National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-05-02
The MOdOc War.
The First Three Days' Fighting.

The advr nee of ourtroops commenced
on Tuesday, and before night they had
gained position within two hundred
and fifty yards of the Indian camp, after
feeling their way cautiously along and
capturing ridge after ridge. A cores
pondent, 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. They had to
fight their way through strongholds and
ambuscades of the Indians, and the adj
vance was cautiously and slowly made
To render the situation the more irrita-
ting, tho savages were everywhere be-
| hind shelter, and while some fifteen Of
our own soldiers fell on the way, dead
or wounded, scarcely 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, the guns were put in position
and the work of Smelling 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
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, Il
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 it would
appear that some of the band had then
managed to break their way through
and get on the flank and rear of Mason's
camp. Several attacks were made on
our line, but without apparent success,
only small body of men, who had adj
oO iui w NO III
our own shells, having been compelled
to fall back from their position. Dur
ing the whole time the Smelling was
kept up on the cave and its vicinity,
and when it is remembered that the
squaws and pappooses were in these
Businesses, and that they were wholly
cut off 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 length of time.
On Wednesday night, therefore, it
seemed as if the end was near, and as if
the savages were doomed to pay the full |
penalty of their crimes.
On Thursday the situation was
changed. The Indians had fed to the
hills and were beyond the reach of our
arms, all except few of the band and
a 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
were enabled to escape from
the tolls which we have been assured
were being drawn so carefully, 80 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
may not fall victims to mill
tary incompetency.-N. Y. Herald.