St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-04-18
St. ,Sohnsburp CALIFORNIAN.
The Murderous Modocs.

After lengthy and patient negotia-
tons with the remnant of MOdoc In
dams, a crisis has been reached, and
that tragic one. \ full account of the
murder of Gen. Candy and Rev. DR..
Thomas. will he found i'll our columns
to-day.
None should blame the authorities for
this event Gen Candy. on the ground.
managed the negotiations as he thought
best. He was a prudent officer and
conversant with the Indian character.
No doubt he may have apprehended
danger as the result of the protracted
negotiations, and the evaSive conduct
of Capt. Jack-the leader of the Modes.
yet was aware of the importance of Sc
curing peace without resort to arms.
Capt. Jack has only about fifty follow
ers with him. With this small force he
resisted an attack of 400 or 500 of our
troops not more than two months ago,
killing a dozen or more. and wOunding
many others, without the loss of a man
on his part. With such success the
Indians would feel strong, and doubt
less self-contidemt of success. And it is
equally apparent that Gen. Candy re-
luctated greatly when the question
arose of a second attack with additional
force. The Indians fight from coverts.
and where they cannot he seen. while
the assailing force is exposed to the alI;'
of their repeating rifles. If driven the
foe has a sure retreat in the Businesses
and caves of his mountain home. 1t l.
true they can I've beaten, but only 10y Il
large sacrifice of life. and hence the
anxiety of our officers in command to
secure peace without an encounter.
1t is war now, and war to the knife,
upon the treacherOus foe. Orders have
gone forth from Washington to intiict
merited chastisement upon the muir
derous and treacberous enemy. Gen.
Candy was loved by his soldiers. With
a chance to reach the enemy we need
not stop to guess about the blows they
will strike to avenge the blood of him
they loved and horored. They will be
deadly-cruelly deadly.
These fifty Modoc Indians are frag-
nent of tribe with which our Govern
ment had treated, and who had gone
Oh to a reservation. but these, under a
petty or a self-cOnStituted chief. known
as Capt. Jack. refused to abide by the
terms of the treaty, and retired to their
retreat, from whence they have issued,
murder people in the lower sections of
the state of Oregon. The point of diff
ficulty in treating with them, was their
fear that those of them who had been
guilty of crime should be delivered up
to the state of Oregon for punishment.
The United States Government hesita
ted to guarantee them immunity there
for, while the people of Oregon de-
mandpd that the murderers should be
punished. The question is a delicate
one, involving the reserved rights of
states.
The sad circumstance may he disas
trOus to the Indian, but with level
heads at the seat of command, we shall
expect to see all turbulent Indians
treated with decided severity as Gen.
Sheridan would do it-but pcaceahle
savages will he protected i'll their rights.
Humanity and honor demand this.
In referring to the disaster to our
army, III the first attack upon the
MOdOcs, we omitted to mention an i'm
portant reason why the savages suffered
no loss, that in the uneven surface of
the lava beds they lay close and cover
ed, and are so much of the color of the
lava our soldiers could not discern them.
The military men will have their own
way, but it is apparent that unless this
mere handful of Indians can be sur
rounded, or driven from their coverts.
they will hold their position somewhat
according to their own option.
The order of Gen. Sherman to Gen.
Gillem, in immediate command of the
attacking force. breathes the spirit of
determination. 1t is as follows:
WAsHINGToN, April II.
To Gen. GiUem, MOdOc Camp:
Your dispatch announcing the terrible
loss to the country of Gen. Candy. by
the pertidy of the Modoc band of In
dians, has been shown to the President
who authorizes me to instruct you to
make the attack so strong and persist
ent that their fate may he cOmmensu-
rate with their crime. You will be
fully justified in the utter determination
W. +. SHERMAN, General.
Gen J. c. Davis, of Indiana, has been
designated by the War Department to
take Gen. Canby's position, and ordered
to proceed forthwith to Oregon, and
take command of the military force.
there.
q The papers are advertising a maj
who is about the country soliciting sub
scriptions for the Christian Union, anC
pocketing the money he collects. Thi
is not all. He assumes the name o
Benjamin Butler. This is certainly ap
propriate, and is no SANDER upon tn
Congressional Ben. He advocated
voted for, and took the back pay steal
1t is not very creditahle in the news