The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-05

specimens OF interrupted red men. But
hewhites 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
1873, the region along White river was blue
with the smoke of incendiary fires. The
agent of the district was Nelson c. Meeker
the friend and colleague in humanitarian
enterprises of Horace Greeley. Though
man of peace he asked for military aid in
protecting the whites, and band of regu.
lars marched into Colorado from Fort Fred
Steele, Wyoming, about Sept. 81. The
troops numbered 200 men. Major L. Il.
Thornburgh, a young and dashing officer
with his spurs to win, led them.
AS the column drew near to White river
30 foot soldiers were detached to form re-
serve camp, and the remaining ITO, 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. Tine Indians demanded of
Meeker that the march Of troops across
their country be stopped, and they
asked for a talk between the chiefs and
Major Thornburgh, carefully bargaining
that the latter should appear at the meet
ing with but five soldiers as a 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. 30. AT noon of that day the
troops and braves were fighting along the
Milk river road, the route leading to the
White River Agency
Thornburgh led on the march, with i'm.
plicit confidence in the good faith of the
Utes, who were noted for their fricndlness
and honor, keeping This 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 reconnoiter. He saw a
small party of the red men scurry out OF
sight over ridge that; stretched along the
roadway where he marched. He divided
his men and advanced them slowly to rec.
onnoiter. The Indians in 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 Mt full speed and met
Thorn burgh, with his men, descending into
hollow such as Indians always choose for
ambush. His warning was in nick o. time
and the troopers dismounted and deployed
in line of battle. This done, Major Thorn
burgh once more took the Indians OH trust
and ordered Cherry to select 10 of his boldest
men and ride to the Indian outposts for
the purpose of opening pnrley, according to
the agreement he had made with Meek er and
the Ute chieftains. Cherry moved out from
the right flank of the column, and at the
instant he saw about 90 Indians do the same
on their side. Riding up to within a couple
of hundred yards of the Utes. lie waved his
hat as signal of friendship. The response
was shot which was meant to kill, and it
did its work we'll 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.
Cherry's 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, E of the Third and Il of the
Fifth, were OH the ground, while ID of the
Fifth was i'll ne 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 + com
pany to charge the Indians who were try
ing to cut through between the troops anu
the train. Pnyne's men rode up the hill at
gallop and faced the redskins. Several
of the party were hit, and Payne's horse
was killed, but the Indians were driven of,
and Payne rode back to join the wagons
Captain Lawsons + company was left at
the front by this movement. and the In
a. s.