The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-12-30
THE MODOC INDIAN WAR.
A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE TROUBLE
AND IT'S ORIGIN.

A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE TROUBLE
AND IT'S ORIGIN.
The Scene Of Opcrations-The Wild
Vnniage-Groundo OH the Redskins.
From the Oregon Herald.1
It is possible that very erroneous Impress
sions may get abroad In regard to the recent
trouble with the Modoc Indians In this State,
aud such Impressions may have the tendency
to retard immigration. With view to cor
rect any such false notions, 1t may be proper
to state that the disturbances occurred upon
the extreme southeastern frontier oil Oregon,
very remote from the more populous portions
of the State, where the country is very sparse
ly occupied by settlers. This outbreak is eI-
cepLional, altogether remarkable, and can
scarcely ever be repeafed. II has been at
tended with the killing of quite number Of
hardy pioneers, probably some twelve or If
teen excellent men, wEosei loss must be
severely felt by those infant settlements; but
1t does not in any degree affect the peace end
good order Of the other portions OF the State
The disturbance-wsr 1t cannot properly
be called-was entirely local, affecting only
the Link River and Klamath Lake region.
The origin Of the trouble, as we understand
1t, is about as follows: A region Of country in
the southeast part of the State, called the
Klamath reservation, had been assigned by
the government to The occupancy Of the Mo.
doc Indians. Here The government bad made
liberal provision for the accommodation OF
the Indians, looking, of course, to their civil
izatIon and TO the adoption by them OF hab.
its of industry. The Molocs, 1t seems, were
averse to going on TO the reservation. prefer.
ring the Idle, vagabond life which they had
been accustomed to lead. They were on
friendly terms with the few settlers in that
region, and no serious trouble was appre-
hended from them; still 1t was desirable that
they should be made TO occupy the reserva-
tion assigned to them. Their reluctance was
borne with for considerable time, until
finally Imperative orders came from Washing.
ton that the savages must be taken 10 their
reservation by force, II no other means would
suffice, and guarded there. Persuasion was
used, but without avail. Finally, company
OF United States troops was ordered to the
camp of Scar-faced Charley, chief of the
tribe, with directions to remove him and his
people forcioly II they refused to 60 peace
ably And here, 1t seeIns to us. Without in
tending any capious criticism OF any.
body, serious mistake was made. The
troops from Fort Klamath, ordered to
this duty, were entirely too few Ia
w Cdll 0uG LILO UluCl3 ~ lVlSO ououAH
be required. But It was supposed, doubtless,
that The Indians would not be 80 mad and
reckless as to attempt for,ible resistance. They
did, however, resist When the off1cer In
command, with bis trooTs, came TO Charley's
camp, he first tried persuasion; and finally,
when The Indians saw there was no other al.
Tentative but to fight or comply, they madly
and loolshly decided to aght. A skirmlsh en-
sued, In which some Indians were killed, and
thnv Tn nd tn re q
unsuspectng aud defenaeless settlers, whose
isolated habilations favored the Indian pur-
pose. or course The warfare ls OF short dnra.
ton. Troops from othes stations were quick
ly massed In sufficient numbers 10 project the
settlements, and the settlers themselves,
aided from other parts Of the country, were
quite competent to their own protection. The
Indians, quick to slrlek, were able, however,
to perpetrale their murders upon unsuspect-
Ing families before they could be arrested.
The result will be that the Indians will now
be forced upon their reservation aud COM
PEELED to stay there, under an adequate guard
Of government troops. TDis Will be very
speedily done.
The following Is a description of the lava
bed country. and which is likely 10 be the
acene of the Modoc operations: 1t is located
situated wholly in Csss rnia, Just south OF the
Oregon boundary line, containing an area of
ten miles square, all cut up with fesures and
deep gulches, and aboukding with large caves,
the largest cave being that known as Ben
WrighL's cave, said 10 contain fifteen acres Of
open space under ground, to which there Ia
good spring and many openings by which a
man can crawl through, the main entrance
being about the siza IL common window.
The gulches and crevl,es range from few
feet TO one hundred feet In width. and many
- tbo,, hnnAruA a ar Aoon Tho India nc
can travel all through this lava couuIry by
trails known only to the mselves, and stand on
bluffs over person one hundred feet beneath,
where 1t would require Is long journey to 60 to
them. In this lava bed are also small date
luxurlant with bunch grass, where cattle find
great trouble In reaching by long, creni.
Lous travel over rough lava rocks, while
on the outskirts ct the lava bed
may continually be fOlnd large amount
OF stock, the cattle range being unsur'
passed. The Indians can see every one com
ing 10 five miles OF Without themselves being
seen. They can also let their pnrsuers come
within few feet of the bluff aud shoot down
retiring II necessary t0 other similar bluffs
As to food, the Indians can find all they wan
oil cattle in and around the lava bed, and car
also 20 ont In the lake In canoes 10 fish o
shoot game. The only thing they now lacl
for long siege will be ammunition for theil
guns; but they will rnake arrows Instead
Those pursuing will have to follow the In
gullies and creviees to hunt them must ex
pect to find the Modocs on the high blum
above them on every point, or making thell
way through concealed passages to secure
hiding places. 1t will require the greatest
cunning aud strategy 10 capture or e1termi
nate The Modocs In this lava section, notwilh
standing their Insignificant numbers.