The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-19
RETRIBUTI0N
CONTINUED FROM THIRD PAGE.

escape the hot Smelling they received from
Major Thomas battery of mortars.
THEIR FINAL DESTRUCTION Is NOW ASSURED,
and, although it may take few days longer
than at first anticipated, the result will be
obtained with smaller percentage of killed
and wounded. As dernier resort they may
break out to the southward-a consummation,
in my opinion, much to be desired as it
would be impossible to find a worse country to
whip them in than that they now hold. They
could not go far, as they are without horses,
and we have seventy mounted indians and
five troops Of cavalry to put on their trail.
THE POSITION IN THE MORNING.
left this camp this morning shortly after
six and rode out to the front. The troops
were in about the same position as left them
on the previous evening. Excepting the play
of the mortars there was very little going on
along the line. Looking through the glass I
could discover no signs of Modocs in the
neighborhood of Jacks stronghold, and then
learned that
THE SMELLING DURING THE NIGHT
had been a complete success, eventually driv-
ing the enemy from that position. During
the night shell burst in the vicinity of their
camp fire, and the domestic circle dispersed,
venting their wrath in frantic war-whoops.
About nine A. M. firing commenced on the
extreme right, and we found that the Modocs
had taken up new position some three
quarters of mile to the southwark and were
actively
ENGAGED WITH COLONEL. M1ILER's BATTERY
and our allies, the Warm Spring Indians.
During the morning the whole line was ad-
vanced from the left, and in the attack
Bugler William Smith, of M battery, Fourth
artillery, was shot through the neck and
killed The cavalry on the line finally sue
ceeded in connecting with the Twenty-frst
infantry, on the right of Colonel Mason's
command, and we thus secured the water
without loss of life. This was mainly owing
to the
VIGOROUS sHELLNG OF JACKS STRONGHOLD,
. point commanding the water front. There
was slight fire from that point but feel
convinced it came from some wounded or in
firm members of the tribe that had been left
on garrison duty in the fortress while the
rest Of the party went to hold their new posi-
ton. During the evening Colonel Miller's
command on the extreme right, and the
Warm Spring Indians had some pretty severe
fighting with the Modocs. AS far as can
learn it resulted in about
AN EQUAL LOSS ON BOTH SIDES
Colonel Miller had advanced pretty far in
the face of the ridge towards Jacks strong
hold, and was holding a strong point, as
sisted by about dozen of his company, when
q shell burst near his position and forced him
to fall back. In his retreat he lost one man
killed and one wounded. The Warm Spring
Indians also lost man, but they claim three
Modocs killed.
The troops held their line on the bluffs
commanding the left shore, and during the
evening paid
VISIT TO COMMANDING POINT
held by Colonel Perry, of the First cavalry
When I arrived Captain Burton, of the
Twenty-frst infantry, was chatting with the
Colonel, they having succeeded in gaining the
line. They we're then sitting on rocky
bluff. about two hundred yards from Jacks
cave, and, from what could. ascertain, they
intended to remain on the defensive, as the
Modocs would, probably, attack them in their
efforts to get at water.
FIGHT FOR WATER.
AT three o'clock this evening, after my re-
turn to camp, heard heavy firing in the direc-
ton of the water 'front.' which 1 surmised
must have been occasioned by visit from the
thirsty redskins in search of drink. They
were, however, driven back, as the firing soon
ceased, and nothing now disturbed the soil
tude of the night except the occasional whang
of mortar and crack of a solitary musket
shot
WHY THE MoDocs MUST FIGHT
Tomorrow will probably settle the Modoc
war, unless they beat q retreat during the
night l rather fancy, however, they will
fight it out on this line, as, if they take to the
country, they will have to travel twenty five
miles before they strike water, which would be