Huntington independent. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1871-1874, 1873-05-08
The MOdOc War.

New York, April 29.-The Herald
special from the lava Bed, dated 26th
inst. saws: The force under Captain
Thomas which started to recomoiter
the position supposed to be held by the
Modocs numbered siXty-nine men. The
object was mainly TO find out how the
MOdocS were situated, and whether
mortars could be brough up ana used
eifectually against them. As the troops
approached the cave in the Lava Bed,
about haif-paSt TO- our command was
brought to halls, and the men allowed
TO take a rest. The story Of the first
fire is differently reported, some saying
five or SIX shots We're fired, and others
only four, but Tckuor states positively
that il came from aparty ofnine Indians
who occupied a bluff to the eastward
Of where the troops were stationed.
Major Thomas Immediately threw the
men into >kirmi>hiug order, with
Lieutenant Wricht's company on the
right. The latter, however, had not
got into p s.tjou before they We're flank
ed on the right by a party Of fourteen
other indians who had come mp to the
advance of those who fired first. The
croSs-Gre ON Wright'S men proved very
demoralizing, and they broke back in
confusion, leaving their gallant leader
in an exposed condition, and supported
BY few of his npE-cOmm;S>iOGCd officers.
In the meantime another small party
Of Indians had obtained a position to
the let, and opened a rakmg fire on
the two batteries Of artillery. 1t was
fearful trap, and the first four shots
we're Ou'y fired to draw the troops more
directly between the fire of the Indians
ON tie right and left. Tue rouJ was
complete. and with the exception Of the
officers and non-commiSSioned officers,
the majority Of whom lay on the rocks
with their likelihood chbing fast away,
the Watchword was "S0UUe 9ti psUt
Confused and dcmora.iZed as they We're
the men became an easy prey to the
Modes, who confident of their native
rocks, shot them down Ike 50 many
frightened deer.
Occasionally news were brought in
By the scared stracglers, exaggerated
in the extreme. but significant ofSome
dire disaster. Many Of these men who !
had deserted their officers in time Of
peril. had seen one hundred Indians all !
around them. Fear had distorted their |
vision, aud mdde them so helpless that |
one Of thyirumbcr was afterward found |
dead without a shot He had been |
by knives, and Sopanic struck |
he could not fyc a shot IN his own |
defence.
There was mystery about the at
tack that nobody appeared to solve as
to how the troops were 30 completely |
surprised. If IN camp where were the
picketS or advanced SkirmShcrS. It'll
so strange that party of SiX-
u -lL'lt Dltu N4bui'A I't tlluNNA Nlllhiiil- /.
ed by Indians without their being aware
OF a Sigu Of an Indian as far as they
could see This fact alone will give the
public an idea of the nature of the
ground ON which these Indians fight,
and what our soldiers have to contend
against. During night the Indians were
creeping through the rocks to scalp and
strip tie dead soldiers. Soldiers COM
inc through to Colonel Green's line told
him where the dead Of Batteries X and
4 were to be found. Colonel Green
Immediately moved forward his line to
the place indicated, and erehid in some
sagebruSh, were the naked bodies Of
Major Thomas, lieutenant Howe, Ser
geant Rover and six others. Colonel
Wrights body lay a little TO the left,
and on the right was Lieutenant Harris
severely wounded, and the bodies of 1--WE
Of his men stripped ofall their clothing.
FOrtynine were killed and wounded out
Of u command Of SiXty-uiue men,
Na0 York Herald.