The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-04-30
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
Another Massacre by the Modocs.
THE UNITED STATES TROOPS FALL
INTO A TRAP. .
A COMPLETE AND TERRIBLE
SURPRISE. i. ~.
PROMINENT OFFICERS KILLED.
Very Few of the Men Escape.
Especial telegram to the Dtsnatch

I HI
WAsHlsGToS, April 29.-The serious news
OF the defeat of our armies by the Modoc
warriors created Il sensation here hardly less
Intense than that contained in the reports
which came two weeks ago of the murder of
General Candy. The War Department was
without official adviceS up to a late hour this
evening, though General Sherman and his
aids are in momeutary expectation of official
reports from General schofield. "
The officers reported among the killed are
all we'll known here, and the query for cor
roDorative statements to those contained in
the first reports has been very geneui du-
ring the afternoon and evening.
Captain Thomas, who was killed, was a
son of eX-Adjutant-General Thomas, promi-
nently known as dd interim Thomas, by rea-
son Of his appointment by President john
son as Secretary of War during the Stanton
regime.
General Sherman now believes general
Indian war to be very probable. There are
no official advices giving any account Of the
Modoc loss, but it is believed from the tenor
of reports at hand 10 have been compare
lively trifling. TMoN.
Associated Press telcgramsl
SAN FRANCIsco. April pa courier just
arrived at Yrcka reports that n battle has
taken pls,ce between the United States troops
and the Nodocs.
Nineteen Federal soldiers were killed. in-
cludir,g Captain Thomas and Licutenants
Howe and Wright. TweDty-three were
wou nded, including Lieutenant Harris.
Ott,ers are missing.
s,AS Francisco. April 29.-A dispatch
from the lava-bcds says reconnoitring
p lrty Of artillery and infantry proceeded in
T he direction of the present Modoc strong
hold. Captain Thomas was commanding.
A dozen Warm Spring Indians were cX-
pected to cooperate with the party. On
reaching the bluff the Modoc fire. was so
heavy that it drove the troops to shelter. As
usual the foe was unseen. The Indians de-
livered cross and entiladlng tire. Two
wounded soldiers reached the camp, when
four companies were sent to the rescue.
They carried stretchcrs for the wounded,
but could not reach them.
a later dispatch from Colonel Green re-
ports the surprise WAS complete and terrible.
Lieutenant CranSton. of the Fourth artil.
lerv, is missing.
The killed and wounded have been COL
lected, and are waiting conveyance TO camp.
Sixteen were killed, including Captain
Thomas, Lieutenant Howe, Lieutenant
Wright, and eight additional wounded.
The Modocs had spencer and Drecch-oading
rifles. Some are kIown to lave had two or
more rifles. The Indians numbered twenty :
one. When the soldiers took refuge III The
hollow every. egreSS was commanded b.; the
Indians, and the soldiers could not show :.
head or Il hand without certainly being
wounded. Very few escaped; the, rest were
either killed or wounded.
The number of killed AMI wounded of
the Alodocs is unknown. Captain May SAYS
that his Warm Spring Indians took their
scalps.
Colonel Green, WrD went out with rein
forcementS, is NOM '.ntari!y expected. It is
difficult to recognize the dead but by arti-
Giles of dress. ncir llneamcnts arc horribly
delaced. Eight men were buried on the
field unrccogniZed. Lieutenant Cradston,
of Battery y, and tour men are still missing.
The recop.noitring force consisted of Bat
terics h and A, Fourth artillery, and Com
pany E, Of the Twelfth infantry. r.
THE OFFICERS KILLED.
WAsHrSGToS, April 29.-Captain Thomas
was a son Of the late Adjutant-Gencral Lo-
renzo Thomas. Lieutenant Howe was the
son-in-law of General Barry, commanding
the artllery-SCho Mt Fortress Monroe.
Lieutenant Harris was the son OF Phila-
de,Dhia merchant. Lieutenant Wright was