River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-01-17

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that it should be carried ont without
bloodshed if possible, and that a force
sufficient to overawe the savages should
be used. But the courage and DISPOSE
ton of Captain Jacks band seems to
have been moderated, for Major Jack
son started out with only thirty-fve
cavalry to effect the object desired The
Indians then numbered one hundred,
and it is folly to believe that they would
allow thirty-five cavalrymen to brighten
them into submission.
On Thanksgiving Day Major Jack
sons command, accompanied by Ivan
Apologize, a settler at Clear Lake, and
James Brown, messenger of the Indian
Department, arrived at the Indian
camp at the mouth of Lost River.
They arrived there at early dawn and
quietly surrounded the camp on either
side of the river, Major Jackson taking
the side on which was located Captain
Jacks cabin, and Apologize with ten
or twelve citizens, taking the other
side, where about half of the warriors
had their huts.
When all was ready the presence
of the military was made known, and
instantly the camp became a scene of
confusion. Indians ran hlther and
thither, seized their guns and hud-
died together in a sullen manner, APP
parently ready to flee at moments
notice. Major Jackson asked ifany Of
the Indians spoke English. Scar
faced Charley came forward, gun in
hand, and said angrly that he did.
Major Jackson then explained to Char.
ley the nature of the order from Wash
lngtOn, and requested the Modocs to
90 to the reservation quietly. Charley
interpreted to Captain Jack and the
other Indians all of whom shook their
heads and turned their backs in token
of unqualified refusal to obey the or
der. While Major Jackson was DELHI
Grating what to do, Scar-faced Charley
suddenly raised his gun and fred at
Lieutenant Boutelle, who stood in
front of his men
This of course, was the signal for
battle. Lieutenant Boutelle promptly
returned the fire, and the fight at once
became general. Scar-faced Charley
fired Il e than a dozen shots, and the
others kept up a sharp firing at the
troops, who by this time had ranged
themselves in order of battle. The
officers and men stood their grounds
well, and fought bravely, but they were
largely outnumbered by the Indians,
who had also an advantage in ground.
While the battle was going on with the
troops, Apologize and Brown, with the
settlers on tho opposite side of the riv-
er, were not idle. While the parley
was going on with Major Jackson they
took several guns away from the In
dams on their side, but when the firing
began the battle opened here too.
Three or four Indians were killed on
this side of the river and one citizen
John Thurber,a settler who had Joined
the party. Major Jackson's command
suffered quite severely, one soldier
being killed and four wounded, two OF
them MORALLY.
Seeing that the Indians were too
strong to be dislodged or subdued with
the force at his command, Major Jack
son withdrew the troops to the other
side of the river to care for his wound
ed. 1t is not known how many In
dams were wiped out by the troops,
but probably not more than three or
four. The Indians who had been fight
ing the Brown-Applegate party fed
across the river and joined their band
under Captain Jack, and as Major
Jackson had already crossed to Join
Brown and Apologize, the two forces
eyed each other from the opposite
banks all night long. So far the In
dams had the best of il, but toward
morning of the Goth they deserted
their camp, leaving their women and
children at the mercy of the military,
who at once crossed over and took them
prisoners. =
After the battle the Indians retreated
down the east shore of the lake, when
they committed the massacres which
have already been reported.
On the way they overlook William
Brotherton and his two sons, aged re-
spectively eleven and twenty-five years.
They had been in the woods for load
of fuel, and were then approaching the
rancho on their return with two four
horse teams.
The Indians, under command of
Scar-faced Charley, at once stopped the
teams and shot down the elder Broth
erton as he sat on the wagon. The two
boys tried to run, but were killed be-
fore they had gone fifty yards. The
Indians then unhitched the eight
horses, mounted them and started for
the house, where they doubtless in
tended the murder of the rest Of the
Brotherton family-them mother and two
young sons, mere boys. Here they
met the first check. The plucky wo.
man, suspecting that something was
wrong from the fact that they were
mounted on her husbands horses, re-
solved to sell her life dearly. She had
three rifles in the house, and putting
one in the hands of each of her sons.
she locked the door and built
a barricade behind the windows of