The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-09-25
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specimens Of uncOrruptcd red men. But
the whites coveted the Jtc hunting grounds,
and the savagcs flew to their only weapons
of defense and reveuge-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 c. Meeker,
the friend ami colleague in humanitarian
enterprises of Horace Greeley Though
man Of peace, he asked for military aid in
PROTECTING the whites, ana band of regu-
lars marched into Colorado from Fort Fred
Steele, Wyoming, about Sept. p. The
troops numbered goo men. Major T. 7.
Thoruburgh n young and dashing officer
with his spurs to win, led them.
sthe 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 Cuurer- from Mr. Mccker
soon met the column bearing tidiugs OF
great excitement among the Utcs around
his agency. the Indians demanded OF
Meeker that the march of troops across
their country be stopped, and they
asked for a talk between the chiefs ana
Major Thornhurgh, carefully bargaining
that the latter should appear at the meet
ing with but five soldiers as "a bodyguard.
that the chiefs come out in the road and
meet the head Of column. The chiefs,
through Meeler, assented to that and fixed
the hour of starting on the morning Of
Sent 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
Thornburgh led on the march, with i'm
plict confidence in the good tmth OF the
Utes who were noted for their frieudiiness
and honor, keeping Ibis powder dry how
ever by sending an advance guard well to
the front. The guard was commanded 10y
Lieutenant Cherry of the Fifth cavalry,
who knew by experience that the only
good Indian" is a dead Indian" At the
sight of one a 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 at full speed and met
Thornburgh, with his men, descending into
hollow such as Indians always choose fol
ambush. His warning was i'll nick O time
and the troopers dismOunted aud deploye'
in line of battle. This done, Major Thorn
burgh once more took the Indians on trus
and ordered Cherry to select 10 OF his bodies
men and ride to the Indian outpOsts TO
the purpose of opening parlcy, according t
disagreement he had made with Meeker AM
the Ute chieftains. Cherry moved out frou
the right flank of the column, and at tn
instant he saw about 20 Indians dothe sam
on their side. Riding up to within coupl
of hundred yards Of the Utes he waved hi
hat as a signal Of friendship. The respons
was a shot which was meant to kill, and
did its work well. One man near Cherr
was wounded and his horse killed by ii
same bullet. The shot was the signal for
Volley from the Indians.
Cherry's men quickly slid from the
saddles and formed IA line along the ere
of the ridge Thornburgh no longer doub
ed the temper of the Indians. They mear
TO fight and not to talk. Two compani'
of cavalry, L Of the Third and + of IL
Fifth, were on the ground, while ID Of Il
Fifth was in the rear with the wagon trail
A messenger rode back to halt the Wagon
and park them in shape for defens
Cherry, from his position, saw the Indian
maneuvering to get between the advan'
troops and the train and again warnt
Thornburgh of the danger.
Thoruburgh formed his ranks into &C
umns, sent word to Perry to hold his grour
and then ordered Captain Payne of + con
pany to charge the Indians who were tr
ing to cut through between the troops an
the train. Paynes men rode up the hill
gaIlop and faced the redskins Sever
of the party We're hit, and Payne's hor
was killed, but the Indians We're driven Of
and Payne rode. back to join the wagon
Captain Lawson's + company was left
the front by this movement and the |