The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-04-30

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ton. A battle took place las
Thanksgiving Day, in whieh the
troops were beaten The indians re.
tired to the lava beds, where they
have since remained. A party o.
the Modocs, while on their way t.
this stronghold, murdered fifteen sci.
tiers, for which crime they were
indicted by an Oregon Grand Jury,
Tbs fear of being arrested and
brought to justice has sll along been
a pretence with Captain Jack for hes
itating to surrender, though General
Canby has repeatedly pledged the
faith Of the government that if he
surrendered no harm would come to
him or any Of his tribe. After the
retreat Of the Indians to the lava
beds concentration of troops began
from Forts BidweIl and Warner and
more distant points. The soldiers
were encamped at different camps
extending from Clear Lake to Van
Bremer's and. up Lost River. A day
was fixed upon to Surround the camp
and secure the Indians. The 17lt OF
January happened to be exceedingly
dark and toggy, and unfortunately an
attack was made on that day. The
result is we'll knoWn.: Screened from
all observation by The rocks, the Mo-
docs shot down the soldiers rapidly,
and not an Indian was killed in
return Ten soldiers were killed and
twenty wounded.
ARRIVAL OF GENERALS CANDY ANIL
GILLEM.
Colonel Gillem, of the First caval,
ry, was ordered to take direction Of
the troops, and General Candy, Com,
mander of the Department of the
Columbia, soon after appeared bef IRE
the lava beds. In the meantime q
lar se force of cavalry, artillery and
infantry. withgtwelve guns and how.
itzers, was collected. A peace COM
mission was appointed in February.
and it's failure has been recorded. 1t
decided that the only way Of settling
the difficulty was by the removal OF
the Indians. The terms offered the
Modocs were that they should .surren,
der to General CANDY and be removed
to Angel Island, in the barbor OF
San Francisco, and from thence be
taken to Arizona. The Department
of the Interior, however, changed
their ultimate destination to the In.
diam Territory, between Kansas and
Texas, This was not understood by
the Indians, and Steele was sent back
TO the cave, where be narrowly es.
capped being murdered by Schonchin,
the son of the great chief The
threat to renew war brought deputa.
tion Of Indians to.GenerAI Canby's
headquarters, including Mary. Gap
tain Jacks sister, who shed tears as
she announced the submission Of her
tribe. Wagons were sent to meet the
Indians on the day appointed for
them Co come in. but they failed to
appear. It was reported that at the
last moment. as the Modocs were
about leaving their stronghold, the
women commenced to weep loudly,
which caused the savages to change
their minds and break their engage
ment.
General Candy now commenced o
system of gradual compression, be-
lieving that an exhibition Of the force
no could use against them would
satisfy the Modocs Of the hopelessness
of any further resistance, and give
the peace party sufficient strength to
control she whole tribe. Besides
this, it was his design to protect the
settlers by preventing any raids from
The stronghold of the savagas. 1t
was given out that Captain Jack had
been thxatened with death if he
gave up the men charged with the
murder Of settlers, and atalk had
with him, on March 23d, led General
Gillem to think that he acted like q
man held under duress and afraid to
exhibit his real feelings. Four days
later Captain Thomas with troop
of cavalry, made reconnaissance OF
the country between Van Bremer's
and the lava beds, during which he
captured some horses. This gave the
Indians offence, and it was pretended
that Gen raj Candy could not control
his soldiers, and it. was therefore un-
safe to surrender. A return of the
animals was demanded, and Bogus
Charley gave as an excuse for not
keeping an appointment that he had
no horse to carry him beyond the
rocks.
The appointment of new Peace
Commission was. announced, and
General Candy, who had not despaired
of bringing about settlement, con-
tinued to make preparations for war.
FREQUENT reconnoissances took place,
and reports came that Captain Jack
was engaged in efforts to make
coalition with other tribes, and mes
sengers were fearful TO risk their
lives by going into the lava b ,ds.
The Indians continued TO- come into
camp, and received supplies Of food
and clothing. While awaiting the
arrival of the new Commissioners,
Generals Candy and GilIem, accom-
panied by Colonels Biddle and Perry
and two companies Of cavalry, as
cended the top of bluff to examine
tho lava beds through their field
glasses. Several Indians were seen
on on ledge Of rocks about mile dis
tant. They shouted for some one to
come down and talk. DR.. Cabaniss
.t L,If ,yo1, do,up fha htuff