Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-05-01
H MODOC WAR.
Battle of the Lava ~Beds-Capt. JAG.
Forced from his SfronghoId.

IHE MODUC WAR; h
Battle of the Lava ~BedsLCapt. Jack
Forced from his Stronghold.
A dispatch dated Headquarters Modoc Ex-
pedition, Camp South of Tule Lake, April 16,
gives the following account of the way in
which the Modocs were forced out of the lava
beds:
The day opened warm and still, but was ush-
cred in by a roar of musketry and occasional
booming of howitzers. Gen. Gillem, who had
been waiting for the arrival of his stores and
the Warm Spring Indians, issued orders yes
terday for the tents to be struck down In a
compact place near the hospital, for the troops
to be supplied with three days rations and 100
rounds of ammunition Next, for the cavalry
to be ready to move at 2 a. m. to-day, and for
Col. Mason, on the opposite side of the lava
bed, to move at the same hour on the enemy.
Col. Perry's and Lieut.. Cressan's cavalry were
to conceal themselves until joined in the morn
ing by the infantry and artillery. 1t was hoped
when the latter companies left camp that the
Modocs would observe them, and, in IN attempt
to cut them off, fall into the hands of the cav
airy. These movements were faithfully exc
cuted, and probably hurried a little on our side
by the escape of Long Jim, a Modoc, who was
under guard a prisoner of war. At midnight
he leaped past the guard and escaped, though
many shots were fred at him.
At daylight we had an irregular fusilade on
the opposite side of the lava bed, and we knew
that Col. Mason's forces or his skirmishers-
were engaged. At 6 we heard the boom of a
howitzer and saw shells bursting over Capt.
1882 As NAS
swarming with Indians, and the firing was
rapid. The plan of battle was from the north
side. Col. Mason was in advance of his COM
mand on the right of Warm Spring, the In
dams on his left. From this side there was
only the lake for the Modocs to escape by.
Lieut.. CREEPY was in camp in charge of the
arms and ammunitions. Capt. Trimble, First
Artillery, with twenty men, was left in charge
of the camp on this side. Col. Green, at z
o'clock a. M, united with Col. Perry's COM
pany. In about an hour and a half after leay-
49, $1,000 49, Ill $1,000 I11.11 -~o-oIsN~
along the lake shore, just at the head of a
long cave, about a mile and q half from Jacks
camp, they encountered the first opposition,
with struggling shots from the bluff, at long
range. a.s-- -a =
The men deployed in open skirmish order,
and advanced slowly under such cover as. the
rocks afforded. Our right gorge opened on
the bluff, from the right bank of which came
struggling shots, while a few fell around us
from the left point. Our skirmishers crept up,
supported by reserves, until we arrived within
short range, when a severe yoley was fired
from the bluffs, evidently there being twenty
five or thirty Indians posted there. The fire
was heavy. After standing about fifteen min
utes, the order to charge was given, and the
men sprang forward amid the most deafening
yells from the Modocs. Such was the rapid
ity of the onslaught, and SO unexpected, the
troops we're on them before they knew it. and
in a few minutes were masters of the situation,
and our brave boys behind the rocks resting
at their leisure. Gen. Gillem had sent an
order to Col. Mason to stir them up onhis side,
and he let into them with a vengence, distract
ing their attention materially and assisting our
troops. Th charge was a gallant one.
At Up. M. the order was given to advance
the mortars. Maj. Thomas is in
Lieut.. Cranston Howe, Fourth Artillery,
Sergeant Ramer, and nineteen men composed
the party, as gallant a set as ever handled
guns. At half-past 4 the line deployed down
the lake opposite Jacks camp, and crossed the
intervening open space at double-quick with
out receiving a shot. They are now in readi-
ness to charge on the Bluffs when the mortars
have done their work. The mortars arrived
on the ground, and took position. All quiet
until $3.50, when. a sudden and heavy yoiley
rolled along Mason'sline, and continued several
minutes. Maj. Thomas dropped shells directly
into it, provoking frantic w~ar-whoops. There
was. a sudden extinguishing of the fire. An
other shell dropped in the same locality, and
was followed by yells of pain and dismay. The
Modocs then appeared and challenged the sol
diers to come out and fight. Another shell
was the answer, and they were driven back.
Ar 9o'clock Col. Gillem's command moved
forward from the position gained on Tuesday,
and soon occupied the ridge next to Jacks
camp. Col. Mason then moved right forward
as rapidly as possible, to form a junction with
Gillem's left, cutting off the Modocs from the
lake, and from their only source of water sup
ply. The junction was effected at noon. At
2 T. M. the mortars were throwing shells in
excellent range. Col. Green fell behind the
ledge, awaiting the Modocs, should the shells
drive them out. After firing they replied
through yells, which we're frequent. On the
uICn shell L06r6 came q raklQR IRE anu bue0I
of flame. A sma1 party of men sprang out of
the chasm and came into the lines amid a
shower of bullets. The falling back was
caused by the Modocs thanking and opening a
cross fire. Col. Miller, in attempting to form
a junction with the Warm Spring Indians,
missed them. AS he swung down in the great
chasm, the Modocs sprang up and cut him off,
with thirteen men. Miller fortified himself,
when they fought fortheir lives until the NOR
tars opened.
The Indians withstood the fire until 4 p. n.
When the shells began falling in their midst
they took cover, dashing across the ledge,
losing two men and one wounded. The line
reformed and held around the Modocs. Mason
signaled that the Modocs on the left fiankwere
trying to get out.
Costello says the blaze of musketry firing
along the lake shore about the time of his de-
parture last night was terrible and grand, He
believes the Modocs madeTa strong effort to
escape by the lake or to get water, but we're
completely routed. From the appearance
of the firing and the length of it's
continuance, the Indians were certainly dis
heartened. He watched them will a glass at
long range at different times during the days
fight. They were running from one point to
another, with no apparent strategic move,
seemingly bewildered by the advance of our
forces.
It is learned that we have "a casualties-5
killed and 10 wounded; some slightly.