The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-15
THE M0D0CS,
General Jack Again Behind Forti-
fcatiOns and Defiant.
A PR0TRACTED WAR EXPECTED.
The Situation of the Troops
and the Enemy.
SOLDIERS SUFFERING FOR WATER.
Tactics Of General Davis Since He
Assumed Command.
DEATH OF LIEUTENANT HARRIS.
DEATH or LIEUTENANT HARRIS.
The Camp and Headquarters To BE Re
moved to Tule Lake.
SATURDAYS FIGHT EXPLAINED.
What the Warm Spring Indians
Accomplished.

CAMP ON LAVA BEDS, May 49, 1873
lam enabled to lay before you news up to
noon of the 18TH Last evening Generals Gil
lem and Davis and several others crossed the
lake from Colonel Mason's camp during
heavy gale and came near losing
their lives, the boat becoming al
most unmanageable. From them l learn
THE CORRECT SITUATION
of the troops now engaging the Modocs. The
scene of action is now about twenty miles
southwest of the original Modoc stronghold,
in country naturally very strong. At last
accounts the savages had been driven into
rocky fastness, which they are busy in forti-
flying. The force present was not considered
sufficient with which to storm the place, and
THE MoDocs WILL BE HELD
there, If possible, until the roinforcements
with the mortars can be brought up. 1t will
be two days before this can be accomplished
possibly longer.
THE TROOPS SUFFERING FOR WATER.
Meanwhile the troops present are suffering
for water, there being none available in the
vicinity. Every available means has been
used to supply them with water until the
Modocs are driven out or water obtained.
Water is plentiful in Willow Creek, to the rear
Of the Modocs, but not accessible to our
troops, being some distance away.
A POOR PROSPECT OF PEACE.
There will be desultory skirmishing until
the place is abandoned by the Modocs or
taken by our troops. do not anticipate
they will annihilate the Modocs there. 1t
will be remembered that this is the same
locality where party Of Indians were driven
in and fought, some years since, when they
suddenly disappeared and were not after
wards found.
THE MoDoc TACTICS.
They have their families with them and
will make stand until they can provide for
the safety of the women and children, when
they too will disappear to make themselves
felt elsewhere at another time.
THE RESULT OF THE FIGHT
may be briefly summed up as follows:-
Modocs driven with positive loss of two
killed and large part of their horses, their
ammunition train, clothing and about two
tons of provisions destroyed. 1t was the most
severe blow they have met, and will affect
them very much, changing their tactics at
once Since their defeat
THE CONFIDENCE AND COURAGE OF THE
SOLDIERS
has been increased. As the Indians have lost
horses and provisions they must, Of necessity,
steal more, which will bring on border trouble,
stock raids and destruction to the ranches.
This is expected unless the troops should sue
coed in destroying the band where it now is,
which is hardly probable.
who did the most of Saturdays fighting lost
one man. The engagement was opened by
the Modocs, who, stripped to their
breech clouts, attacked the scouting
party at daybreak expecting to stampede
them as they had previously. They
were mistaken though. They succeeded
in stampeding fourteen horses afterwards re-
covercD and killing one soldier and wound
ing several others, two of whom have since
died. But the Warm Springs trotted into the
fight and ran the NFodocs past their plundef
capturing their camp equipage and completely
turning the tables on them.
DEATH OF LIEUTENANT HARRIS.
Lieutenant Harris died last night. His
mother arrived from the East on the day
previous.
REMOVAL OF = THE CAMP TO M1LLER's ISLAND.
The carp and army headquarters will be
moved to Mitler's Island, Tulle Lake, at once,
making and increased land carriage Of forty
five miles. Seventy-fve men will be left at
the present camp to guard the stores.