Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-06-13
The CAPTURED MOdOcs.

inst, gave the following statement
When arrived on tho field l found the
troops engaged in a war with band of Indian
outlaws AID mpuplerers 4kwarA Of shei goVrl
mept who had reyoIted against its aithority:
They were fighting mcrcilessly, neither giving
nor expecting Quarter T then thought that
captiyes taken in the future should be,exeeut-s
ed ON the spot as the snrest and speedIest
method of settling the Modoe problem. when
captured while fighting against the military
forces of the T. s., as separate nation and
tribo, Il WIS disposed to deal with them accord
iDgly. " q, -, :.
Since their capturcI have ascertained shat
the authorities Of Jackson county, Oregon,
have found indictments against certain meln-
bers of the band L have not deemed itt.prop-
er to turn them ovor to the civil courts because
they we're waging war against the government
at the time the MURDERS upon which lndlet-
ments were based were committed also tor
the reason that after their capture they were
prisoners OF the government, and not dlrecly
amcnable to civil laws. ..... ~
During my command here I have observed
that citizeus, when desiring protection for pcr-
son and property or Naturalization tor loss,
invariably appeal to:the authority Of the U. s.;
| but now that the war is over and the marau-
dcrs captives, both public and local authorities
waut.te take the punishment Of the offenders
into their own hands. !. -uy,.., ~ ;,..i...N
The threats of the people and the. recent
bloody act in this ncighborhood, when tour?oid
deicnccless captives, en- route, from Fairdhlld' $
ranche to this camp were murdered bycfVllians
indicate that trial by civil law would be. q use
less farce. The people have made up their
minds that the prisoners are guilty. = T., +,
Tt is suggested that a military commission
be ordered to try the criminals IF the idea is
carried out the officers comprising the court
should be of high rank, and men who have
had no immediate connection with the Modoc
difficulty. Such a commission would probably
try each; case separately. 1t will require about
| six months to perform the work, to say moth
ing OF the expense involved in such proceedings
| to the government .,y-.. -. :,;rl a.ur.;.
Besides everybody, civil as well as military,
know the Indians are guilty Of murder in the
first degree and ought to be hanged. Thought
| to avoid the unnecessary cXpence. OF the farce
of trial by doing the work myself I 4
Owing to the dilatory manner In which the
Modocs were treated! by those in charge at the
Hbrginning of these difficulties, the Indians OBJ
tanned fearful advantage over us. They
slaughtered so many people that the country
was astoni>hed, even shocked, and now fear
they will get the advantage IN the closing scene,
This same fear was disturbing the minds OF the
citizens Of the frontier, Justice has, already
been very tardy,. and its coming is approaching
from so many different directions, and IN such
questionable shape and garb, / doubt her sue
cess in mestiDg the requirements of the case.
Indians do not recognize the jurisdiction iol
civil or military courts because they are incapa:
bic of understanding their workiogs.s, These
Modocs cannot comprehend what is meant by
court. s g.. ..,..t...,......., ...-..'L
They have been Intercepted on that subject,
and they would regard court trial, With its
tcchniculities, testimony, &c. as a kind of jug
glery, and if coDvicted and sentenced to death
could not be made to understand that justice
figured in the business at all. They believe
| they have committed deeds that merit death
in fact are real murderers, and have daily Ok
pectcd to be hanged. They believe the mill
tary have the power and right foinfiict punish
ment. The murders and arrests occurred in
Oregon aud California, and tho case is badly
mixed. "
My proposed course would have settled the
question, ....,.,.,.
The: Indians are eoopcd up in tentsAmen,
women and children tue guilty and: innocent
fearing massacre all the time. They must
remain in this condition OF suspense for months.
l had procured lum Der, chairs, rope and tackle,
and all the paraphcrnala OF execution, and
had selected Friday last as the dooms-day.
Thursday forenoon drew up this declaration
of charges ard read it to- ] ack later in the day.
headquarters Department of Columbia, an
the Field, 1a1e7.r Luke, California, June 5,
lS73.-Jack Since white men first began:to
travel through or settle IN tho country occupied
by the Modocs, people Of which you claim ito
be one of the chiefs, the Modocs hayesbeen
known as a band of 'merciless robbers 'andjmtr-
,derers. The history Of your tribe is filed with:
accounts of murders of the white race. Even
among your Indian beighbors you are known
as domineering and tyrannicat tribe, .-.Oad
settlers In the country report as many as three
hundred murders committed by your people
within the limits OF. the present generation.
" ''Along the shores Of this beautiful little
lake, IN view Of which we now stand, are the
graves of over sixty victims OF the Modoes'
barbarity--all murdered byyour IMMEDIATE an.
cestors in brutal acts They were peaceful
emigrants, men, women and children, passing.
quietly through the country on the public high
way. ;,
For these many crimes. no adequate punish
ment has ever been visited upon the guilty,
even as tribe or Individually. Upon the contrary
the government has peaceably overlooked them. I
A few years ago, regardless OF these acts pf
trcachery, it gave you reservation OF lapd ttr
a homo, where, if you choose, you could re-
main and enjoy the annual bounties OF the GOV
ernment uumolested. All went upon the re-
serVation; thus provided, and part of your tribe
has remained Il
"But you and your band seem to have pre-
ferred the war-path, You left the reseFyatiopi
You spurned the kindpess Of, the government, !
and even resisted the soldiers in the execution
of their duty while en2dfIesaaToriOg to force y9u
'HSYou Rave hastened is che fight emulatipg
the bloody deeds of your fathers. You again
strcwed the shores Of 'Iale Lake with tthe,adn
victims Of your bloody band, All those VIC
tins were peaceful and udsuspecting citizens,
and were slaughtered at their daily advoea-
tons. :, You then fled to your stronghold. the
lava beds. prepared for war, and de6ed the
power OF the government -" r -.
80 Still the President at, Washington ordered
the soldiers to desist until the peace commits
sioners could haye talk with you, and if pos