The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-05-05
The MOdOc War.
rne rIr,t rnres payn FIghlIng.

AAAN
The advance of ourtroops commenced
on Tuesday, and before night they had
gained n position within two hundred
aud fifty yards Of the Indian camp, after
feeling their way cautiously along and
capturing ridge after ridge, A CORES.
pendent, who was with the advance,
gives u graphic description of the fight.
ing, andhis story will serve to show how
great must be the difficulties in the way
Of the troops in that wild and almost
impossible country, where n days tramp
will destroy an ordinary pair Of shoes.
Tho infantry and artillery moved at
daybreak on the morning of Tuesday,
the fifteenth, and were followed shortly
afterward by tho cavalry. They had to
fight their way through strongholds and
ambuscAdes Of the Indians, and the nd.
vance was cautiously and slowly made,
| 10 render the situation the more irrita.
ting, the savages were everywhere be.
hind shelter, aud while some fifteen of
our own soldiers fell on the way, dead
or wounded, scarcely single effective
shot could be brought to bear on the
enemy,
After the troops had gained position
near enough to the camp or cave Of the
Indians, the guns were put in position
and the work Of Smelling commenced.
This was kept up during the night of
Tuesday, to the disgust of the Modocs,
who evidently did not relish so one.
sided an entertainment. A shell was
thrown into the midst of fire during
the night, occasioning a scattering and
n yelling which seemed to indicate that
the visitor had done some damage to
the council gathered around the flames
On Wednesday further advance was
ordered. md It being discovered that
the Indians were making excursions
to the lake to which they had access, n
junction was effected with Colonel Ma.
sons forces, thus cutting of the supply
of water. This advantage was not
secured without some desperate fight
ing, and although dispatches do not
seem very clear on the head it would
appear that some Of the band had then
managed to break their why through
and get on the flank and rear Of Mason's
camp. Several attacks were made on
our line, but without apparent success,
only small body OF men, who had nd.
vanced SO far as to be in danger from
our own shells, having been compelled
to fall back from their position. Dur.
ing the whole time the Smelling was
kept up on the cave and its vicinity,
and when it is remembered that the
squaws and pappooses were in these
businesses, and that they were wholly
cut of from their water supply, it can
easily be seen that tlleirsufieringsm must
have been too great to have permitted
them to hold out forany lengthof time.
On Wednesday night, therefore, It
seemed MS il the end was near, and rs II
the savages were doomed to pay the full
penalty OF their crimes,
On Thursday the situation was
changed. The Indians had fled to the
hills and were beyond the reach Of our
arms, all except few Of the band md
n single leader, Scar.iaced Charley,
whose sealps were poor compensation
for the escape of the murderous Chief,
Captain Jack, and his associates.
Either the force sent to complete the
work Of vengeance must have been toe
small or it must have been handled in
an inefficient manner, According to
the statements heretofore received the
women and children of the band were
in the cave held by Captain Jack and
his warriors, and yet we arc told it is
now deserted, leaving the inference that
not the men only, but the squaws md
papooses, were enabled to escape from
the tolls which We have been assured
we're being drawn so carefully, so effect.
ually and with such deadly certainty
around them. Even in the report that
tho cavalry were about to be dispatched
in pursuit of the flying wretches VT
seem to recognize the same inefliciency
Let us hope that the cavalry pursuit
may be effective, and that tho innocent
inhabitants may not fall victims to mill
tary incompctcncy.-M Y. Herald.