The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-05-03
THE MoDoc WAR.
ANoTHER BLoopY BATTLE

ANOTHER BLOODY BATTLE.
LAVA BEDS, April ga reconnoiter-
ing party, composed of Batteries X and
A, Fourth Artillery, and Company Il,
Twelfth Infantry, left camp at 7;3O o'clock
this morning, proceeding in direction
known to lead to the present stronghold Of
the ModOcs, Captain Evan Thomas, Of the
Fourth Artillery, being in command. A
dozen or so Warm Spring Indians were
expected to cooperate on Captain Thomas
left
The troops having formed line, Skin
mishers advanced without molestation I'M
til they arrived at the foot Of the bluff
south Of the lava beds, having meanwhile
signalled the camp that no Indians were
TO be found.
On reaching the bluff the Modocs open.
ed severe fire, causing the troops to seek
such shelter as they could find in the crew
ices, chasms, &c. As usual, the foe was
unseen.
The first position soon became untena.
BILE, owing TO the fact that the Indians
were able to deliver both cross fire and
an enflading fire, and the troops were so
exposed that up to the present writing G.
p. NJ. } only two of the wounded could
reach the camp out of nine wounded.
Lieutentant Wright, of the Twelfth Infan-
try, had sought shelter in crevice which
was particularly open to the Modoc fire.
Grave doubts exist as to his ultimate
safety.
As soon as information was received at
headquarters relative to the peril of the
party, troops were at once pushed forward
to their rescue. -Four companies were
ordered out, two of cavalry, from this
camp, and two from Colonel Mason's.
Stretchers for the conveyance Of the woun-
ded were forwarded, but the latter are
now returning without having achieved
the object for which they were intended.
Poor fellows bitter cold night at
least is before them. 1t is barely possible
that some of them no longer heed cold or
heat. Their comrades, who from cause
are now coming to camp show plainly by
their demeanor the heartfelt sorrow they
feel for them, but are powerless in the
matter.
LATER-Another tale of horror comes
from the lava beds, not less distressing
than the murder of General Candy, and
vastly more humiliating. Three compa-
MES of United States troops (probably
one hundred and fifty men in ALL went ont
to look for the sixty Modoc warriors, who
still remain in their inaccessible strong
hold They were attacked by the sayages
with such fury that all who did not run
away were killed. Twenty-four men were
left dead among the rocks, and fourteen of
the wounded managed to escape and get
back to camp. Five are still missing.
The officers seem to have behaved with
great gallantry. Three of them died like
brave men, and fourth was carried off
| the field badly wounded. II is not known
that any of the Modocs were killed in this
encounter, although the friendly Indians
cooperating with the United States troops
are reported to have taken four scalps in
another skirmish The Modocs are armed
with repeating rifles, and, being expert
marksmen, they lie quietly in ambush un-
til the soldiers come within range, and then
shoot with as much deliberation and safety
as if they were stalking game They in
variably aim for the officers first, and gen.
orally bring them down. There is then a
panic, and the surviving soldiers start for
their camps with all possible dispatch
; When they have gone the warriors come
out from their concealment, scalp the dead
aud dying, and mutilate their bodies in
the traditional Indian style. The officers
killed in the late massacre we're Captain
Thomas, of the Fourth United States Ar
tillery, son of General Lorenzo Thomas,
formerly Adjutant General of the Army
Lieutenant Howe, son of Major Marshal
Howe, on the retired list, and a son-in-law
Of General Barry, the commandant at
Fortress Monroe Lieutenant Wright. of
the Twelfth Infantry, son of the late Major
General George Wright, and nephew of
,ho lato Canarol c,,,,,o- ;.,ta,.. !.