The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-02
Our First Victory and the
Flight Of the Modocs.
THE SURRENDER OF THE SQUALID BAND.
The Bucks Laying Down Their
Arms with Tears.
CAPTAIN JACKS WHEREABOUTS.
New YORK HERALD HEADQUARTERS, I
MODOC EXPEDITION, NAV D. 1873,


readers Of the HERALD; therefore will give you,
in as few words as possible, the main features
OF the operations OF the last few days,
beginning about the 1st Of the month, or
rather, l might say the Goth of April,
the date OF the Thomas massacre. You were
informed by my telegram that several dead
and missing were left on the battle field, the troops
being unable to find the first or remove the second
and consequently great anxiety was felt regarding
the fate Of the missing, for one was an officer
gallant Lieutenant Cranston-a better or drawer
man we rarely see. II was expected that an effort
would be made to find his body, at least; for 1t is
well known that II the troops would
not be ordered out to search for the
body of an officer the bodies of the
privates stood but little chance OF being
recovered But for once officer and pri-
vate Jared alike and were LETT where they fell until
the time am about to relate. On the arrival OF
General Davis it became apparent that matters
were to be pressed little, and that the American
soldier would be called upon to attempt in all
seriousness the task OF subdung the gentle Modoc.
AS first step 1t was determined to recover the
bodies and give them Christian burial II possible.
To my unmilitary mind the effort should have been
made sooner, II the morale of the troops could be
trusted. But we must not criticise the acts OF
those in power. for we are not supposed to under
stand the working OF some OF the mighty minds,
whose chief ornaments are shoulder straps, and
an education won at the expense OF the govern
ment. AS yet hardly like to write OF this sad
affair, but prefer to wait until some OF the fawn-
ing sycophancy, which has characterized some ac-
counts OF this sad affair, shall have worn away and
men be able and willing to get the shoulder straps
out OF their eyes and place
THE BLAME OF THIS WHOLESALE MURDER
whore n riUhtfulv hplanpa w nj M
tally offending some Of the embryo veterans, whose
only knowledge of Indian warfare before this cam
paign consisted in sundry encounters they have had
with tobacconists' signs in some OF their nightly
revels do not refer to all or any officer who be-
longs to this expedition for we have some gallant
gentlemen here But this is merely written for
the benefit OF future young warriors, who think
their uniforms hide their want OF brains or lack or
civilty.
Before proceed farther, will relate the attack
on the wagon train, which took place on the Pen
insula the 9TH OF April, / think. 1t had or has
little significance only to show the troops that the
Modocs were on the offensive, and had not left the
lava beds. 1t was then determined to ascertain
whether this was supposition or O fixed fact.
Therefore Captain John A. Fairchild, by and with
consent OF the military, sent out One-Eyed Dixie
and Artena Chocas dong legs, half civilized
Modoc squaws, to spy out the land and report
thereon He went with them to within about three
miles OF the stronghold, camped all night and sent
them In in the morning with Instructions II the Mo-
docs were there to light fire If they could II not
report to him at his ranch at night. The squaws
hardly could be persuaded to go for fear Of the
warm Spring Indians and soldiers. But still they
went, returned at night, ana reported
MODOCS GONE,
and gone for good, as there was no water left, the
natural cistern having been exhausted. They also
reported that they had found the body OF Lieu
ta,n Trnnn fnn A,1f hnan I'M
This intelligence was given the General In the
afternoon, and that evening Captain Donald Nc
out to verify the report. When darkness had en-
veoped the lava beds Donald and his men proceeded
to the dreaded place, and in the morning their
fires told US that again the squaws had been true
to their task, and that the dreaded M0docs had
really left their strong hold and it was decided
that the day following detachment should be
s %oas not nee1s the Ms em St asS
them out to build another graveyard ito be
slaughtered). Well, the expedition, consisting Of
Battery A, Fourth artillery started on the 9th Of
May, just thirteen days after the first i'll stared
expedition ieft camp lor the same place,
formation of this detachment gave another
evidence that reason had not altogether deserted
our camp, for as much care was displayed IN
this as though they expected TO meet the enemy.
Had the same prudence been observed in the case
of the first expedition the sad result teIegraphed
you might have been avoided. The troops formed
three sides OF a hollow square, with pack train in
the centre, and nanked out thirty yards on either
wing. The ground was reached the bodies passed
and the troops took up high ground commanding
the position, while part proceeded
TO GATHER THE DEAD
Cranston and four men were found side nv side,
probably laid in that position by the Modocs, In
position where they could rake any party who came
for them. The other body was but little way
or Cranston was scalped hair and whskers, and
two OF the other bodies mutilated badly. 1t was
found impossible TO remove them, decomposition
having rendered them almost Dutri0
and they were buried there, with headboards
to mark their lonely resting place. The bodies OF
the eight soldiers left there were reinforced. the
Modocs having burned OF the sage brush with
which they were covered leaving most OF them Luz
duty the party returned unmolcsted to camp.
Will now return to the attack on the wagon train
on the peninsula, which was OF little moment,
save to help convince the military mnd
that it was sometimes unsafe to send out small
parties as escorts and also that at times the Mo-
docs would whip the soldiers even handed-the
former always having the choice OF ground OF
course This little affair occurred on the Ith be-
lieve, and was about like this "A train Of ilve
mails each, LEFT Boyle's supply camp TO
go down the peninsula 20 his old camp,
for some lumber lett them. They had an escort
OF fifteen or twenty men under Sergeant Murphy.
At point, where the neck Is very narrow, they
were attacked by about twenty Modocs who had
where they could not be thanked.
THE FIRST FIRE
wounded three soldiers, who fell back, and run
ming fight OF few minutes resulted, ending In the
capture OF four wagons and seventeen animals
the six-horse team being behind and thus escaping
AS soon as the firing was heard, Lieutenant
Boutelle, with reinforcements, started for the
scene but, although his command rode hard, they
did not come up In time to save the train, which
was yet burning and the Modocs, having
taken to the rocks could not be followed.
On the following day they returned and nm
ished burning the wagons. 1t now becoming EVIL
dent that the Modocs were really out and hunting
the soldiers, 1t was resolved TO start scout after
them, and TO this end q force under command
OF captain Hasorouck, consisting OF the
Battery b, Captain Hasbrouck, and Captain
Jackson's and Lieutenant Kyle's troops OF
cavalry cavalry, with the Warm Springs under Mckay,