New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-30
THE MODOC WAR.

BARBAROUs BUTCHERY BY THE MoDoCs-GAI-
ANT CONDUCT OF CAPT, THOMAS
LAVA BEDS, April pa accommodating party,
| composed Of Batteries and A, 4th Artillery, and
Company L, 18th Infantry left camp at 7:S0 o'clock
this morning, proceeding in direction known to
lead to to the present stronghold Of the Modocs,
| Capt e. Thomas of the 4th Artillery being in com
mand. dozen or so Warm Spring Indians were
expected to cooperate on Capt. Thomas's left. The
troops, having formed a line Of shirnishers ad-
vanced without moestation until they arrived at
the foot of the bluff south of the Lava Bed, having
meanwhile signaled to the camp that no Indians
were to be found On reaching the bluff the Modocs
opened severe fire. causing the troops to seek such
shelter az they could find in the crevices, chasms,
| &c. As usual the foe unseen. The first posi-
ton soon became untenable owing to the fact that
the Indians were able to deliver both a cross
and an enfladng fire, and the position of tho
troops was 80 exposed that up to the present writ
ing n o'clock D. M only two of the wounded could
| reach camp out of nine wounded Lieut.. Wright
Of the 18th Infantry had sought shelter in crevice
| which particularly open to the MOdoc fire.
Grave doubts exist as to the ultimate safety of the
wounded. AS soon as information was received at
Headquarters of the peril of the party troops
at once pushed forward to their rescue. Four com
panies were ordered out-two of cavalry from the
were sent out to bring in the wounded, but have
| been brought back there being chance of using
them. The wounded will unhappily remain ex-
posed during bitter cold night, and it is feared
| many will not survive until morning Their com
rades not returning to camp show plainly by their
demeanor the heartfelt sorrow they feel for them,
but are powerless in the matter
LAVA BEDS, April 1850 a ma dis
patch received from Col. Green, LIST Cavalry,
who went out with reenforcements yesterday morn
ing shows the surprise TO have been much more
complete and more terribly fatal than was at first
supposed. The dispatch states that Capt. Thomas
and Lieut.. A. X. Howe 4th Artillery, were killed;
Lieut.. Harris, 4th Artillery is badly and perhaps
MORALLY wounded, and Lieut. Cranston. 4th Artil-
lery is missing. full list OF the killed and wound
ed cannot now be obtained, but it is known that
privates Ward of Battery X and Parker and Gallons
of Battery A, were killed Private Boyle Of Com
pany E, 18th Infantry. and one other man of the
same company missing. Ii il supposed that the
Modocs burned the bodies of the two latter. In
addition, the names of First Sergeant Roomer of
Battery A, and private John Higgins of Battery X,
4th Artillery, are given as badly wounded. Matt.
Murphy of Company +, 18th Infantry; James Noble
and Charles Cuff of Battery A, 4th Artillery, are
slightly wounded. Acting Assistant Surgeon b.
Semig was wounded in two places while attending
the wounded.
LAVA BEDS April 27-5 p. m.-From q second dis
patch sent by Col Green, 1T appears that there are
now collected and waiting conveyance to camp the
bodies of 16 men killed including Capt Thomas,
Lieut. Howe of the 4th Artillery, Lieut.. Wright of
the 18th Infantry, and eight wounded men, nclud-
ing Lieut.. Harris of the 4th Artillery. The number
of killed and wounded shows remarkably largo
percentage of casualties to the small number OF men
engaged Some 90 or 81 Modocs are armed with
Spencer carbines and breech-loading muskets. In
more than one instance a Modoc has been known to
have two OF more Spencer rifles enabling him to
keep up a rapid fire from his natural OF artificial
breastwork Of rock. The surface of the ground in
many places is torn up by volcanic actions, which
form crevces and these adaptableto the purposes
of either hiding or for points OF defense. In several
instances the soldiers, knowing nothing of the to-
Biography, have come unawares on such assures,
and before they could escape confronted with
willy Indian rifle leveled and finger on the trigger.
Death or at least dangerous wound, Is the result.
Too often the cowardly redskins escape by paths
known only to themselves. Their treachery and
cunning may be judged from one incident. por-
ton of Batteries and H. 4th Artillery and Company
f, 18th Infantry, finding themselves in danger Of
being OutAanked, took shelter in hollow place
affording partial shelter. No sooner had they done
So than the Indians, who knew and commanded
every egress from the cavity at that point number
ing 81 warriors, detached of their number on
one side, and IA remaining on the other, and then
opened cross fire on the poor fellows who could
not show head or hand without certainly be-
ing struck. Very few escaped injury the rest
were either killed OF wounded. 1G is i'm
possible to ascertain the numbei of Modocs killed
and wounded. Yesterday Capt. Mckay reported
that his Warm Spring Indians had taken four
scalps. This may be the whole or 1t may be only a
portion of the killed, the Modocs being very careful
to destroy far possible all traces of their casu
alties carrying their wounded into caves and burn
ing the dead bodies. Their wounded are supposed
TO be hidden in caves but few of them have been
seen so far.
Justice 10 the memory of the gallant dead COM
pels the record OF the following well-authentcated
facts When Capt. Thomas found himself and his
men surrounded by his vindictive foe, true to his
nature as a soldier he sought to cheer the soldiers
on to the bitter end, obtain If possible life Tor me-
and sell their lives dearly, saying, Men, we are
surrounded. We must fight and die like men and
soldiers"
In his noble efforts to sustain the courage Of his
small command Capt. Thomas was ably seconded
by Lieut. Howe and Lieut. Wright. After recelY-
ing the mortal wound, he buried his gold watch ana
chain among the rocks and emptied his revolver
among the enemy before dying. Lieut.. Harms, VINO
was similarly situated as Capt. Thomas, with por-
ton of his Battery X 4th Artillery set an example
of bravery and determination to his men, utterlng
some such sentiment that already quoted not
that it required such expressions 10 stimulate the
men to deeds of bravery. for every man would will
lingy have followed either officer wherever he chose
to lead.
Lava BEDS, April 1850 p. m.-The reinforce
ments sent out under Col. Green, together
.,;.h ba killad and wounded are expected