Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-16

ments. Meantime q CALLING hre was concen-
trated on the command from all the surround
ing bluffs which commanded the position. Not
an Indian could be seen, but incessant cracks
of their Sharps and Winchester rifles dealt
FEARFUL DESTRUCTION
among horses and men, the groans OF the dying
and the agonizing cries of the wounded telling
what fearful havoc was being made among the
determined and desperate command. Every
man was bound to sell his life as dearly as pos
sible. About this time great danger is APP
preaching at frightfully. rapid pace. The red
devils at the beginning of the fight had
SET FIRE TO THE DRY GRASS
and to the sage brush to the windward of our
position, and it now came sweeping down to-
wards us, the flames leaping high into the air
and immense volumes of smoke rolling in to
enpulf rs was q sight to make the st0utest
heart Quail. And the fends were waiting
ready to give us a volley as soon as we were
driven from our shelter. Now it reaches the
flank, and blankets, blouses and empty sacks
were freely used to extinguish the flames.
auired all the force possible to smother it. No
water can be obtained and the smoke is suf-
locating. but the fire passes and we still
HOLD OUR POSITION.
Meantime constant volley is poured upon US,
Capt. Payne being wounded for the second
time and First Sergeant Dolan of A company
instantly killed. McKinston and Mckee were
killed and many others were wounded. Our
greatest danger now is passed. The men have
mostly covered themselves, but the poor horses
and mules are constantly falling about US.
Just about shutdown a charge was attempted
but repulsed, by the Indians trying to drive of
n
some of our horses which had broken loose
The attack ceased at dark, and soon every man
was at work enlarging trenches, hauling dead
horses, caring for the wounded and buryine
the dead. At daylight the attack was resumed
and the
FIRING OF THE sHARPSHoOTERS
has been kept up every day since. and occa
sionally at night, sending Us to our pits in 6
scramble. This is the fifth day of our seige
but we are determined to hold out if it takes
month for succor to reach as, bat we are con
fdent that Gen. Merritt, whose name is upor
the lips of everyone, is on the road to rescue
us. The names of the killed and wounded art
Is follows:
Major Thornburgh, Fourth infantry; First
Sergeant John Dolan, company F, Fifth cav
airy; Private John Burns, company F. FIFTH
cavalry; Michael Firertom, company f, Fifth
clvalry; Samuel Mckee, company f, Fiftl
cavalry; Amos D. Miller, company F, Fiftl
| cavalry; Thomas Mooney, company ID, Fiftl
| cavalry; Michael Lynch, company D, Fiftl
cavalry; Chas. Wright, company D, Fiftl
| cavalry; Dominick. Cuff, company E, Thirt
| cavalry; Wagon Master McKinsley and Team
| ster Mcclure. ..--
TIE WOUNDED.
Capt. Payne Fifth cavalry. slightly wound
ed in arm and side; Lieutenant Paddock
Fifth cavalry, flesh wound in hip; DR.. Grimes
| company A, Fifth cavalry, flesh wound il
shoulder; Sergeant John Merrill, trumpete
Fred Sutchiffe; trumpeter John Mcdonald
| privates, John T. Gibbs, John HOaxey, Emf
Kursman. Eugene Patterson. Frank Summons
Eugene Stockholders, VIM. Esser, Cottlie1
Steiger, company d, Fifth cavalry; private
hart, e. Muller, company E, Third cavalry
Sergt. James Montgomery. Sergt
Allen Lupton, Corporals @. T
Echwurgel, F. Hunter, Privates Jas. Con
ways, John Crowley, w. b. Clark, Orlando Du
rand, Thomas Ferguson, Thos. Lewis, Edwar
Lavalle, Willard Mitchell, John Mahoney
Joseph Patterson, VIM. Schubert, Thomas Mac
Nanara, Marcus Hanson, James Budka, JnG
Donovan; teamsters, Thos. Cain and Nelson
and guide Lowery.
| NOT SERIOUS.
With the exception of the wound of th
guide Lowery, the wounds of the above name
| mortal.
Total killed, IL; total wounded, 43.
Merritt's March.
DETAILS OF THE ADVANCE.
RAwLINs, Wy, Oct. 8.-Lieut. Almy, &C
jutant of Gen. Merritt's command, gives yer
interesting account of the march of Gen. Me-
4 ritt's command from Rawlins. He says: W
marched continuously Saturday night, nc
b alting for a single moment, making sevent
miles IN twenty-four hours. It will he remen
bered that the command left here at 1890 A. Il
They marched forty miles that day, the secon
day they marched fifty miles. The men er
dured the march splendldly. The
realized that few of their comrades in arm
were surrounded, and that their safety depend
ed upon the quick movement of their com
mand. Consequently there was NO complaint
Several horses were so worn out that they ha
to be abandoned and died on the roadside. TIL
command arrived at the scene of action at 5:S
A. N. Sunday. Oct. 18th, after marching z
miles the day previous. When Merritt
| advance guard reached Payne's picket
the command was ordered to halt i
order to inform Capt. Payne that it was th
relief column that was approaching him. q
caused his trumpeter to sound the officers cal
Capt. Dodge's company of the Ninth csvalr
was there when Merritt arrived. He arrived o
Thursday and had to cut his way in. In th
engagement he lost thirty-six out of b
,eventy-fve horses. Grimes and 'Kimball wer
to work caring for the wounded Immediate
upon their arrival at the command. Merritt
march was a great military success.
MAJOR THoRNBURaH's BODY
has been recovered. Gen. Merritt does nc
mention having met any Indians, and the r,
port of his battle is not credited. Abou
eighty head of horses belonging to Geo. Boge
were taken out of their corral on Snake Rive
and d-sven off, on the night nf October 9Th. ]
is thought to be the work of white men, as n
Indians have been seen In the neighborhooG
Gen. Crook established his headquarters at F.
Steele, bat comes here every morning and re
mains during the day, returning home in th
evening. He is watching things closely an
3ispatching messengers daily. Capt. Giiiess
quartermaste~, is here and to him belongs tn
credit of moving forward forage and supple
in shorter time than any officer on record. ]
is due to his promptness that the troops wer
enabled to go to the front SO promptly.