell
lrenching ourselves.
4:3O D. m.-Msjor Thernburgh Wa
killed Instantly during the retreat
Capt. Payne was wounded In tw,