Thornburgh's Command

Thornburgh's command defended themselves behind a breastwork of barrels, sacks of flour, wagons, and dead horses as Ute Indians rained bullets down bluffs along Milk Creek. The battle raged from about noon on Monday, September 29, 1879, until 8:30 that night, took the lives of Thornburgh and 12 of his men, and inflicted numerous casualties upon the Utes before peace was restored. On September 16th, 1879, Major Thornburgh sent a telegram to Lt. John Burke at Omaha Barracks, Nebraska, saying, "If you can accompany me on the White River expedition... come on."

Wyoming · United States