The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-05-01
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
THE MODOC WAR.
DETAILS OF THE LAST BATTLE.
HEROISM OF THE KILLED AND
WoUNDED-INDIAS BABARlTT.
LAvA-BEps, April 2G, 1878.

THE SAvAGES AND THEIR AMBUSCADE.
Some sixty or sixty-one Modocs are armed
with Spencer carbineS and breech-oading
musketS. In more than one Instance Mo-
doc has been known TO have two or more
Spencer rifles, enabling him to keep up n
rapid fire from bis natural or artificial breast
work of rock. The surface of the ground
in many places is torn up by volcanic action,
which forms creviceS, aud thee are adopta-
BILE to purposes OF either hiding or for points
Of detenre. In several instances soldiers.
knowing nothing OF the topography, have
come uUawareS on such 'fSsureS and before
they could escape were confronted by the
willy Indian with rifle lcveled and finger on
trigger. Death, or ut least dangerous
wound, is the result. Too often the cowardly
redskins escape by so many paths known
only to themselves.
A SAMPLE OF TREACHERY.
AS sample of their trcachery and cunning
may not be aniSs, l will state that a portion
of batteries a and X, Fourth artillery, and
company Z, Twelfth infantry, finding them.
selves in danger Of being outflauked, took
shelter in hollow spot alfording partial
cover. No sooner had they done so than
the Indins at this point, numbering twenty
one warriors, who knew and commanded
every cgrc>s from the cavity, detached seven
of their number on one side, fourteen re-
naming on the other. and then opened n
crcss-tirc on the poor fellows, who could not
show either head or hand without certainly
being struck. Very few escaped injury.
The rest were either killed or wounded.
1t is impossible to ascertain the number OF
Modocs killed and wounded yesterday. Cap
tain Mckay reported that his Warm Spring
Indians had t'ken four >calpS This may be
| the whole, or it may be only A portion OF
the killed. The Nodocs are very careful to
destroy. as far a. possible, all traces OF their
| casualties, carrying their wounded into the
caves and burning the dead bodies. Their
| wounded are supposed to be hidden in the
| caves; but few of them have been seen so
| lar.
| JUSTICE To TIE DEAD.
| Justice to many of its gallant dead conl-
pcls the record of the following well-authen-
ticatcd facts !: When Captain Thoma> found
hiuself and his men surrounded by his vim.
dictiYe foes, true to his nature rs Il soldier.
| he sought to cheer the soldiers on to the
bitter end, and obtain, if possible. life for
| life, and TO sell their lives dearly, saying
Men, we are surrounded. We must tight
and die like men and soldiers" In his noble
efforts to sustain the courage Of his small
command he was ably seconded by Lleute-
pant Howe and Lieutenant Wright. Alter
rccpivinga Il mortal wound he buried his gold
watch and Chain among the rocks, and emp
tied his revolver amongst the enemy before
dying.
If living. he would also write in terms o
| wcl-deserYeu praise of the conduct OF Lieu
tenant Harris, who was similarly situated a.
| Captain Thomas, with portion 0: his bat
terry Il, Fourth artillery, and set an example
| of bravery and determination TO his men
uttcrlng some such sentiments as those al
ready quoted, not that it required such eN
preSsionS to stimulate the nlcn to deeds
bravery, when every nun would wll'lnSl!
have followed either officer wherever they
chose to lead. Yet they showed the mutua
confidence existing between them. since
they were to fall. il i, a pity it had not beef
when opposed TO WorthirT foes. Yet 1t Is
mournul consolation that each, Captain
Thomas, Lieutenant Howe, and Lieutelian
| Wright, sons of soldiers, met soldiers dcatl
| in defence of the Government and laws OF th'
country.
| or the men killed or wounded il is per
l,aps sufficient to Sas they showed thcl
bravery with their blood, the former will
their lives, the latter i'll total or partial uis;l
biIity.
When the news Of the massacre reached
the camp soldiers who hid grown old ant
gray in the service wcIt like babes at the lalt
OF their officers and comrades.
A FEARFUL TRAP" SAVE QrI rEuT.'
New York, April 30.-A special from th'
| Il. rI fp lao llSf
of troops bv tue ModocS: ." 1t was Il fearfIl
trap, and the first tour shots by the Modoc
were ONLY fired to draW the troops more
directly between the Ii" of the ln..ianS oi
the right and lcit. lie rout was con.
plcte, aud, with the exception OF the olti
GERS and non.corun>>iOned officers, Il ma
10. itv of whom lay sire chcd OH the rock:
with their lfe-bluod ebbiug fast away, the
watchword was 'S0urc qui peut.' Durill.
the night Indians were creeping through the
rocks to scalp aud strip the dead"
| OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION AND FURTHER PAR
| TICrLARS.
| WasHiSGToE, Apr! 3h. General Sherman
has an oilic Gi.lEdc! t0rwai dcdtrom Gene
raj S,hotieId confirming The Iava-bed news
| Major Green, commanding on the mcs
| side Of the lava-beds, ordered Captain
! Thomas, with seventy soldiers aud fourteen
Warm Spring Indians, to reconnoiter foul
mics from camp. The party had reached
the designated point without seeing any
| Indians, and were resting when they were
fired upon. A part of the command at once
became dcmoraIized, and organization III
great measure ceased. Stragglcrs reached
raup ut haIf-past ! =. VI. General Greer
went TO Captain Thomas's assistance, and
found the atter'S command entirely dis
orsupizcd. Scattered details fully confirm
the casualties teleeraphed yesterday. Al
the officers aud part Of the men remained
together and fought like heroes, but the
Indians had secured an advantageous posi-
lion before being discovered. The remains
of the officers have been sent to lleka. me
| bodies or four warriors We're found near tht
| scene.
The Indians occupy the rocks four miles
Eelow their old position, and it will be I'M
! POSSIBLE to surround them with the iorce
| here and en- route hitler.
The above report i signed by General Gil!
| lam. General Sherman has tclcgraphed tt
President Giant and Secretary Belknap fol
advice.
| GENERAL INDIAN WAR FEARED.
| San EANCiSCo, apT'l oV.-A ulSlEatcn IRON
Yrcka says the people OF that place and Scott:
Valley are arming. learinsa general Indlar
war. The citizens in the Valley OF Oregon
above the lavu-ueds and the lakes, are moving
away with their cattle and property.
Reported Massacre by Indians In Rri.
gisil America
ToRoSTo, April 30 Information has been
received here from a source generally re