The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-24
to retreat to their stronghold but not before they
had wounded three Of the cavalry.


First cavalry. Captain Perry, troop. 40
First cavalry ........ Captain Jackson troop. az
FIRST cavalry ...Captain Bernard = troop q.
Twenty first infantry Lieut.. ROSS, i company. 3s
Twenty first infantry Capt. Burton, G company. 81
Oregon volunteers. :. Captain o. APPLICABLE A
oregon volunteers. Captain Kelly, company 40
California volunteers. Captain Fairchid.... rs
Indian scouts. ..Dave Hll... 20
Total. ... 400
There was also O section OF mountain howtzers
under the charge Of Lieutenant Miller, OF the First
cavalry. The troops on the west side moved down
the precipiteus bluff from their camping ground in
the direction OF the lava BEDS Colonel Mason's
battalion Of the Twenty first infantry, leading,
followed by Captain Falrchila's California rinemen,
General Ross two companies OF Oregon volunteers,
the h0wtzer section, packed on mules, under the
command OF Lieutenant w. II. Miller, OF the First
cavalry, and Brevet Colonel D. Perrys troop OF the
First cavalry bringing up the rear. The morning
was damp and cold, and
THE LAVA BEDS
were nearly obscured from sight by dense fog
which, however, only hung over that section and
did not rise to the bur which the troops had just
left. The troops on the east side, commanded by
Brevet Colonel r. d. Bernard, OF the First
cavalry, comprising his Troop G, and Brevet
Major James Jackson's Troop B, First
cavalry, with twenty Klamath Indian scouts,
commanded by Dave Hill, simultaneously
advanced from the position they had taken the
previous evening, two miles from Captain Jacks
stronghold. On account OF the deep chasm and
gorge In his front Colonel Bernard was unable to
advance further than the position he had reached
by severe diminishing on the evening of the 10th.
THE ADVANCE, ATTACK AND MANAGEMENT OF THE
TROOPS
were conducted by Major John Green, First cav
airy, Brevet Colonel United States Army, and the
district commander, Brevet Major General Frank
Wheaton, Lieutenant Colonel OF Twenty-irst In
fantry, accompanied the troops, operating on
the west side. This force had moved forward from
the base OF the bluffs, with Captain Burton's COM
pany OF the Twenty-nrst infantry ahead In Skin
mishng order. Upon the arrival OF the troops at
the lake o rush was made for water, as the
men were naturally thirsty, having passed the
night at dry camp. The advance was then re-
sumed across this rugged country, and it was with
the greatest difficulty the men were kept in line,
as the unnatural Irregularities OF the volcanic
rock formed nearly nsurmountable obstacles TO
their progress. The line was now being deployed
to the right, with Colonel Perry on the extreme
right, stretching into the heart Of this fastness
about q mile and a hall, while Captain Burton
moved with his company on the extreme left, sup
ported by Lieutenant Moore and his command on
his right. The oregon and Californian volunteers
spread cut the line between the extreme points
and kept a steady advance, although the nature OF
the ground kept an irregularity In the lace OF the
line.
THE PLAN OF TuEArTAcX
was to keep deploying in half wheel to the right
until Colonel Perry shoald connect with Colonel
Bernard, who was adopting similar tactics, but
moving from the left Tkc fog still hung low and
shrouded the mysteries OF this craggy fastness
from these daring explorers, though the frequent
crack OF rine followed by an unearthy war
whoop denoted some fresh victim to the unerring
craftsmanship OF these dusky warriors. 1t was
impossible FOR men to do more than both the
soldiers and the volunteers did on this occasion,
and although every now and then there would be
vacancy in the muster roll, and some gallant soul
would fall by the bullet OF an unseen foe, another
brave heart wsuld Ill up the gap and press on
with the steadiness Of q disciplined soldier. In
vain the troops looked high and low for some
Indian sign, and although the fog would rise every
now and then, not an indian showed as much as
the top OF his head feathers. About noon CAPTAIN
Perry, on the extreme right, arrived at
AN IMPAssABLE CuAsM,
at least 1t was impossible without fearful sacri-
fee OF life. Captain Perry sent back to the dis
trict commander that IL would be impossible for
him to connect with Colonel Bernard by the right
except by an immense loss OF life, and added that
n necessary he would carry the chasm, bat be did
not expect to take ten men across. General whea-
ton then came to the conclusion that II the pro-
posed connection could not DC made they might as
well retire and wait for few days, and conse-
quently issued orders to that effect but gave
Major Green discretionary power to push for.
ward and connect by the left If he deemed 1t feasi
BILE. Major Green then ordered
PLANK MOVEMENT By THE LEFT,
and, skirting along the lake under the shadow of
some craggy strata Of volcanic rock, in the
possession OF the enemy, they finally made
'ne desired connection, but not before the
gaining nro to which they had been SUBJ
]essea eaa telRRed taiE ranks cQpsidaraalY.