The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-19
MRRRITTS SWIFT MARCH!
a NOTNBLE FEATOF TEE COLORADO
4 OUTBREAK OF 1879
Obedience 10 OraeFu That Breuaht Death 70
Meier Thernburs ana Fart OF Hlis Command
Ger. RarrlttAa Eaanne Of the eurvivora.

Obedience 70 Or0eFu That Wrought Death 10
Meier Thornburs ana Part OF nlis Connnnd
Ter. MsrFittAs Rssous Of the Survivors.
DENVER. June 1e.-Tho selection Of Gen.
wesley Merritt as military commander in the
Philippines Ia particularly gratifying TO the
people Of this State, who remember the Inn
portant part he played in one OF the most thrill
ing episodes Of .Colorsdo's early history. This
was In tho Ute outb reak Of 1879.
Father Meeker was one OF the kindost and
most humane men that ever lived. Taking
charge Of the White River Agency in 1873 at a
time whom tho relations between the settlers
and the Indians were already strained. he at
tempted by kindness to soften the anger Of the
Indians and bring about an era OF peace and good
will. This attitude was looked upon by the In
dams as an evidence Of weakness. A year or
two before one or two men had been killed on
each side In brushes between tho white mon
and the Indians, and to add to the hostile feol-
ing Of the.Indians the Indian Bureau had sadly
mismanRged affairs. All the supplies for the
agency were In the Government warehouse at
Rawlins, Wyo., and no efforts wore being made
10 secure transportation from the roilroad to
the agency. The Indians wore destitute and
naturally blamed the agent for their condition.
while tho agent was helpless. Tho Utes finally
went,to RawllnS to endoavor to get some Of the
food and clothing that belonged TO them. but the
Government regulations were an insurnount-
able barrier to the accomplishment OF their pur-
pose, and the hungry squaws, pappooses, and
braves made tho weary journey Of 1s5 miles
back to the agency. They had travelled $40
miles to get what was their own and had failed.
Through the efforts of Agent Meeker the supplies
were finally brought to the nRoncy and the In.
dams were made moro comfortable than thoy
had been for years. But they wore not salts
fed. The long delay and their own sufferings
had exasperated them. and they committed
one outrage after another until finally Agent
Meeker became alarmed and sent for troops, after
he had bOon ~brutally assaulted by Chief Johnson.
News Of the serious state Of affairs was car.
ried to Rawltns by Col. John W. Steele. a mail
CONTRACTOR, who ~telegraphed the facts to Con.
Sheridan. Col. Wesley Merritt. commanding the
Fifth Cavalry, was then stationed at Fort
Russell, near Cheyenne, and Major 7. T.. Thorn
burg of the Fourth Infantry was at Fort Fred
Steele, IN the Union Pacific road, with a detach.
ment Of his reginent'and q company of tho Third
Cavalry. Upon receipt Of tho request for troops
from Agent Mceker, tho War Department d.
rectod Gen. Sheridan to sond q force to the
agency, but the troops received special ~instrlc-
tionS that they were not to punish any1ndians,
only to inquire into the Causes of the trouble
and to restrain tho Indians from further In
subordination. Under no circumstance were
Inc tIOODb 10 uTo HrbJ III INC CNonL OF u COlllblOn
with the Indians. Hampered by such instruc-
tions, Major Thornburg won't to the agency.
He had only recently assumed command. and
his first campaign In the West was his last.
Col. Merritt was directed to Afford Major Thorn
burg every assistance possible, The response
to this order was scharaeteristic,Sof Cavalry"
the Potomac Within an hour after roceiyinG
airy were on the way to reinforce ThornburR.
The command which left Hawlins on Sept: "a,
1879, consisted Of Companies y and r., Fifth
manded by Lieut.. Paddock. and Company f OF
Price and wooiley.. At the old Fortifcstion
camp about fifty, miles from Rawlins. the in
AFFORD protection Tor passing supply trains.
while Major Thornburg, with the three troops.
comprising 100 men, pushed on to tho agency.
A number of Indians were encountered at diff
terent times, and they always protested the great.
est friendship and won't SO far as to propose that
men and accompany them to the agency. A
consultation was hold. and finally at the urgent
M 1Rhpsalf S az s9'e taea Rfafin' H. Ms; Ss fTh On SS%R'6 I'D.
march the IN to within, hqilinE dis.
sired a consultation. he would agree to 1t.
When this answer was given The Indians rode
break. and Il Thornbu gan" AND Els Rihsg %en mo- cd for.
ward to their death.
miles hs n 5og crossing of fEEe OF aS MIX Creek tSa rt twGent 1DaiUS
through n dehle with high bluffs on either side.
ahording an excellent opportunity for ambus:
the Indians were on their own ground with the
soldiers tied up with instructions and at their
GUS part of the deflle Major 1hornburg, With
the caution characteristic Of a trained soldier,
left the road and took a trail oyer the bluff. He
had already taken the precaution to corral his
wagons at tho entrance to the detle three-qu VI
tors Of a mile in the rear. As he turned of the
road the Indians saw that their original plans
had been disarrnngcd and that they would have
to fight in the open. but they did not decline the
onfyTHs short d distance en Sp lSe 6lu nav Wh eT0 he %ss
S epnsG wlfb 81 %,n from $50 tH 400 indians well Sil
men up In battle order and waited for the onset
Of the savHges. It was apparent to every man
in the command that the only way to insure its
a chance to make their dispositions. The scout,
Rankin, an old Indian fighter, hurried, to the
fact that he was being surrounded and that no
was already hankcd and urged him to open fire,
us N! ny Sl5S?a'a aa iao major Gnly h9 qSof Of ssssps2; Il dare
them and SURVIVE a coart.martial and instan,
myself and men were to be murdered"
The Indians faced the troops about 300 Yards
They were rapidly throwing out thanking par.
ties and placing themselves In a position to shut
off, the retreat Of the d09med pen. The cay,
for defence, hut was ordered not to Dire until
the Indians opened tho attack. At last, when
Wv ts'ishS h"' ihntS va plCpuihlloIS, lliCg
opened fire on the troops, who responded, re.
treating MS they fired; BY a sudden dash the
Indians threw thomEclve5 bet ween the retreat
inG column and the wagon train. Major Thorn,
burg at once mounted twenty-five of his men
and headed them In one of tho most dRshinR
cavalry charges on record. They reached the
wagons, but Major Thornburg and thirteen OF
the men who made the charge were killed and
every officer was wounded except Lieut.. Cherry
OF the Firth Cavalry; A largo number OF men
were also seriously hurt. Then began n siege
which babe fair to result in tho humiliation oil
the command. The Indians first picked off the
horses and mules and within a short time from
100 to 200, animals had been killed. They
were utilized for brGastworks and aided in re,
pelllnR tho frequent assaults OF the Indians.
Finally the situation became so desperate
that Capt. Payne. on whom had devolved the
command, decided TO send for reinforcements
Scouts were sent ont to find Capt. Dodge witt
patrol duty in North and Middle Parks, and
Scout Rankin undertook tho desperate task OF
reaching tho nearest telegraph station at Raw
Inns. Wy, 100 miles away. Capt. Dodge wai
soon found and he Fuccceded by a miracle in
reaching the intrenched camp without encoun'
tering the enemy. Rankin got away In the night
and made his famous ride OF 100 miles in TWEEN,
ty'oight hours without injury. though he wen
through n country BWnrminS with Indiana.