The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-16
THE MODOCS.
Another Account of the Battle ar
the 18th of December.
The Indians Laugh at the
Soldiers

correspondent OF the Oregon Herald, writing
under date OF January 20, rom the camp OF tho
Oregon militia operating In the Modoc country,
tells the story Of the battle OF the 18th ult as fol-
lowss-
Captaid Bernard's forces together with that p0r-
ton OF the Fairchilds party and the soldiers that
made the junction with Bernard during the battle,
arrived at this camp last night, footsore, shat
tered and aemorazed troop. A. portion Of these
men were compelled to lie behind rocks and in
crevices, sheltered from the deadly fire OF An I'M
seen enemy, until darkness gave them chance to
escape. Their retreat began at midnight and con-
tinued until daylight without a halt. The suffer-
ings OF the wounded during that terrible night
must have been extreme. One OF these rode on
horseback through the night, over the worst
imaginable TRAIL with his thigh-bOne broken
in splinters-said, in this instance, to be morta
wound. The forces upon the east side were
in position equally critical but were more for
tunate in their retreat. despair Of making ir
clear how formidable and carefully prepared an
expedition could have accomplished such dis
astrous results. Everybody affected contempt for
the enemy, and 1t is but fair to say that that
enemy Affected the greatest contempt for
When Captain Bernard opened his fire on the east.
although the engagement had already begun on
the west, shout OF derisive laughter arose upon
the Indian right and ran along and around their
line through rocky caverns q distance OF nearly
two miles. In close quarters the Indians showed
themselves proficient in the Of slang English.
Their remarks were more exasperating than edi-
Tying. This profanity and obscenity was enough
to provoke the envy OF the most accomplished
American gentleman. One of them, hearing Colonel
Green's name MENTIONED said, ais that you,
-, we won't hurt YOU"
part OF the infantry battalion in o rocky GORGE
when a voice. recognized as that OF Steamboat
Frank, shouted across to another vOce-Scar-
faced Charleys-on the opposite side :--"Hello,
Charley, here is some Yreka boys; don't you see
themf''
ayes"
"Boys, what do you wantf What makes you
come here to fight us w And the same voice con-
"Charley, there is old Doris. Doris, what do
you want ne, here Say, Dorris how long are you
All this talk was accompanied by lively shower
OF bullets. Only an occasional glimpse OF an Indian
% of the e party aaG roeRy
and sage bushes. Any exposure or movement,
however slight, invited shot, No answer answer was
sisted in trying to draw Doris out.
WHATS the matter with you, Dorris9 Can't
Amt you got mouth Z"
But Dorrts knew his man and laid low occa-
sionally blazing away at the rock rom which these
questions seemed to proceed, and conscious that
his rock was being peppered in turn.
A soldier near by peered over his cover in the
direction OF the voice--a moment-a shot and he
sank back with bullet hole IN his forehead, NOR
tally wounded
Near this spot Colonel Perry, an officer OF great
gallantry, was shot through the arm and breast.
He Involuntary mOaned, "Oh, Pm shotl"
A shrill voice, that OF squaw likely, hooking
him, satd 'YOu come here to fight Indians ana you
make noise like that you no man, you squaw."
The number OF narrow escapes, where bullets
were stopped or turned aside by cartridge belts,
pistol handles &c., was large.
An awkward German, unaccustOmed to the use
OF arms carried his pistol at full cock his abd0
men. A Springfield riffe bullet struck in that
vicinity, and that pistol remains at hafcOck yet.
His pistol is ruined, yet the lives and is happy.
Donald McKays horse was shot dead under him.
Donald Is nephew Of the celebrated DR.. Mckay.
To sum up we were eager to get in and glad to
get out, anxious in the morning that the Indians
should not escape, and at evening anxious that we
should. The nature and impregnaple character OF
the ModOc position, and the number OF the enemy,
were not understood. Better information was not
attainable except only by reconnaissance in force
and at the sacrifice OF life. All that was known In
these respects was obtained by observations made
at a distance Of five miles. except what Fairchid
learned in his visit to Captain Jack and that was
limited
70 repeat the substance of part OF my former
letter, 1t Is impossible to imagine the character Of
that terrible place or even to approach it. It
stretches away In expansive ,awfulness. As you
approach the Modoc position It's ruggedness in
creases, and it breaks into endless success
sion OF canyons, chasms, gorges, extinct volcano
craters. and mountains OF rOck jagged, splintered
and topping From the extreme and commanding
points occupied by skirmsh lines the scene has
q sort OF Internal grandeur In 1t. From the lake to
the east, south and southeast the rugged plain
ing elevation. Although within few feet OF the
main camp 1--WE passed over several deserted Ones)
nothing Of the celebrated cave. 1t is, how.
ever uniyers believed here.