Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-04-24
The rIodoc Trouble.

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The MOdOc Trouble.
THE PEACE COMMISSION ABOLISHED.
WASHINGTON, April IS.
Indian commissioner Edward p. Smith
to-day telegraphed Commissioner Dyer
as follows
Commission discontinued. Advise
commissioners Meacham and Rosen-
burgh."
AN ACTION WITH THE MODoC5.
HEADQUARTERS MoDoC ExPEDITIoN,)
CAMP SOUTH OF TULE LAKE,
April 18th, 1873.
The day opened warm and still, but
was ushered in by the roar of musketry
and the occasional booming of howitzers.
Colonel MasOn's camp was at Hospital
Rock, on the north side of Captain
Jacks position and directly under that
famous stronghold.
ORDERS TO MOVE.
Gen. Gillem, who had been waiting
for the arrival of his stores and the
Warm Spring Indians, issued orders yes
terday for tents to be struck and drawn
compact in a place near Hospital Rock
for the troops to be supplied with three
DAYS rations and one hundred rounds of
ammunition; for the cavalry to be ready
to move at two a. IN. to-day and for
Col. Mason, on the opposite side of the
lava bed, to move at the same hour on
the enemy.
DISPOSITION OF THE FORCE.
Col. Perry and Lieut.. Cressan, with
cavalry, were to move from a point be-
yond the main cave and conceal them
selves until joined ia the morning by in
fantry and artillery. 1t was hoped that
when the latter companies LETT camp,
the Modocs would observe them and, in
an attempt to cut them off. fall into the
hands of the cavalry.
DARING ESCAPE.
These movements were faithfully e-z-
executed, probably hurried a little on
eur side by the escape of Long Jim. a
Modoc, who was under guard as a pris-
oner of war. At midnight hf. leaned
past the guard and escaped, though
many shots were fired at him.
sI-IEMIsHIXG.
At daylight we heard an irregular
fusilade on the opposite of the lava bed.
and knew that Col. Mason's forces or his
skirmishers were at work.
NgsIC To OUR EARS.
At six o'clock we heard the boom of
the howitzers and saw shell bursting
over Captain Jacks camp. At the time
the rocks were swarming with Indians
and the firing was rapid.
The plan of battle was from the north
side. Col. Mason was to advance his
command in the night. the Warm Spring
Indians on his left circling up along the
ledge to unite with the right of the
troops from this side, leaving only the
lake for the Modocs to escape by.
Lieut.. Geery was in camp in charge
of the arms and ammunition. Can't.
Trumble of the LIST Artillery, with TWEEN
ty men, was left in charge of the camp
on this side. Col. Green. at : a. m.
united with Col. Perry's command. in
about an hour and half after leaving
camp, and soon
THE BALL OPENED.
Captain Miller, Company E, of the 18th
Infantry, commanding the battalion. |
his company being commanded by Lieut..
Leary, had the extreme right. Next TO |
him were Capt. Throclmorton, Battery /
M, Fourth artillery, and Lieut.. Harris. /
Battery K, Fourth artillery Captain
Egan's Company G, and Capt. Wright's
Company E, both of the Twelfth In
fantry, formed the centre. The cavalry
were on the extreme left.
MEETING THE FOE.
While marching along the lake shoI~
just at the head of Long Cave, a.
mile from Jacks camp, the o'' d
countered the first opn~ .;,,o. noop s. en-
Cling shots were fir l'io" 9tag-
lonG ranoa n 81 from the bluff at
80 49,. -Ie men were deployed in
~ 'N'i .lsh order and advanced slowly
cn''0 such cover as the rocks afforded
ar right opened on a gorge in the
oluff, from the right bank of which
there came struggling shots, while few
fell around us from the left bank.
THE WORK GETTING HOT.
o.
our skirmishers crept up, supported
by reserves, until we arrived at short
range, when severe volley was fired |
from the bluff, there evidently beinc Ok
or 80 Indians posted there The fire was
heavy. After standing about fifteen
minutes the order to charge was given.
and the men sprang forward amid the
most deafening yells from the Modocs.
GALLANT CHARGE.
Such was therapidity of the onslaught
and so unexpected, that the troops were
On them before they knew it. and.in q
rev minutes were masters of the sltua-
ion, and our brave boys were behind the
rock resting at their leisure. Gen. Gil
an had set orders to Col. Mason to stir
he Indians up on his side, and he LET
nto them with vengeance, distracting
heir attention and materially assisting
'ur troops. The charge was a gallant !
me.
PLANS AND PROSPECTS. I
Now, at 6 p. M, the mortars are
icing moved forward, as our men are 1
eady TO scale the heights. Col. Mason's j
inc has not been broken. BY tomorrow !.
We shall be with the Warm Spring In
ians and have the red fiends encircled. !
with but the lake left them to escape by.
rom appearances it would seem that