Clipping: The Scout Rankin

"The Scout Rankin, who brought the despatches describing the action, says the command narrowly escaped massacre. He led them around a canon, and on getting on the other side, they saw that the Indians had laid in wait for them on either side and that if they had entered they would have been killed to a man. It was then the attack was made. The main body of the troops was in advance of the wagon train, when a body of Indians got in their rear, and fire was opened on both sides. To save the train Major Thornburgh charged the Indians in his rear, but before the train was reached he received two bullets and fell dead. The command reached the wagons, when they hastily intrenched. The Major's body was left where it fell. It could not be recovered, and laid in view of the command about five hundred yards from it. Major Thornburgh was one of the best rifle shots and horsemen in the United States Army. It is said by his friends that with practice he could have equalled Carver in rifle shooting. He was a man of splendid physique, with a noble, manly appearance, which impressed every one. He was an ambitious, brave, and [g]allant officer, and a genial, hearty, and ...olesouled gentleman, the very embodi[m]ent of jovial good nature. In Omaha, where be resided for some time, he was well known, and he has a host of friends there. He was a [b]rother of ex-Congressman Thornburgh, o[f] [T]ennessee. He leaves a wife and two ch[ildren] who are now [at] Fort Fred Steele."

N a t i o n a l   A n t h r o p o l o g i c a l   A r c h i v e s

National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institution