The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-11-03
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specimens of interrupted red men. But
the whites coveted the Ute hunting grounds,
and the savages flew to their only weapons
of defense and revenge-the torch and the
knife. About the middle of September,
1879, the region along White river was blue
with the smoke of incendiary fires. The
agent of the district was Nelson G. Mecker,
the friend and colleague in humanitarian
enterprises of Horace Greeley Though n
man of peace, he asked for military aid in
protecting the whites, and "A band of regu-
lars marched into Colorado from Fort Fred
Steele, Wyoming, about Sept 81. The
troops numbered 200 men. Major 7. r.
Thornburgh, young and dashing officer
with his spurs to win, led them.
AS the column drew near to White river
80 foot soldiers were detached to form a re-
serve camp, and the remaining 10, all of
the Fifth and Third cavalry, mounted and
rode forward. Couriers from Mr., Meeker
soon met the column bearing tidings of
great excitement among the Utes around
his agency. The Indians demanded of
Meeker that the march of troops across
their country be stopped, and they
asked for n talk between the chiefs and
Major Thornburgh, carefully bargaining
that the latter should appear at the meet
ing with but five soldiers as bodyguard
The major agreed to the request, but asked
that the chiefs come out in the road and
meet the head of column. The chiefs,
through Meeker, assented to that and fixed
the hour of starting on the morning of
Sept. 20. At noon of that day the
troops and braves were fighting along the
Milk river road, the route leading to the
White River Agency.
Thoinburgh led on the march, with i'm
plicit confidence in the good faith of the
Utes, who were noted for their friendliness
and honor, keeping Ibis powder dry" how
ever, by sending an advance guard well to
the front. The guard was commanded by
Lieutenant Cherry of the Fifth cavalry,
who knew by experience that the only
good Indian" is dead Indian" At the
sight of one n mile away he would halt his
scouts close up and rcconuoiter. He saw "A
small party of the red men scurry out of
sight over a ridge that stretched along the
roadway where he marched. He divided
his men and advanced them slowly to rec
onnoiter. The lndians i'll numbers were
seen lying close to the ground 100 yards
from the point where the main column of
soldiers expected to march.
Cherry rode back at full speed and met
Thornburgh, with his men, descending into
hollow such as Indians always choose for
and the troopers dismounted and deployed
in line of battle. This dOue, Major Thorn
burgh once more took the Indians on trust
and ordered Cherry to select 10 of his boldest
men and ride to the Indian outposts for
the purpose of opening parley, according to
the agreement he had made with Meeker and
the Ute chieftains. Cherry moved out from
the right flank of the column, and at the
instant he saw about 20 Indians do the same
on their side. Riding up to within a couple
of hundred yards of the Utes, he waved his
hat as Il signal Of friendship. The response
was a shot which was meant to kill, and it
did its work well One man near Cherry
was wounded and his horse killed by the
same bullet. The shot was the signal for a
volley from the Indians.
Cherrys men quickly slid from their
saddles and formed line along the crest
of the ridge. Thornburgh no longer doubt.
ed the temper of the Indians. They meant
to fight and not to talk. Two companies
of cavalry, l. of the Third and of the
Fifth, were on the ground, while d of the
Fifth was in the rear with the wagon train
A messenger rode back to halt the wagons
and park them in shape for defense
Cherry, from his position, saw the Indians
maneuvering to get between the advance
troops and the train and again warned
Thornburgh of the danger
Thornburgh formed his ranks into col
umns, sent word to Perry to hold his ground
and then ordered Captain Payne of f COM
pany to charge the Indians who were try
ing to cut through between the troops and
the train. Paynes men rode up the hill at
gallop and faced the redskins. Several
of the party were hit, and Paynes horse
was killed, but the Indians were driven off,
and Payne rode back to join the wagons.
Captain Lawsor's T. company was left at
the front by this movement, and the In