Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1879 — THE UTE INDIAN WAR. [ARTICLE]

THE UTE INDIAN WAR.

A Circumstantial Account of the Engagement in Which Maj. Thornburgh Fell, and of the Subsequent Siege and Belief ol Capt. I’ayne’s Command-Heroic Bravery of the Troops. The command of Capt Payne, which was corraled by the hostile Ute Indiana on Milk river, Col, on the 29th of September, and hotly besieged for nearly a week, during which ths devoted little band was subjected to an almost incessant rain of bullets, waa finally relieved on the sth of October, by tbe arrival of Gen. Merritt’s command. The account of the battle in which Maj. Thornburgh lost his life, and the subsequent six days’ siege, forms one of the most exciting chapters in the annals of Indian warfare, and, although rather lengthy for our limited space, we give it entire. The narrative begins with the date, “Battle-field, Milk River, Oct 3, 6 p.m.,* and proceeds: The Indians still surround us, and pour in an effective fire from a commanding bluff, at a distance of 500 or 600 yards, having a crossfire upon our position, which position was chosen hastily on the first day of the fight All our horses and all but twelve mules have been killed. We sheltered them as best we could, with wagons, but to no purpose. Capt. Dodge and Lieut Hughes, with Company D, Ninth (colored) cavalry, came to eur rescue yesterday morning at daybreak, after a forced night march of tuirty-five miles from Bear river. Cheer upon cheer rent the air from our trenches when it was ascertained who were coming. A lullin the firing enabled them to come in and shelter their horses as well as possible, taking to the fortifications quickly, when the attack redoubled its fury. Had the heights been accessible, Capt. Dodge would have charged them with his company, while we covered him from our rifle-pits, but this was uferly impossible, the ascenfbeing nearly perpendicular. All that we could do . during the dav was to keep a good lookout from the loopholes, and return tbe fire when any Indian showed his head. This, however, was a very rare occurrence, as the Indians have rifle-pits and loop-holes. Before dark every horse but three of Capt Dodge’s command was shot down. We Lave been able, at great risk, to haul off our dead animals every night; otherwise the stench would be intolerable. A sally is made every night for water, a distance of 200 yards from our intrenchmente. The field of battle was admirably chosen for defense by the Indians, and, had it not been for Maj. Thornburgh’s advance guard, commanded by Lieut Cherry, discovering the ambuscade, the entire command would nave been annihilated. He saw a small party of Indians disappear over a hill, half a mile in front, and at once divided his party to reconnoiter, and only discovered them .when he had flanked their position by about 200 yards. Cherry rode back at full speed, with two or three men who were with him, and notified Maj. Thornburgh, who had already begun the descent into the deep ravine which was intended to ingulf the command.

The Indians were dismounted and lying down along the crest of the high, steep ridge, not 100 yards from the point where the deadly assault would have commenced. The troops were withdrawn a short distance, dismounted, and dep’oyesLin line of battle, with orders to await the attack of the Indians. Lieut. Cherry was here ordered by Thornburgh to take a detachment of fifteen picked men, and make a reconnoissance and communicate, if possible, with the Indians, as it was thought that they only desired to oppose his approach to their agency, and .would parley, or have a “big talk,” if they could be communicated with Cherry moved out at a gallop with his men from the right flank, and noticed a like movement of about twenty Indians from the left of the Indian position. He approached to within a couple of hundred yards of the Indians, and took off his hat and waved it, but the response was a shot fired at h m, wounding a man of his party and killing his horse. This was the first shot, and was instantly followed by a volley from the Indians. The work had now begun in real earnest, and, seeing the advantage of the position he held, Cherry dismounted his detachment and ■deployed along the crest of the hill do prevent the Indians flanking his position, or to coypr their retreat, if found necessary to retire upon the wagon-train, which was then coming up slowly, guarded by Lieut. Paddock, of Company D,Fifth cavalry.

Orders were sent to park the wagons and cover them with the company guarding them. The two companies in advance were those of Capt. Payne, Company F, Fifth cavalry', and Capt. Lawson’s, Company E, Third cavalry, which were dismounted and deployed as skirmishers, with Capt. Payne on the left and Capt. Lawson on the right. From Cherry’s position he could see that the Indians were trying to cut him off from the wagons, and at once he sent word to Maj. Thornburgh, who then withdrew the line slowly, keeping the Indians in check until opptroito tlio puiut YVtllUll DIB men held, when, seeing that the Indians were concentrating to cut off his retreat, Capt. Payne, with Company F, Fifth cavalry, was ordered to charge the hill, which he did in gallant style, his horse being shot under him and several of his men wounded. TLc Indians having been driven from this point, the company was rallied on the wagontrain. Maj. Thornburgh then gave orders to Cherry to hold his position and cover Capt. Lawson’s retreat, who was ordered to fall back slowly with the led horses of his company. Cherry called for volunteers of twenty men, who responded promptly. They fought with desperation, as nearly every man was wounded before he reached the camp, and two men were killed.

Maj. Thornburgh started back to the wagontrain, after giving his final orders to Capt. Payne to charge the hill, and to Capt. Lawson and Lieut. Cherry to cover the retreat. He must have been shot dead when barely half way there, as his body was seen by one of Capt. Lawson’s men, with life extinct and lying os his face Capt Payne, then in command, at once set about having the wounded horses shot to make breastworks, dismantling the wagons of boxes, bundles of bedding, corn and flour sacks, which were quickly piled up for fortifications. Picks and spades were used vigorously for digging intrenchments. Meantime a galling fire was concentrated upon the command from all the surrounding bluffs which commanded the position. Not an Indian could be seen, but the incess mt crack of their Sharp’s and Winchester rifles dealt fearful destruction among the horses and men. The groans of the dying and the agonizing Xies of the wounded told what fearful havoc was being made among the determineel and dorperate command. Every man was determined to sell his life as dearly as pctcible. About this time a great danger was approaching at a frightfully rapid pace. The red devils, at the beginning of the fight, had set fire to the dry grass and to the sage-brush to the windward of our position, and it now came sweeping down toward us, the flames leaping high into the air, and immense volumes of smoke rolling on to ingulf us. It was a sight to make the stoutest heart quail, and the fiends were waiting, ready to give us a volley as soon as we were driven from our shelter. Now it reaches our flank, and blankets, blouses and empty sacks were freely used to extinguish the flames. Some of the wagons were set on fire, which required all the force possible to smother it. No water can be obtained and the smoke is suffocating, but the fire passes and we hold our position. Meantime, a constant volley is poured upon us, Capt Payne being wounded for the second time, and First Bergt. Dolan, of Company F, killed instantly. McKinstry and McKee were killed and many others wounded. Our greatest danger now is past The men have now mostly covered themselves, but the poor horses ana mules are constantly falling about us. Just about sundown a charge was attempted, but repulsed, the Indians trying to drive off some of our horses which had broken loose. The attack ceased at dark, and soon every man was at work enlarging the trenches, hauling out the dead horses, caring for the wounded, and burying the dead.

At daylight the attack was resumed, and the firing of the sharpshooters has been kept up every day since, and occasionally at night, sending us to our pits in a scramble. This is the fifth day of our siege, but we are determined to hold out, if it takes a month for succor to reach us. But we are confident that Gen. Merritt, whose name is upon the lips of every one, is on the road to rescue us. THE KILLED. The names of the killed and wounded are as follows: Maj. Thornburgh, Fourth infantry. First Sergeant John Dolan, Company f, Fifth cavalry. Private John Burns, Company F, Fifth cavalry. Michael Str er ton, Campany F, Fifth cavalry. Samuel McKee, Company F, Fiftn cavairr. Amos D. Miller, Company F, Fifth cavalry. Thomas Mooney, Company D, Fifth cavalry. Michael Lynch, Company D, Fifth cavalry. Charles Wright, Company D, Fifth cavalry. Dominick Cuff, Company E, Third cavalry. Wagoumaster McKinstry, Team iter McGuire. THE WOUNDED. Capt Fifth cavalry; slightly in the arm and sine. Vh U h' ca ’’* lr y; flesh wound Dr. Games; flesh wound in the shoulder. Company F, Fifth cavalry—Bergt John Morrill, Trumpeter Fred Sutcliffe, Trumpeter John McDonald, Privates James T. Gibbs, John Hoaxey Emil Kursman, Eugene Patterson, Frank Simmons, Eugene Schickedouz, William Essir, Gottlieb Steiger. Company D, Fifth cavalry—Privates Nicholas Heeney, Thomas Lynch, Fred Bernhard, E. Mullen. Company E, Third cavalry-Sergt. James Montgomeiy, Bergt. Allen Lupton, Corporals C. F. F.ichwurzeL Frank Hunter; Privates Jas Conway, John Crowley, W. H Clark, Orland Durand, Thomas Ferguson, Thomas Lewis Edward Lavelle, Willard Mitchell, John Mahoney, James Patterson, William Sohubert, Tboe,

Macnamara, Marcus Hensen, Joseph Budka, John Donovan. Teamsters Thomas Cain, Nelson. Guide Lowery. With the exception of the wound of Guide Lowery, the wounds of the above-named men are not serious. His is probably mortal. Total killed, 12; total wounded, 43. Oct 4—l p. m.—No courier could be gotten off last night, owing to the constant firing of the Indians into the camp. The moon came up an hour after dark, and a volley was poured in at once. Our party who went after water was unmolested, and we had our little stockade all cleared for action before the firing was resumed. As I write this dispatch thubullete are whistling over the top of the trench. They often strike the grain sacks, a few inches above our heads, but we are deep enough to be comparatively safe. A soldier of Gen. Merritt’s command sends a later report, in which he says: “Oh, what a happy crowd Payne’s command was when Merritt reached them! The right of the Fifth cavalry entering under Gen. Merritt and Col Compton was a grand one. The poor fellows in the intrenchments at first probably thought we were Indians. We were immediately challenged by a sentinel, and in reply answered that we were friends. Gen. Merritt caused the trumpet to sound the officers’ call, and at its end three trig cheers rent the air. They were relieved at last The right was one of the most affecting! have ever seen, and brave men shed tears. There is a horrible stench all around. Wounded men are bobbling in every direction. One hundred and fifty dead horses, lying thirty feet from the intrenchmente, present a horrible spectacle. A report comes from White Biver Agency k the effect that Agent Meeker and all the men at tne agency were murdered, while the women and children were spared, and were under the protection of Chief Douglass.

Cheyenne, Oct 10. From private advices it is learned that Gen. Merritt had no fight before reaching Payne’s command. After daybreak on Bunday, Gen. Merritt, Lieut Cheiry, and M company, went out to look at the battlefield where Maj. Thornburgh was killed, and which is a mile from the intrenchments. The Indians, who were concealed in the rocks beyond, opened fire, and a new battle . began, which lasted about an hour. It was hot, short, and decisive, ending in favor of the troops, because they were protected by bluffs. The Indians then held upa flag of truce, and came m to hold a parley. They proposed to surrender on certain conditions, which Gen. Merritt could not accept They asked him if he insisted upon going to White Biver Agency, and, replying that he did, they told him they would have to renew the war. They then retired to their stronghold. In the conflict one private was slightly wounded and four horses killed. Eight Indians were killed. During the parley the Indians, who were pari of Jack’s band, stated that thirty-seven of their number had been killed during the five days’ siege of Capt Payne’s intrenchment. It was also discovered from them that they were fortifying the road to the White River agency, so as to obstruct the passage of the troops. As the country is very mountainous, and the roads lead through canyons, they will be able to ti ouble Gen. Merritt considerably. At the time the letter was written, giving these advices, Gen, Menitthad not determined upon a time for resuming the march for White river, further than that he should do so as soon as the men and horses were suffi iently rested. From the Bannock Agency, near Camp Brown, Wyoming Territory, comes the news that 100 families of Utes, accompanied by only two old bucks, have arrived at the agency. This fact shows that the Utes are expecting to have a lengthy conflict. It also demonstrates the shrewdness of the Utes, who compel their enemies to feed and protect their families. Furthermore, it bears out the impression that the hostile Utes do not number over 150 bucks

Denver, Col., Oct. 13. Gov. Pitkin received to-day telegraphic advices fi om Los Pinos Agency, via Lake City, which are accepted »s reliable. They sta’e in substance that Sapenaro, one of ;he most influential tub-chiefs, who was sent by Chief Ouray to the White River Agency after the first news of the uprising, has returned to Los Pino'. He says he saw write men and children at White River Agency in charge of Chief Douglass, and saw one of the employes who was present when the Indians made the attack on the aeency. This latter man killed one of the Indians and wounded another. Sapenaro thinks that three or four other employes are also alive, as their tracks were seen around the agency building. They may have fled to the woods? Father Meeker was killed. Cheyenne, Wy. T.,Ocfc 12. The latest news from Merritt’s command is of a startling nature. A courier comes into Rawlins with important dispatches from Merritt, the ’nature of which the courier is not aware, except that mountain howitzers are asked for. The courier states that heavy fighting has been going on since Tuesday morning. At that time an attempt was made to dislodge the Indians, who were located on commanding bluffs. Their position was too strong. The whole foice of troops was brought our, and the Indians retired to a line of natural fortifications about three miles nearer the White River Agency. Gen. Merritt took advantage of this move and transferred his camp to open ground on Milk creek, wherd the hostiles could not reach them from any surrounding bluff. The stench at the other camp compelled the change, and a better position was secured, and near water.