The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-19
Arrival of the Wounded
Soldiers at RaWlinS.
MAJOR TH0RNBURGH'S REMAINS.
The Proposed Change Of Mil
itary Base.
ROADS IMPEDED BY STORMS.
[pY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

RAwLIss. Wy. T.. Oct. is. 1879.
The scene at Rawlins late this afternoon and even
ing the arrival of Major Thornburghs body and
the hundred Of his command surpasses in strange
ness and pathos anything OF the kind in
che writer's recollection. About three r.
NJ. the mail rider came in with the news
that the hospital train was only about six miles
away. The medical director of the Department Of
the Platte. Colonel Summer. ordered the best meal
the only hotel in town could provide. and if that
official had not given the order the people of Rawlns
wonld have given that might have gorged
the approaching invalids to death. By
and by, tired out rider came cautering over the
southwestern hill to tell that the boys were near,
and soon the figures of mounted men. followed by
two ambulances. two spring wagons and number
of covered army wagons, were discerned approach
ing slowly on the ridge. the figures
sharply outlined against the sky. Down they
came along the winding road. while all the
inhabitants of this struggling mountain town left
their homes aud places Of business to greet them.
Plunging through deep ravnes. the mules finally
drew their freight far the Railroad Hotel.
where the vehicles halted and the wounded who
could a'ight and walk were at once provided with
temporary accommodations.
A TOUCHING SPECTACLE.
The mire had reached half way to the wagon
hubs and the jolting OF the severely wounded. had
increased their palor. But groans were heard
and the inmates OF every vehicle splashed with
mud and racked with pain. presented spectacle OF
silentendurance. Here were the forty fifty sol
diers who had fallen with Thornburgh. who
had lain with Payne in the trenches through the
six days and nights that followed. under the
enemy's fire, and who had come all the way with
out mouthful to eat except bareback and cold
bacon through the terrible snowstorn that has
fallen between Rawlins and their dreadful camp
OF the hotel its big hearted Irish proprietor.
larry aayes was 81 9 1 lot o. vo,un.eess
| The hottest and most nutritious soups and the
| rarest titbis of venison and beef. together with
every vegetable to be had in this distant market,
were borne these trays and LAID on the blankets
which covered the wounded mems knees.
a s and si' shoulders Of the poor fellows. to
hold up their plates and help them to
and citizens We'd with another in administering
to these manned victims of Indian treachery. This
was the hrss square meal they nave enjoyed since
in tho wagons the weaker leaned their heads up
against the breasts OF soldiers and frontiersmen
| who reached forward to feed them. their own arms
| being shattered or too weak.
| A SURGICAL REPORT
Yesterday letter WAS received from Assistant
Surgeon G. Kimball. who went to the relie OF the
wounded together with Surgeon Horton aud Assist
ant Surgeons Dewitt and Merely. He reported sub
ferers who are now safely housed in this
cor were iSun@ M
six citizens. There were plenty of other men hit
i who did not require formal surgical treatment All
two or three received September 70. the day OF
1 Thornburgh's engagement. No cases imperatively
ankle joint, fracture Of the tbia, fractured
| humerus and several severe flesh wounds OF the
r aaa Tine but ns
| did not require any extensive dissections.
The fractures were put up in fenestraed plaster Of
whose names their friends have already been in
formed through the HERALD had all done well.
Nine OF them names not specified. were 80 slightly
injured that they would presently be able to return
| to duty.
| two spring wagons and army wagons. made as COM
Portable possible with bed sacks stuffed with hay
The medical supplies were apple for the Journey.
| Steele and the rest to Fort Russell. Wy L. Payne
and Paddock. the two wounded officers. both belong
to the Fort steele garrison Major Thornburgis
body be taken to Fort Steele where his brother.
who is . member OF Congress for Tenn essee awaits
THE CHANGE OF BASE.
| courier left Sawiins between twelve and one
O'clock yesterday afternoon with dispatches from
returned from Rawlins yesterday to Fort Steele,
having instructed Colonel Brackott to make his men
comfortable in camp until further advices. Officers
| and mon discussing the question which has
arisen on higher authority than their own OF
transfer of the base of the whole fighting force
| ployed against the Utes to Denver. Col In view Of
| such suggestion. have compiled the following
| comparative table of distances with Uncompaghue
as the objective point and with Rawiins first and
Denver second respectively. as the starting places
| Distance from Rawlins (only one route,:-
From Rawlins to White River Agency by wagons.
500 miles; from White River Agency to Uncompsghue
| Agency lfor pack trains only. $50 miles.
Distances from Denver (three routesl:-
1. From Denver to Georgetown by rail. 40 miles;
| from Georgetown to the agency by wagon road
| trail, 253 miles.
Total, 2Yj miles.
| 2. From Denver to Pueblo by rail. 40 miles
thence to Canyon City by rail. 40 miles, thence to
the agency by wagon road and trail, III miles.
| s. Denver TO Webster the terminus Of tho Denver
and south Park Railroad. los miles; thence by
wagon road or trail to the agency. 200 miles.
Total 3o5 miles.
These distances arc believed to approximate tho
true ones. and they appear to show a decided adj
vantage In favor of Denver as starting point. in
the event of with the Utes in the neighbour
hood Of the Uncompahgrc Agency or further south.
From Rawlns the whole route is by wagon road
and trails from Denver in three directions tho
agency can be approached by rail westward for 40
either from Denver is not great that
the solitary route from Rawlins. While it must DO
admitted that the approaches westward from Denver
beyond the railroad are rough and comparatively
unknown to large expeditions tho trail OF $50 miles
below White River. ON the way from kawlins. Is
wholly uncxplored and probably equally difficult
FORCES IN FrELD.
The following comprise the forces now in or about
to take the field for tho purpose OF operating
against the Utes -
VI the Fifth cavalry. Colonel Wesley Merritt
commanding. ................. $50
OF the Third cavalry, Colonel Albert G.
Bracket commanding. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $50
OF the seventh infantry Lieutenant Colonel
Charles c. Gilbert com manding .............. $40
OF the Fourteenth infantry. Major Montgomery
Bryant commanding ......................... 100
OF the Fourth infantry. Captain Samuel T..
Ferris commanding. ........................ 200
or the Ninth infantry. First Lieutenant
AIphcus IL. Bowman commanding. .......... so
Total number Of mon. Observation-Disclosures. 2.110
.r DIFFICULTY ! SECURING SCOUTS.
The courier lies, who arrived here last evening
with dispatches from the White River Agency for
General Crook states that Merritt still embaI-
rassod by want OF sufficient scouts. Rankin and
two other good men who accompanied him from
here not acquainted with the country south of
the agency, and some who pretended to know all
about II were men whom the General would not trust.
One strong reason for his hcsitancy in respect to
white well ~ Indian scouts Is the discovery of
vhte renrpnteS the hostile utes. IL will be