Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 October 1879 — The Massacre of Maj. Thornburgh’s Command. [ARTICLE]

The Massacre of Maj. Thornburgh’s Command.

On Sept 29, Maj. Thornburgh’s command, which was out after the hostile Ute Indians, was suddenly corraled and attacked by several hundred Ute Indians, near Milk river, in the vicinity of the Ute Reservation, in Colorado. Maj. Thornburgh was killed and a large number of men wounded, and the command entirely surrounded. The whole story of the massacre is told in the following dispatch from Rawlins, WyomingTer.: ‘‘Maj. Thornburgh’s expedition against the hostile Ute Indians, when within seventy miles of the agency, baited for the night of the 26th inst., ana the Major sent Grafton Lowry, one of his sooute, to the agency to communicate with Agent Meeker, and to see how matters stood. He found the utmost excitement and confusion prevailing. The Indians had sent all their old men, women and children south toward the Blue river. The warriors were decorated and painted in the usual war style. They were about to murder Mr. Meeker, but Mr. Lowry Srevailed on them not to commit the deed. Mr. [eeker told Lowry that he attempted to leavethe agency with his family, but was prevented by the Indians; that they, the Indians, signified their readiness for war, and seemed anxious for the approach of the troops. They then made another move to kill Meeker and fire the buildings, but were a second time prevailed upon to desist. Lowry now attempted to return to the command, but was informed that he must remain; but, after giving them a number of assurances of his peaceable mission, he was allowed to depart, but was accompanied by about thirty warriors, who rode with him a number of miles and then left him. Lowry arrived at the command, then near Milk creek, on the evening of the 28tb, and gave Maj. Thornburgh the above information.

“ The next morning, Sept. 29, the command advanced, under the guidance of Joe Rankin, who is well acquainted with the country. About" 9 o’clock a. m. Rankin discovered fresh Indian signs, and, having arrived at a canyon through which thej’oad passed, and which would afford an excellent opportunity for ambush, he led the command around over the hill, over an old trail well known to him. By this movement he saved the lives of the command, for, on arriving on the top of the hill, he discovered the Indians in ambush on either side of the canyon through which the road passed. “ Thornburgh formed his men in line and awaited the coming attack. He was repeatedly urged to fire on the Indians, but persistently refused to do so, saying that his orders would not justify an attack. Two Indians now rode up to within a hundred yards, dismounted and, with a savage yell, fired, shooting Capt Payne through the arm. At this signal the Indians gave a war-whoop and the battle commenced. Thornburgh now found that he was surrounded. He ordered a charge, which he gallantly led in person, and succeeded in cutting his way out, and, when within about 500 yards of his wagon, he fell dead with two bullets through his brain. Capt Payne now took command, and the battle was carried on until 8 o’clock, p. m., the troops using the wagons and animals as breastworks. The Indians fell back a short distance and went into camp. During the engag' ment Lowry was killed. “The casualties are about as follows: Rilled—Maj. Thornburgh, Lowry, and thirteen enlisted men, the Wagon-Master McKinstry, and one teamster. Wounded—Capt. Payne, Capt Lawson, Surgeon Grimes, Lieuts. Paddock and Wolf, and thirty-five men. “ Maj. Thornburgh’s body had not been recovered when Rinkm left with the dispatches. “Capt Payne bad fortified his position, and thought he could possibly hold it until the arrival of reinforcements, in case they were sent promptly.

“It is now reported that Agent Meeker and his family and all employes have been murdered, and the agency building destroyed, but this report lacks confirmation. “Settlers from Snake and Bear rivers are flocking in here for safety, and considerable excitement prevails. “Troops have been ordered forward from Forts Sanders, McPherson, Fetterman and Robinson, and will leave for the seat of war as soon as they reach the railroad, by special train. Gen. Meryitt, to whom the command of the expedition is given, is one of the best Indian fighters in the country, and his troops have accomplished wonderful things. “The Utes are a warlike tribe, and have from 500 to GOO warriors. They started out on the war-path because they became dissatisfied mo treatment reoeiveu irom tneir Agent, who, they claim, was starving them. “A hunting party, composed of Gen. Tyner, Assistant Postmaster General; J. W. Hoyt,Governor of Wyoming; J. K. Hay ford, Postmaster at Laramie < ity, and editor of the Laramie Sentinel; two cooks, and an escort of eight soldiers, are with the beleaguered troops on Milk river.” —A Cheyenne dispatch of the 3d inst. says: “Gov. Hoyt and Gen. Tyner returned to Laramie City this afternoon from their hunting expedition in North Park. They saw no Indians, and were unsuspecting of danger when notified by courier that the Utes had attacked Thornburgh’s expedition. “A hunter has arrived in Colorado from Middle Park. He notified the citizens of the park of Thornburgh’s defeat, and they are getting to a safe place as rapidly as possible. He says the colored company of the Ninth cavalry had left Steamboat Springs, and fears were entertained that they ■were .massacred by the Utes, as nothing has been heard of them since the battle, and Agent Meeker had forwarded orders to come to the agency two davs previous to that time. Douglass, the Ute chief, had threatened their lives before hostilities commenced, and stated that negro troops must keep off the reservation, as his people had a hatred for them. “ Gov. Pitkin, of Colorado, is holding his organized militia companies in readiness for an emergency, and says that as soon as the Indians commence bu chering settlers he will take the matter in his own hands and settle it in his own wav.

“The Arapahoe Indiana, in Wyoming,are reported making their way to the Utes in squads and joining the hostiles, but this Jacks confirmation, though not altogether improbable. “No news has been received from Meeker or the Thornburgh garrison;” Cheyenne, Oct. 6. There is every indication that the Ute Indian war is to be a bloody one. Scouts and others who have arrived at various posts and cities from the scene of hostilities report that the country is swarming with savages belonging to tribes not directly interested in this campaign. Gen. Hatch is advancing from the south with 800 men, and troops are concentrating with great rapidity at several points near the seat of war. Fresh murders and outrages committed by the bloodthirsty Utts have occurred in the vicinity of the outbreak, and settlers and prospectors for many miles around are hurriedly returning to the towns on the Union Pacific rai road. A report has been received at Los Pinos, Col.-that Agent Meeker and all the employes at White River Agency have been killed; that another fight has taken place in which all the officers in command weie killed, and the troops surrounded at a point where no water is to be had, and their trains captured. Chief Ouray, head of the Ute nation, has sent to the hostiles at White river an order commanding them to cease their war on the whites, but he has little faith in the result of this attempt to exercise bis authority and influence, for he has given notice to the whites that he is powerless to stay the tide of war, and they must depend on their own resources for protection.