, 1873-04-24


has been III progress from early morn
ing. Our troops aided by the Warm
Spring Indian Allies, have driven the
Modocs from every position. The cave
in the lava bed and the Indians were
nearly surrounded at 600 p. NJ. The
,nortars are in position and throwing
shells into the Indian camp. But SIX OF
our men have been wounded so far as
heard from, in the days fight.
YREKA, April 16.-Mr. Gage, who left
the lava beds last evening at dark and
arrived here this forenoon, having ro e
on horse 20 miles, brought pretty full
reports of yesterdays fight.
We quote from the Journals extra ::
The soldiers moved up night before last
and commenced closing in early next
morning. The Warm Spring Indians
are working around generally.
The battle was opened by Col. Bern
ard on the opposite side. The Indians
fought the troops on all sides, which i'll
tlicates that there are great many more
indians than have been heretofore re-
ported. Some shells were thrown INTO
Jack $ camp, in the vicinity Of the lake
in the afternoon yesterday, and the fight
was to be resuRed i'll closer quarters to-
day, with prospect of to-days fighting
deciding the result, or, it may probably
continue tomorrow. II is asserted that
had it not been for the acquisition of
the Warm Spring Indians the soldiers
would have got the worst of it yester-
day.
Losses were not known when our in
formant left, bnt are believed to be very
light, as the fight had not reached very
close quarters, except at one point where
the NIodocs were driven off by the
troops.
From Mr.. Manning, who arrived this
evening, having rode his mule through
since six o'clock this morning, We learn
additional facts Mortar firing was COM
menced at five o'clock and kept up at
intervals all night.
The soldiers were very enthusiastic.
They held all the ground as they gained
it yesterday, charging from ohe eleva-
ton to another the Indians giving way
before their advance. Not a man seem
ed in the least disposed to shirk his
duty. They were provided with over
coats, blankets. three days rations and
100 rounds of ammunition each.
While companies F, and K, of the 1st
cavalry were capturing the bluff on the
left they lost two killed, johnson and
Searls, and one severely wounded.
The howitzers had the range ofJack' S
stronghold and the shells were thought
to have had very demoralising effect
on the Modocs. When night closed
yesterdays fighting our troops held the
ground to within three hundred yards
OF the enemy's strongest position and
fighting is to be resumed at Z O'Clock
this morning. 1t is impossible to come
at the Indian loss as yet, some are
known to have been killed.
Mr.. Meachan is improving and COM
Portable. His wife arrived from Salem
last night and departed this morning TO
join him.
LAVA BED, Cal. 800 P. NJ, April
16. During the night our troops held
the same position occupied at sunset.
Yesterday evening a hotly contested
fight took place on Col. Green's left.
This morning the Indians endeavored
to get to the lake for water but our
troops succeeded in keeping them away.
A dispatch was received from Mason's
camp at 7b0 A. N. saying that some
Modocs had passed ont on his left and
were on his flank and rear. During the
night the mortars under command of
Major Thomas, kept up lively fire on
the Modocs which kept them very much
amazed. The Indians could be heard
yelling and shouting at an awful rate at
900 O'Clock this morning.
The troops under Col. Green were
ordered to move forward from the posi-
tiou they had held during the night The
whole line started with cheer and be.
fore 1000 A. NJ, had reached the top of
the ridge next to Jacks camp, which
was so hotly contested yesterday, and
which had heen nearly d serted to-day.
Whenever the men had gained this po-
sition cheers could be heard along the
whole line. Orders were then given to
sweep the lava beds, and dispatch was
sent by signal to Brainard ordering him,
IN case the Modoes got out on Col Ma
sons left, to pursue them Immediately
with cavalry and give them no rest.
1000 A. M.-Our troops have gained
considerable ground and firing is be-
coming more frequent. The. general
impression is that the lava bed is ours
Orders have been given for Col. Ma
son to move his right forward as rapid
ly as possible and join Col. Green's left
This will cut the Modocs off from water
From ten to eleven o'clock there was
considerable firing from the south TO the
lake, and only part of the .Iodoc's could
Lave got out on Mason's left, as the In
t1ians can be heard in the vicinity Of
Jacks cave. The mortars, which have
ceased since daylight, have been ordered
to new position within eight hundred
yards of the cave and near the water OF