The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-11-12
THE Ute G IGN
REPORTS or TIE ENGAGEA1NT ON
MILK RIVER.
cApr. pAYNr,s REPORT.


s3s MILK RIVER.
CAPT. PAYNE's REPORT. sa8
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8.-den. Sherman, in for
wardinR the following report Of Capt. J.. Scott
Payne, Fifth cavalry, to the secretary Of war,
endorses it A follows: ''This modest and most
admirable report is received after I have fin
ished my annual report, else should have en-
braced it almost entire as better description
of the fight at Milk creek, September 29th
jutant Of the command, accompanied by Guide
Rankin and small part Of the soldiers, was
in advance, and upon passing over some high
ground intermediate between the road we had
left and the trail, discovered Indians in heavy
force drawn up in line of battle: or, more COR
reotly speaking, lying in ambush along the
commanded the road. With quick and soldieriy
perception of the situation, Lieut.. Cherry
turned back and made signals for the command
to retrace it's steps, just as the leading company,
F, Fifth cavalry, was descending the ridge into
the valley beyond, company was Immediate
" conducted to the side Of the hill on its left
flank, while E, Third cavalry, was halted on
the high ground it occupied, and both COM
panies at once dismOunted and deployed by
Major Thornburgh's orders as skirmishers, e,
Third cavalry on the right along the crest Of
the ridge, and F company, Fifth cavalry, az
we'll up the side of the hill which, constantly
nature Of the ground would permit. The
other line at this time resembled the letter v.
The point towards the Indians, and that por-
tion of it formed by company, Fifth caval-
ry, projecting considerably beyond the points
of junction, and being depleted to the left 80
as to prevent the enemy from turning our
flank. At this time attempts were made by
Major Thorn h1ruh n IniO and hy,
Cherry to com municate with the Indians, but
efforts in that direction were met by shot,
and at once heavy fire was opened on us,
and the fight began all along our lines. The
Indians had displayed admirable skill
upon which to give us battle. with sound
judgment and a quick and thorough PERCEPTION
of the situation, Maj. Thornburgh determined
to form junction with company D, Fifth
cavalry, which was protecting the wagon train,
and with that ind in view directed the COM
panies engaged to fall back slowly. The com
mand retired as directed in perfect order, the
led horses being kept we'll protected between
the skirmish lines of the two companies,
whilst q heavy and effective fire did great ex-
ecution among the savages and prevented an
attempt on their part to break through our
lines. Failing in their efforts in front, the
from the train which had, by Maj. Thorn
burgh's orders, gone into the park on the right
bank of Milk river, and to accomplish this
purpose passed around our left flank beyond
carbine range and concentrated in great force
upon knoll to the left of and completely
commanding our line of retreat. Maj. Thorn
burgh, upon discovering this new danger,
directed me to charge the knoll with twenty
men of my company, to sweep the Indians off
and then at once, without attempting to hold
the hill, to fall back uron the train and take
measures for its protection. The duty being
duly perfected and way opened for return
of the led horses, I repaired to the wagon train
and at once took steps looking for its defense.
" THE LAST OF THoRNBuRaH.
Maj. Thornburgh doubtless started for the
train shortly after giving me the order referred
to. and was shot and instantly killed just after
crossing the river and within 500 yards of the
wagons: His gallantry was conspicuous from
first to last, and grief for his death was general
and profound. In the meantime Capt. Law
son, with e company, Third cavalry, and Lieut..
Cherry. with detachment from e company
Third, and F, Fifth cavalry, gallantly held the
Indians in check in front, gradually retiring,
Lieut.. Cherry with his detachment covering the
retreat. Upon reaching the train found it
200 yards from the water, wagons forming the
north side of Carol, eleptlcal in shape it's
long axis running east and west, and the south
side exposed to fierce fire from the Indians,
who. massing in ravines along the river and
upon commanding heights, were making a
determined effort to capture and destroy the
train before it could be placed in condition for
defense. The animals were crowded within
the area indicated, and I at once directed some
twenty or more of those wounded to be led out
and shot along the open space referred to, thus
making continuous line of defense, and af-
as these arrangements were completed the men
were ordered to unload the wagons and using
bedding, grain and -four sacks for breastworks,
I cannot speak too highly of their conduit at
that time. Though exposed to CALLING fire,
by which many men and horses were stricken
down, they worked with alacrity and in a
short time our corral was in as good state of
defense as the means at hand would permit.
THE GRASS ON FIRE.
About this time Lieut.. Paddock, who was
encouraging the men BY the exposure of his
person and intelligently and courageously car
rylng out my instructions, was wounded in the
hip. As Capt. Lamson and Lieut.. Cherry, whose
gallant fight in covering the re-
treat deserves high commendation, had
not yet returned to camp. I
became solicitous for their safety, and de-
twelve men, to proceed down the road in the
direction from which they were approaching.
In short time thereafter I was greatly relieved
at seeing Capt. Lamson and Lieut.. Cherry
with their commands enter the entertainments.
new and critical danger now threatened.
The Indians, foiled in their efforts to prevent a
concentration of cannon at the train or drive
us out by furious and continued fire, took
advantage of the high wind blowing directly
towards Us, fired the tall grass and sage brush
down the river. At the moment this peril was
realized. observed the supply train Of
John Gordon was parked within seventy
five yards of my position, and SO
| situated as to command our support to water.
Seeing this and fearing that under cover of
the smoke the Indians might make Judgement
in this train, which, in my opinion, would
have been disastrous to the command, and with
further view of burning the grass on the
north side of the corral to present as little
surface as possible to the Indian fire when it
should approach, decided that the grass on
that side should be fred, and in few moments
was grati6ed to see Gordon's train in flames.
The fire from down the valley approached
with great rapidity and struck the exposed
part of the corral, and forj q few moments
threatened us with destruction. The officers
and men at this critical moment, when the In
dams made their most furious attack, display
ed superb gallantry. Several lives were lost
and many wounds received, but the fire was
extinguished, and our greatest danger passed.
From this time, about 2:45 P. M, until night
fall, the Indians kept up the furious fire, doing
great damage to our stock, fully three-fourths
of them being killed or SO severely wounded
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