New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-10-09
HURRAHl nURI4AH!
MERRITT AT THE FRONT.

A SENSATIONAL REPORT OF BATTLE IN WHICH
MERRITT KILLED THIRrY-sEyEN OF TIE UTEs
THE STORY CONTRADIC1ED.
washington, Oct S.-Ihe following was received
to-day by way OF Chicago having been forwarded
by General sheridan, with the remark that cit
looks reable";
FORT STEELE, W.. Oct, 8.
The Following ust received a. Rawlns and given for
wal II IL wnrfn the mail Garner SAYS res ponsc 10
wi,v general Merritt haI not sent councr, that he
thought PROBABLY lie had sent me- and lie was picked up
10y the Indians. oo
General CROOK Fort Steele
Mai, IN; soaiches. Mail carrier reports that he
let snake at 10 o'clock Yesterday mornngi mat
William Lestege went with Mcrriits coIninand from
snake River To Paynes command aud returned To snake
River yesterday morning. Merritt hdd severe -ht W'
the indians, Monday afternoon TWO mic east o. Ial'
command, thrashei The lnIIans kiing thTi -seNcu o
then and formed Junction win the bcsicged garrison
Tie after all right, having lost but two men
killed since they entIcnchcd Inc coi"rru oaNaIS con-
pany joined Payne last Friday night, hut had severe
Merritt had conversation with the Indians under me
flag. and told them hey could surrender II the would
toops we're gong to Agency. and II they would 1sht
to the butter end. Mai-carrer knows nothing of the
tue second detachment from here were twcnty-iour
hours behind Merritt Indians stole back at crossing of
'n"Ns NV ''''''D'' GlSEnAL CROOK, Brig -Geni
CHEYENNE, Wy. T., Oct. Slater reports from
Rawlns aud the front contradict the report brought
in this morning by the mail-cauler of a hight be-
tween Meritts command and the Utes. From
most trustworthy sources it is learned that Merritt
had no engagement with the hostile Utes up to the
time of relieving Payne.
An OFFICIAL REPORT.
CHICAGO. Oct. S.-A dispatch from General
Merritt, dated October ., on Milk River. for
warded TO General Sheridan tonight 1t says;
We relieved Captain Payne's command a. $50 o'clock
this morning. We found the command much reported
in the original dispatches. The casualties
twelve Killed and forty three wounded All the
animals OF the command killed
cent twelve mules aud three horses OF the four
companies of cavalry Captain Dodge with his company
arrived on the LIST inst. I'm Captain Pdvnes inirench-
Too much praise cannot gwen this gallant officer and
his command the praisowOfy art III tle rem
forcement OF Captain Payne Words fan TO describe
the scene ia the vicinity OF this wfetched III
trenchnent. over 800 dead animals are lying
outside OF the breastworks. the stencil from
winch II something horrible The wounded are DONG
we'll Captain Payne and Lieutenant Paddock are both
IMPROVING | cannot give too much credit tn my gallant
officers aud men admirable conduct during the
march. In something like f0I ty-eight hours my com
maud has marched about 40 miles over miserable
dusty road. worst ever travelled
The rest of the dispatch Is devoted to the praise of
his subordinates whom be commcnds IN the warm
est manner, mentioning especially Leutenants Swift
and Bishop, Burke. Schuyler and Weir Colonies
Compton and sumner. IL will be observed that he
saws nothing of the fight which be Is reported 10
have had with Indians en- route. and that report
may therefore be set down as fiction.