The New York herald., 1872-12-24
Illustrations of the Government
Policy Of Force. 4
THE TERRITORY OF TIE n Y1oDpCs
Conduct Of the War Against the
Modern Billy /Bowlegs.
FIGHTING A.T LONG RANGE.
List ofrthe Killed and Wounded in the Recent
TIght-The Defensive Position Of the In
dians- Masterly Inactivity Of the
United States Troops

dians- -Masterly Inactivity Of the
United States Troops.
10 those at all acquainted with the history OF In
dian wars on the Pacific coast it is known, though
snOt In all cases, that all these unpleasantnesses
nave been gotten up by white men, not Indians
white men, small dealers, transport companies
who expected to reap rich harvests by conveying
troops hther and thther to meet the supposed foe.
The Digger Indians OF California (and the MOdOcs
Of this cfass) are the lowest type OF the Amer
can aborigne, and when he goes on the warpath
there is reason to believe the wrongs complained
OF require attention, and nobody knows this better
than General Grant, Tor he served years ago while
IN the army in the district. The Modocs few in
Number, despicable as rebeilious body In view OF
the military strength OF the country on the Pacific
which is kept low by the presence Of troops in
Louisiana and Alabama, where citizens are not ex-
posed to constant apprehension OF savage assail-
ants. The M0d0cs like the rest Of their kind,
easily brought under control; also easily made
contented and happy. The reader, to understand
the theatre OF the war now progressing on the
boundary line Of California and Oregon, might take
up the ordinary school map and look at the d.
viding line between the two States; the parallel
is thirty-six degrees north latitude, within q
few miles Of the Pacific Ocean. The
troops has resulted to them disastrously, and
We are informed by telegraph, December 90 " the
military are moving very slowly. The Modocs offer
to fight the troops ten to one and win never sur
render,
CAUSE OF THE OUTBREAK.
One account OF The outbreak or rebellion is as fol-
lows:-The Modoc tribe claim the region nom the
sink OF Lost River eastward to Goose Lake, q
distance OF one hundred miles. The military
EVnr
the troubles, was established In 1863 on patch
OF prairie which extends south and west for dis
tance OF eight miles, terminating in the Klamath
IakHs. To understand the situation 1t is only ne
cessary, as suggested to look at the line south Of
forty degrees north latitude near to the Pa.
clhc Ocean, and the towns Jacksonville in Oregon
on one side, and Yreka ON the other. Twelve
miles southeast Of Fort Klamath, on Williams
River, Is the Indian reservation aud camp. The
reservation was occupied by 1000 Indians-9OO OF
the Klamath tribe, 300 Snakes and 50O all told of
the now troublesome Modocs. Two companies
OF United States troops were stationed at the
p0st-B, First cavalry. and +, Twenty-hrst in
fsntry-numbering not more than eighty effective
men, and certainly not possessing ennlcient
strength. or even morale, owing to circumstances
g keep the savages in order, as late events have
fully shown. S-.,ss - - =
THE MoDoc NDi1Ns.
The Modoc tribe claim what is known as Rhett
Lake, where q number OF white settlements have
been made and located according to law, and
where at least ten thousand head OF cattle owned
Dy white men Craze. Despite these facts the
Modocs insist upon the land being theirs, and have
gone on the war-path to assert or establish their
right The treaty OF 1862, In which this tribe was
party, ceded the country In question to the
United States government, by whom the latter
gave grants to Occupiers, but such treaties are
not always celebrated as they are when settlement
OF Alabama claims are concluded. Lnkville
Langelville and the Klamath Lake settlements are
compris ed within the disputed territory and the
settlers in these places object naturally and very
decidedly TO the noble red man roaming over
their CLAIMS and raiding on their cattle. The
oregon Btltettf expresses the views OF our far
western fellow citizens on this subject
The outbreaks of the hostile Indians Of Southern Ore
Of nRa that IL @ ndeg the
"old Johnn-who was as brave a mortal as ever
made whs1 that division the State
se
Gn Of s yss AND safety Of the and Children
c the 1ce AND AND
& e s essh Sna Gnp o 9
Of me brave men who in the good work Of
confident tina, they will IN case the emergency shall
and also arouse the VonSer mem s2r 10 ne ed
sSss!s %s% sPs psI%9!
history to hasten to the rescue and protection Of
which threatened or assailed all viii AMI
hf% M m BE- e %,1
ANOTHER VIEW OF THE MATTEK
This Is all very well. The Alta california;, a con.
servative journal remarks on the war in its issue
TONED TO have regular Indian scares aud pretended
Indian scares, the only evidence being the pre-.
sentaton OF bills for compensating raiding par.
tles consisting Of some dozen or two half-starved,
gaunt-guted Indians" The Alta, which is sup
- no
have great advantages In the nature of the country
70: 70 which they have fed, as has been proven in
unteers." .'The only way,n remarks the Alta lis
70 send an overwhelming force OF regular troops to
they are brought TO condition to sue for pcacen
INDIAN RESERVATIONS IN CALIFORNIA.
rassng from THIS view OF the difficulty, Ii is only
Just TO consider for q moment how Indians who by
.orce ol arms now In reservations In California
been taken from them, and the rightful owners who
mad no choice but TO leave paid or promised to be
paid nominal prices for the same condition that
they 1.-THE Indians) lived without passing specified
boundaries, which were arbitrarily fixed by white
settlers, without reference to the terms OF the
treaty or equity. The choicest lands were selected
by both parties aud the white mans Ingenuity
always got the better OF the noble red. The re-
ports to the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs from
special agents as to the condition OF Indian rescr.
yations In California show most disQraceful con.
uition OF affairs. Readers at this side Of the Allan
TIC would hardly believe that within one hundred
niles Oh san Francisco in Sonoma county the
,s, nalans interned IN the reservation are treated
Will style or barbarity that could hardly be
tqualled In India or in the English prisons where
remains are incarcerated, as mentioned In yester-
Jays hERALD Female virtue is turned into a
myth, honesty Is a scoilng word What is the case
"a IN sonoma county gets worse as the location ad.
vanoes north, and when we get as far as Oregon
.holSns may be considered as being treated as il
they possessed no rights at ALL
THE BATTLE LOST AND WON.
me nfst encounter between the United States
,op Uops aud the Modoc Indians who left the reserva
s s 70 assert their alleged rights was favorable to
es ~. LATER. THIS was principally owing to the
t uaame VI ,he country. The battle took place be-
ssweeD l9rce Of cavalry and a small hand OF
ho Inc oregon Buettn claims that il was 10
their ueachery and INSTRUMENTATION: but thew
have Cauapl cse pheJ