Connecticut western news., 1873-05-09
The Modoc War.
The First Three Days, Fighting.

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 The advance of our troops commenced on Tuesday, and before night they had gained 8 position within two hundred and fifty yards of the Indian camp, after feeling their way cautiously along and capturing ridge after ridge. A cores pendent, who was with the advance, gives a graphic description of the fight ing, andhis story will serve to show how great must be the difficulties in the way of the troops in that wild and almost impossible country, where days tramp will destroy an ordinary pair of shoes. The infantry and artillery moved at daybreak on the morning of Tuesday, the fifteenth and were followed shortly afterward by the cavalry. Theyshad to fight their way through strongholds and ambuscades of the Indians, and the ad- vance was cautiously and slowly made. To render the situation the more irrita- ting. the savages were everywhere be- hind shelter, and while some fifteen of our own soldiers fell on the way, dead or wounded, scarcely 8 single effective shot could be brought to bear on the enemy. '. After the troops had gained position near enough to the camp or cave of the Indians,y the guns were put in position and the work of she1ling commenced. This was kept up during the night of Tuesday to the disgust of the Modocs, who evidently did not relish so one sided an entertainment. A shell was thrown into the midst of fire during the night, occasioning scattering and a yelling which seemed to indicate that the visitor had done some damage to the council gathered around the flames. On Wednesday further advance was ordered, and it being discovered that the Indians were making excursions to the lake to which they had access, a junction was effected with Colonel Ma sons forces, thus cutting off the supply | of water. This advantage was not secured without some desperate fight ing, and although dispatches do not seem very clear on the head 1t would appear that some of the band had then
 managed to break their way through and get on the flank and rearof Mason's camp Several attacks were made on our line, but without apparent success, only small body of men, who had ad- vanced so far as to be in danger from our own shells, having been compelled to fall back from their position. Dur ing the whole time the she1ling was kept up on the cave and it's vicinity, and when it is remembered that the squaws and pappooses were in these Businesses, and that they were wholly cut of from their water supply, it can easily be seen that their suferings must have been too great to have permitted them to hold out forany lengthof time. On Wednesday night, therefore, it seemed as if the end was neal, and as if the sayages were doomed to pay the full penalty of their crimes. fs
 On Thursday the situation was changed. The Indians had fled to the hills and were beyond the reach of our l arms, all except few of the band and single leader, Scar-faced Charley, whose scalps were poor compensation for the escape of the murderous Chief, Captain Jack, and his associates. Either the force sent to complete the work of vengeance must have been too small or it must have been handled in an inefficient manner. According to the statements heretofore received the women and children of the band were in the cave held by Captain Jack and his warriors, and yet we are told it is now deserted, leaving the inference that not the men only, but the squaws and papooses, were enabled to escape from the tolls which we have been assured were being drawn so carefully, so effect ually and with such deadly certainty around them. Even in the report that the cavalry were about to be dispatched in pursuit of the flying wretches we seem to recognize the same ineficiency. Let us hope that. the cavalry pursuit may be effective, and that the innocent inhabitants may not fall victims to mill tary incompetency.-N. Y. Herald.