Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1873-05-09
BY TELEGRAPH
The MODOC WAR.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 20.

&
| San FRAScIsco. April 20.
LAVA BED, April 26-4A Reconnaissance
composed OF batteries X and a fourth artii-
Icry, and company T., 12lh infantry, len
camp ut 7:3o this morning, proceeding in the
direction known to lead to the present Modoc
stronghold, Gapr. Thomas. OF the 4tll artil-
lery, being in command. A dozcE or more
Warm Spring Indians were expected to CO.
operate on the ieft. The troops having form
ed 4 line of skirmisllers, advanced without
nlolestation until they arrived at the foot OF
the bluff south Of the lava beds, having mean
while signalled camp that ne Indians could
be found. Onreaching the bluff the Modocs
opened severe fire, causing the troops to
seek stich shelter rs they could find IN the
creyices and cliasnls. AS usual, they We're
unseen. The first position becoming unten-
able, owing to the f;lct that tho Indians OBJ
tailled both eros cnfiIading fire, it was deenl-
ed expedieDt to retire nnder better cover
In the first fire and that received during the
retreat many fell killed or wounded. So Sc
we're was the fire, and SO exposed the posi-
ton, that up to the present. writing q p. m J
only two of the wounded could 60 to;camp,
as none of the wounded, including Lieut..
Wright of the 12th infantry, had sought shell
ter in the crevice which was particularly
open to the Medoc fire serious doubts exist
as to their ultimate safety. AS soon Ds in-
formation was received at headquarters rela-
tire to the peril OF the parties, aid was at
once sent forward to their rescue. f. ur cons
panies being ordered out, two OF cavalry
from this camp, and two from Col. Mason's..
Stretchers for the conveyance of the wounds
ed were forwarded, and these latter are re-
turning just now without having achieved the
object for which they were intended. Poor
bitter cold night at least Is before
them it is barely possible, the character OF
the enemy considered, that some Of them no
longer heed cold or heat Their comr dest
who from the cause, coming in camp, show
plainly by their dcineanor, heartfelt sorrow.
They feel ior them, bet are powerless in the
matter. shs 81 filsls E4ss ftia =. -H.
goa. m, April 27.-A dispatch from Col.
Green, 4tll cavalry, who went out with REIN
Iorccments yesterday morning, shows the
surprise to have been much more complete
ind more terribly fatal than was at first sup
posed. 80. 8 stsl' s '5ts3s1
a3H5zEi E4ae 35atf}G s5E8ao HiBs 5sstl5ssssasi
5p.am. April 27.--Frorns. the second dis
patch sent by Col. Green. it appears that
here are now collected and awaiting con-
Teyanee to camp sixteen men killed, includ-
ng Can't Thomas. and Liant- A. Howe 4th
lrtillery; Lieut.. Wright, 18th infantry, and
light wounded, including Lieut. Harris. 4,h
Irtillcry. These. added to the number OF
as above cited, show a large per-
cntage Of casualties from the small number
# men engaged : some sixty or sixty-onc.
But it is eadIly accounted for when it is
onsidcred how many Of the, Modocs are
rmed with Spencer. carbines and breech
Dading muskets. Nor is it a single; instance
My where one Mo(loc has been known to
ave possession of two or more, spencer
files, thus enabling hum 10 keep up a rapid
re from his natural or artificial brestwork.
he rocky surface Of the ground in many
laces is so turn up by volcanic action as to |
aye creyices and these are adaptable for
ne purposes of either hiding or for points
defense. In S, yeral in stances soldiers
ave ceme unaWares OH such assures. and
efore they could escape from their position
ere confronted BY willy Indian with rifle
svelel and finger on the trigger. and death
: at least a dangt rous, wound would be the
suit. And, too often the cowardly redskin
,capes by some one of the many paths
nown only to themselves. 4
Asa sample Of their treachery and cum
ing, itmay not be amiss to state the fol
wing 81 A portion Of batteries A and K,
h artillery, aud Company E, 18th infantry,
eing themselves in danger of being out
mixed, took shelter in q hollow spot afford
g a partial cover. Some twenty, had, no
'oner done SO than the Indians, who knew Z
I'd commanded every egress, from the cav +
v at that point, twenty-one warriors were
,tached, seven of, their number were on one
deand fourteen remaining on the other,
,ened n cress fire on. the poor fellows who f
,uld not show head or a hand without the
rtanty OF being struck. q. Very few escaped
injured. The rest were either killed or ,
Ounded. tn led ass Es,5 sftlt IN Hs3e a..
Ii is next to an impossihlfty TO ascertain
e number of Modocs killed and wounded. .
esterday Capt. Mckay reported that the
arm Spring Indians had taken four scalps.
mis- may be the whole or may be only d
,rtion of the killed, the Modocs being very !
reful to destroy IS faras possible all traces
their casualties by burning their dead
dies. Their wounded are supposed to be 8
ddcnl in caves. But few of them have been t
en- So far. aH ~ asass4xq 3ll8 81 jgafs5 8
Justice to the naemory Of the gallant dead .
mpels the record of che following well au-
enticated facts When CAPT. Thomas found !
lnself and his men surrounded by the VIM \
ctive foe, true to his nature as q soldier. he y
ught to cheer his soldiers oa to the. bitter
4, aud obtain, if possible, life for life, and p
i their lives dearly, saying: s.Men, wc are Il
rrounded: we must fight and die like men 81
b soldiers. !, lslEssR yssg I'll I3J5a fl
In his noble efforts to sustain the courage Il
his small command he was nobly seconded 2
.Lieut. "A. Howe and Lieut.. Wright. After Fl
:,eiving bis mortal wound he buried his U
ID watch and chain among the rocks and n
lptiea his revolver among the Indians be- II
g diving. OF the living we wetiid also k
lite in termrs Of well deserved praise. Lieut.. Ia
,irris. III who was similarly situated rs Capt. b,
k# 1sft..gs IL x.fA.k u. ry - ~ ~