Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-04-19
The War with the Modoc Indians.

w e nave udu SUUC fCly ShtlbS W
day. and have driven the Indians about four
hundred yards, and have succeeded 10 cutting
them off from the water. They must now brea k
through our lines or evacuate their stronghold.
Our lines are not more than four hundred
wards from the Indians caves. | can give 70
adequate description of the ground over which
we have fought Mortar shells were thrown
into the Indian camp yesterday and during last
night find it will be impossible, owing to
the nature of the position, to surround the In
diaus with my present force. Our loss to-day
is two Filled and four wounded.
ALVIN G. GILLEM
Colonel First Cavalry, commanding"
The tollowi og press telegrams have been re,
ceiyed. giving 10 de,ail the operations Of Tues
day and Wednesday,:
HEADoUA RTERS OF TIE MODoC EXpEDI
lion, CAMP South OF TULE LAKE, April Is.
The day opened warm and still, but was ush-
cred in by the roar of muSkctiy aud occasional
booming of howilzcrs Col. Mason $ camp was
at Hospital Rock, on the north side OF Captain
Jacks position, and direct y under that famous
stronghold.
Gen. GiIlem, who had been waiting for the
arrival of his stores aud the Warm Spring IT,
diaus, issued orders yesterday for the tents t.
be struck and drawn IN compact shape 10 a
place neor Hospital Rock, for the truups To be
supplied three days ratlons and one hundred
rounds of ammunition; for the cavalry to be
ready to move at . a. u. to-day, and for Cul.
Mason, on the opposite side of the lava led, to
move at the same hour on the enemy.
COL Perry and Lieut.. Cressau, With the cav
airy were to move to point beyond the malu
cave, and co.ceal themselves until joined in
The morning by the Infantry and artillery. 1t
was hoped that when the latter companies lett
the camp the Modocs would observe them, aud
in an attempt to cut them off fall into the hands
of the cavalry.
These NOV, ments we're faithfully executed,
probably hurried little on our side by the es-
c.pe of Loug jim, a Modoc, who was under
guard as prisoner Of war. AT midnight he
lraped past the guard and escaped, though
many shots were fired at him.
at daylight we heard an Irregular fusilade
on the opposite side Of the lava beds, and knew
COL Mason 5 force or bis skirmishers were eu-
gagged. At six o'clock we heard the boom OF
the howtzers and saw the shells bursting over
CAPTAIN Jack camp. At this time the rocks
were swalmng with Indians, and the firing was
rapid.
The plan Of the battle was from the north
side. Col. Mason was t. advanc: his command
or the right, the Warm Spring Indians 90 his
left cilc!ing up along the ledge to unite with
the right of the troops from this side, leaving
only the Like for the Indians to escape by.
Lieut.. Greery was in camp in charge OF the
arms and ammunition. Capt Trlmblc, OF the
fist artillery, with twenty men, was lett IL
charge Of the camp on this side. Col. Greene
at a. m. united with Col. Pcrry's command
i'm about an hour aud halt after leaving cauIp,
and soon the ball opened.
Capt Miller, of Company K, Twelfth lu-
fautry, commanding battalion his company
being commanded by Lieut. Lcaiy, had the
extreme right Next to him were Captain
Throckmorton's battery NJ, of the Fourth Ar
tillcly, aud Lieut. HarIis's Battery K, Fourth
Artillery. Capt. Egan's Company u, and Gait.
Wlight's Company E. both Of the Twelfth ~
fautry, formed the centre The cavalry Were
Oh the extreme left.
While marching along the lake shore, just at
the head of long Cave, about mile and ahali
from Capt. Jack camp, the troops encounter
ed the first opposition. Struggling shots were
fired from fluff at long raupe. The men were
dcp!oyed iu open skirn,sh order, and advanced
slowly under such cover as the rock afforded.
On our right opened gorge in the bluff,
from the right bank of which came struggling
shots, while few fell around Us from the lc,t
bank. o." sbirmishers crept up, supported by
the reserves, until we arrived at short range,
when severe volley was fired from the bluff,
there evidently being twenty-five or thirty In
dams posted there. The fire was heavy.
After standing it about fifteen minutes the
order to charge was given, and the men sprang
forward amid the most deafenipg yells from the
Modocs. Such was the rapidity of the ou-
slaught and 80 unexpected were the troops on
them that in few minutes we were masters Of
the situation, and our brave boys were behind
the rocks resting at their leisure.
General Gillem had sept an order to Colonel
Mason to stir them up on his side, and he let
into them with vengeance, dlstractiDg their
The charge was gallant one.
Meanwhile We exit icated our wounded, four
in number. None were killed. Capt. Eagan
and his men fought CALAMITY; so did all en-
Gagged. Capt Eagan was wounded 10 the arm,
out would not leave the field. E. O'Connor,
private of battery Nj, 4rh artillery, was shot
in the LEG flesh wound private j. Danny, OF
battery *, 4th artillery, was shot IN the fore
arm; Corporal f. Kellesk, of battery K, 4th
artillery, received seal p wound; private Nc
Manus, company +, 18th Infantry, had his
thigh crushed.
2. McAIauus, of the firm of John Coanell Il
McMauus, merchants at Yrcka, ventured be-
tween the advance line by CAPTAIN Miller $
men, who carried the bluff, unGer orders, 10
such gallant style, and the reserve line, and
was shot from the high bluff and left on the
ground
The lines were 500 yards apart aud the
ground between them uncovered. When the
mortars arrive the bluff will be shelled and re-
covered.
1t is supposed that Mr.. McManus was shot
through the heel by the way his mule was
found 10 be wounded
At p. m. an order was given to advance
the mortars Major Thomas, in command
Lieut. Cranston Howe, Of the 4th artillery and
Sergeant Kramer, with 10 men, compose the
party. At 1870 the line was deployed down
the lake opposite Capt. Jacks camp, and
crossed the intervening open space at double
quick without receiving shot. They are now
in readiness to charge on the bluffs when the
mortars have done their work. The mortars
have arrived on the ground and taken position
All was quiet until $3.50 when sudden and
heavy volley ratified along Col. Mason's line
and continued several minutes. Just previous
tb;s mo, e;pnolod thot M ono had henn