The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-04-22
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The Modoc War.
The following particulars of the open
ing campaign against the Modocs has
been published The events here related
occurred on Tuesday.
At daylight we heard IN irregular
lusiade on the opposite side of the lava
bed, and knew that Col. Mason's forces
or his skirmishers were at work.
At six o'clock we heard the boom of
the howitzers and saw shell bursting over
Captain Jacks camp. At the time the
rocks were swarmiDg with Indians and
the firing was rapid.
The plan of battle was from the north
side. Col. Mason was to advance his
command in the night, the Warm Spring
Indians on his left circling up along the
ledge to unite with the right of the troops
from this side, leaving only the lake for
the Modocs to escape by.
Lieut.. Geery was in camp in charge of
the arms and ammunition. Capt. Trum.
Bile of the LIST Artillery, with twenty
men, was left in charge of the camp on
this side. Col. Green, at I a. m. united
with Col. Perry's command, in about an
hour and half after leaving camp, Cap
tain Miller, Company E. of the 10Th
Infantry, commanding the battalion, his
company being commanded by Lieut..
Leary, had the extreme right. Next to
him were Captain Throckmorton, Battery
NJ, Fourth Artillery. Captain Egan's
Company G, and Capt Wright's Com.
pany Il, both of the Twelfth Infantry,
formed the center. The cavalry were on
the extreme left.
While marching along the lake shore,
Just at the head of Long Cave, about
mile from Jacks camp, the troops en-.
countcred the first opposition. Strang-
ling shots were fired from the bluff at
long range. The men were deployed in
even skirmish order and advanced ii, sl9TSl6y
Our right opened on a gorge in the bluff
from the right bank Of which there came
struggling shots, while few fell around
us from the left bank.
Our skirmishcrs crept up, supported
by reserves, until we arrived at short
range, when severe volley was fired
from the bluff, there evidently being %
or 80 Indians posted there. The fire was
heavy. After standing about fifteen
minutes the order to charge was given,
and the men sprang forward amid the
most deafeniug yclls from the Modocs.
Such was the rapidity of the onslaught
and so unexpected, that the troops were
on them before they knew it. and in a
few minutes were masters Of the situa.
ton, and our brave boys were behind the
rock resting at their leisure. Gen. Gill
liam had sent orders to COL Mason to stir
the Indians up on his side, and he let
lntfl ioeTlI6li and materially assisting
our troops. The charge was a gallant
one.
During the night the Modoc's position
remained the same as they occupied at
sunset Tuesday evening. During the night
the Mortars, under command OF Major
Thomas, opened fire on the Modocs' camp,
which was kept up, and very much an.
noyed the Indians, who could be heard
yelling and shouting at an awful rate
AT = Il, M the troops, under COL Green,
were ordered to move toward from the
position they held during the night The
whole line started with a cheer, and be.
fore 10 o'clock had reached the top of
the ridge next to Jacks camp, which was
so holly contested Tuesday, which had
been nearly deserted. A hotly contested
fight took place on Col. Green's left
The Indians endeavored TO get to the
lake for water, but our troops succeeded
in keeping them away. Alta. m. a
dispatch was received from Mason's camp,
saying some Modocs had passed out on
his left, and were then on his TANKS and
rear. A dispatch was sent by signal to
Captain Bernard, ordering him, in case
the Modocs got out on Col Mason's left,
to pursue them Immediately with cavalry,
and give them no rest. 1t was thought at
the time that but part of the Indians
had turned Col. Mason's left. At 10
o'clock our troops had gained consider
able ground, and firing was becoming
more frequent. Orders were given for
Col. Mason to move his right forward
rapidly, and, ifpossible, join Col. Green's
left. From 10 to II o'clock there was
considerable firing from the South of the
lake. The mortars, which ceased firing
after daylight, were ordered to new
position within eight hundred yards Of
cave and near the water of the lake.
About IL O'Clock the commands of Coils.
Green and Mason effected junction,
which entirely cut off the Modocs from
the water.
After this movement was effected, &C.
casional firing was heard at different parts
OF the line. 1t was decided not to push
the men on the Indian stronghold, as
many might be lost without killing an
Indian. Up to that time five Indians
were killed. OF these the troops had
some scalps. None of our killed or woun.
ded had fallen into the hands of the In.
dams. The opinion was entertained that
if the Indians could be kept from the wat.
er they would be compelled to surrender.
But ito seems that the best laid plan Of
our officers came to nought, as far as
coping up the savages was concerned
IL is probable that the Indians mostly es
capped when they fanked Col. Mason,
command. For when the troops closed
on the lava beds they found the Indians
had fled. A private dispatch to Sar
Francisco from the lava beds, THURSDAY
evening, informs us that the Modocs hac
fled to the hills southeast of the lava bed
with the cavalry in pursuit. When tn,
troops fhally occupied the cave of the Mo