The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-04-29
THE MODOC WAR.
TWO DAYS SEVERE FIGHTING.
Savages shelled Out of the Laws
Beds..The Cavalry In Pursuit.
Five whites Killed and Ten
WOunded..hndia Loss
Unknown.

Five whites Killed and Ten
WOunded..hndian Loss
Unknown.
WARRINGTON, April 1s-The follow
ing telegram was sent to day:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
OFFICE INDIAN AFFAIRS,
WASHINGTON. April Is, 1878
To L. 8. Dyer. United States Indian Agent,
Camp Lava Beds, Headquarters Modoe cesss
The Commission is discontinued. Ad-
wise Commissioners Meacham and Ro.
scarborough. EDWARD P SMITH,
Commissioner.
HEADQUARTERS MoDoc ExpEDITIoNl
CAMP SOUTH TULE LAKE. April 16.
The day opened warm and still, but
was ushered in with musketry and the
occasional booming Of howitzers Col.
Mason's camp is at Hospital Rock, on
the north eide of Captain Jacks posi-
ton, and directly under that famous
stronghold.
Gen Gillem, who has been awaiting
for the arrival of his stores at Warm
Springs, issued orders yesterday for the
tents to be struck at dawn in compact
place near the hospital; for the troops
to be supplied with three days rations
and one hundred rounds of ammunition
next for the cavalry to be ready to move
at 2 A. NJ to-day, and for Col Mason, on
the opposite side of the lava bed, to
move at the same hour on the enemy
Col Perry and Lieut.. Cresson, with the
cavalry, were to move to point beyond
the main cave and conceal themselves
until joined in the morning ny the infan-
try and artillery. 1t was hoped when
the latter companies LEFT camp the Mo.
docs would observe them, and in an at
tempt to cut them of, fall into the hands
Of the cavalry.
These movements were faithfully exc.
cuted, probably hurried little on our
side by the escape of Long Jim, Mo.
doc, who was under guard as prisoner
of war. At midnight be leaped past the
guard and escaped, though many
shots we're fred at him.
At daylight we heard an irregular fu-
silade on the opposite side Of the lava
bed, and knew Mason's force or his skir.
mishers were engaged At six we heard
the boom of howitzers, and saw shells
bursting over Captain Jacks camp Al
this time the rocks we're swarming with
Indians, and the firing was rapid
The plan of battle was from the north
side Col. Mason was to advance his
command on the right,the Warm Spring
Indians on his left, circling up along the
ledge aid unite with the right of the
troops from this side, leaving only the
lake for the Modocs to escape by. Lieut.
Greery was in camp, in charge of the
arms and ammunition Capt. Trimble
of the First Artillery, with twenty men,
was lett in charge Of the camp on his
side. Col Greene at Z A. N united will
Col Perry command. In about ar
hour and half after leaving camp, and
as soon as the ball opened, Capt. Miller
Of the Twelfth Infantry commanding thu
battalion. his company being command
ed by Lieut. Leary. Miller had the ex
treme right. Next was Capt. Throck,
morton's Battery, NJ, of the Fourth Ar
tillery, Lieut.. Harms Battery K, Fourth
Artillery, Captain Esan's Company G.
and Captain Wright's Company E, both
Of the Twelfth Infantry, in the center
The cavalry were on the extreme left.
While marching along the lake shore
just at the head of long cave, about {
mile and half from Jacks camp, tht
troops encountered the first opposition
struggling shots from a bluff at long
range. The men deployed in open Skin
mish order, and advanced slowly under
such cover as the rocks afforded On
our right gorge opened in the bluffs
from the right bank Of which came stray
CLING shots, while few fell around us
from the left point Our sklrmishers
crept up, supported by reserves, until W.
arrived at short range, when severe
voley was fired from the bluffs. evident
ly there being 25 or 30 Indians ,postet
there. The fire was heavy. After stan
ding about fifteen minutes the order tc
charge was given, and the men sprans
forward amid most deafening yells from
the Modocs Such was the rapidity O
the onslaught. and so unexpected, tha
the troops were on them before they
knew it, and in few minutes we're mas
ters of the situation. and our brave boy,
behind the rocks resting at their leisure
Gen. Gillem had sent an order to Col
Mason to stir them mp on his side, anf
he lit into them with vengeance, dis
tracting their attention and materiall,
assisting our troops The charge was
gallant one Meanwhile We extricatet
our wounded-four; none killed.
Capt Egan ard his men fought gal
lantly, and so did all engaged Captain
Egan was wounded in the arm but woult
not leave the field E O'Connor, pri
vate of Battery NJ, Fourth Artillery, wa
shot in the leg,a flesh wound private J
Dunlev, Battery X, Fourth Artillery, wa
shot in the forearm; Corporal E Kellisk
Bat cry KFourth Artillery ,scalp wound
private McManus, Company E. Twelft
Infantry, thioh crushed. B. McManus
If McConne'ls & McMsnu~ merchants a
Yreka, ventured within the advance lin,
held by Capt Miler's men, who gallant
lv carried the bluff under orders in sucl
gallant stvie was shot from the bigl
bluffs and left on the ground. The line
are FIVE hnndred yards apart, and th
ground uncovered When the mortar,
arrive the iluff will be shelled and be re
covered. 1t is supposed he Was shot il
the hee by the way his mule was woun
ded. Three shots were fired at them
At 2P. N. the order wa. given to ad
vance the mnrtars Mayor Thomas
crmmand, Lient. Cranston Nswe, OF til,
Fourth Artillery, and Sergeant Rome
and men compose the party-as gallan
a set as ever handled guns. Al half pas
four the line deployed down the lake, ,op
posi'e Jacks camp, and crossed the in
tervening open space on the doubl,
quick, without receiving shot. The,
are now in readiness to charge on tn,
bluffs when the mortars have done thei
work The mortars have arrived ON tn
ground and taken posi- ion.
All was quiet until $50, when a sud
den and heavy volley ratified along Ma