October 8, 1879
General W.T. SHERMAN,
War Department:
Your dispatch was received. Captain Payne is all right. His command lost Thornburgh and eleven men were killed. Three officers and forty men were wounded. All but one slightly.
The command was relieved by Merritt on Sunday morning.
Dodge’s company, Ninth Cavalry, had reached Payne the day before.
The above is official. It is reported that Merritt has had an engagement. Particulars not officially known. It is…