Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1873-05-06
ANOTHER MASSACRE BY
THE MODOCS.
The United States Troops fall in
to Trap.
A Complete and Terrible Sur
prise.
Prominent Officers Killed.
Very Few of the MenEEscape.

Especial telegram to the D:spatch.l
WASHINGTON, April 29.-The serious
news Of the defeat Of our armies by the
Modoc warriors created a sensation here
hardly less intense than that contained In
in the reports which came two weeks ago
Of the murder of General Cauby. The
War Department was without official ad-
vices up to a late hour this evening,
though General Sherman and his aids are
in nlomentary expectation of official re
ports from general Scho6eld.
The officers reported among the killed
are all we'll known here, and the query
for corrobOrative statements to those con-
tained in the first reports has been very
general during the afternoon and evening.
Captain Thomas, who was killed, was a
son of ex-Adjutant-G General Thomas,
prominently known as dd intT5um Thom-
as, by reason Of his appointment by Pres
ident johnson as Secretary of War during
the Stanton regime
General Sherman now believes a gener-
al Indian war to be very probable There
are no official adyices giving any account
of the ModOc loss, but it is believed from
the tenor of reports at hand to have been
comparatively trihing.
TmoN.
SAN FRAYCIsCO, April ga courier
just arrived at Hreka reports that battle
has taken place between the United States
troops aud the ModocS.
Nineteen Federal soldiers were killed.
including Captain Thomas and Lieuten-
ants Howe and Wright. Twenty three
were wounded, including Lieutenant Har-
rs. Others are missing.
SAN Francisco, April ga dispatch
from the lava-beds says a recommending
party Of artillery and infantry proceeded
in the direction Of the present Modoc
stronghold. Captain Thomas was COM
manding. Adozen Warm Spring Indians
were expected to cooperate with the party.
On reaching the bluff the Modoc fire was
so heavy that it drove the troops to shell
ter. As usual the foe was unseen. The
indians delivered a cross and entiading
fire Two wounded soldiers reached tn:
camp, when four companies were sent to
the rescue. They carried stretchers for
the wounded but could not reach them.
A later dispatch from Colonel Green re-
bic.
Lieutenant Cranston, of the fourth artil-
lery, is missing.
The killed and wounded have been col
lected, and are waiting conveyance to
camp. Sixteen were Killed. including
Captain Thomas, Lieutenant Howe. Lieu
tenant Wright, and eight additional
wounded. The ModocS had Spencer and
breech-loading rifles. Some are known
to have had two or more rifles. The In
dams numbered twenty one. When the
soldiers took refuge in the hollow every
egress was commanded by the Indians,
and the soldiers could not show head or
a hand without certainly being wounded.
Very few escaped the rest were either
killed or wounded.
The number Of killed and wounded of
the Mod0cs is unknown. Captain MAY
says that his Warm Spring Indians took
their scalpS.
Colonel Green, who went out with rein
forcements, is momentarily expected. 1t
is difficult to recognize the dead but by
articles Of dress. Their lineaments are
horribly deiaced. Eight men were buried
on the field unrecognized. Lieutenant
Cradston, of Battery A, and four men are
still missing. The reconnOitring force
consisted of Batteries K and A, Fourth
artillery, and Company E, of the Twelfth
infantry.
THE OFFICERS KILLED.
Wac1rNCToN AnriI 90 - Caytaip