Show s THE INDIANS by WV to th oct A dispatch from gen dated milk river oct ath was forwarded to gen sheridan tonight to night it caysi wo relieved capt paynes command at this morning wo found the command much ai was reported in tho original dispatches tho casualties were 12 men killed and 43 wounded aly the animals of the command were killed except 12 mules and horses of the four companies of cavalry capt dodge with his company arrived on tho ast 1st dinst into capt laynea entrenchments but all his horses wore killed by tho enemy too much praise cannot be given this gallant officer and his command for the very praiseworthy act in the reinforcement of words fail to describe tho in the vicinity of this wretched entrenchment over dead animals are lying outside of the breastworks tho stench from which is something horrible tho wounded are doing well capt payne and paddock are both improving I cannot give too much credit to my gallant officers and men for their admirable conduct during the march in something like 48 hours my command has marched about miles over a mis drably dusty road the worst we have ever yet traveled the rest of the dispatch is devoted to the praise of his subordinates whom he commends in the warmest manner mentioning especially liedts swift and bishop burke schuyler nd weir cols compton and sumner it will b observed he says nothing of the fight which he is reported to have had with the indians en route and that tho report may therefore be acet down as fiction CHEYENNE wyo oct the statement of the mail carrier that merritt had a fight with before reaching paynes command was contradicted because gen merritts report and all other communications from his command made no mention of having met tho indians while going in letters received here today to day oy an army officer from members of merritta command speak of no engagement before the junction with paynes command but state that on sunday morning oct ath after relieving payne geni merritt company M ath cavalry under cherry left camp to visit Thorn burghs field on their way the were attacked by the utes one man was wounded and four horses were killed no further particulars tic ulars are given except that the indians were repulsed these letters dated sunday evening while merritta report was written sunday morning tho mail carrier from dixon is due at rawlins at midnight tonight to night it is believed ho will bring news from the front officers express groat satisfaction with the action of capt didgo and his colored troops who first relieved although under no orders to do bo iio made a perilous march through an infested country with 40 men and forced his way through the savages into the camp with une quale valor and pluck the indians have a peculiar hatred for these colored troops which the latter return interest gen merritts report s criticized criticised as giving no important facts respecting the situation on milk river and being taken up with tho laudation of various subordinates the nature of whose services he fails to disclose and whom he should at any rate commend in a fu uro written report |