The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-05-08
THE MODoC WAR.

THE MODoC WAR.
We briefly stated last week that a battle
fsd taken place between the Modoc Indians,
;hout thirty FIVE in number .urder Capt. Jack
ond the forces under Gen Gilem, 10 which
ii troops were defeated with great slaugh-
ter. There were 40 soldiers killed and
wounded, about half Of each. The Indians
drew the troops into perfect ambuscade, sur
rounding them, and killing them from all
s,les, without exposing themselves 10 the fire
of the soldiers. Since then, there has been
nc forward movement reported. In fact, it
is useless to attempt to drive the Indians
from their Businesses. A force of ten thous-
sud men could not do it. They cannot
charge in column over the broken face and
shrough the devious de6es of tho lava beds.
The Indians, perfectly acquainted with every
,sss and by path, can move under cover Of
erags aud embarked lava, with CELEBRITY, and
shoot down our men, without sustaining harm
themselves. IL 1857, during campaign
against the Navajoes of New Mexico, Col
Dixon s. Miles, iwho was killed at Harpers
: Ferry during the lac war; with between 300
and AGO men, was held a. bay by a handful
oflndians, in oae 8 the canyons of the Rocky
Mountains, aud only escaped from his embar-
raised position, wi aout great sliu. hter by
mere accident. He had captured before
getting into the canyon, son Of the chief of
the band who held the defensive position D.
He instructed him to communicate with his
father and let him know that he would be
Instantly hung or shot, if the Indians did not
stop tumbling down rocks and shooting at the
soldiers. The chief was communicated with
BY the csptured Indian sou dug on the side
Of the perpendicular rock h,i constituted a
mall Of the canyon, at least 1000 feet in
neight. He told what his fate would be-
The indians ceased their fearful annoyance,
aad the troops got out Of the trapthey had in
cautiously gone into. The expedition against
these Indians campaigned from September
aatil April, during the entire winter, and
never could get them into fight But we
lost more than the Indians, and then made a
peacs, as she best thing that could be done.
We mention this, as Illustrative of the
great and almost insurmountable difficulties
ths troops have to encounter in moving
against Indians, surrounded by natural de-
fences more i.npregnabls than art could de-
wise, and to count rbalauce which there is no
eontrivance of the ingenuity of man that is
adequate. The newspaper war that is now
being relentlessIy urged against Gen. Gillem
for his surprise and defeat is cruel, if not
brutal. It is something like the campaign of
she Richmond Dispatch, and kindred very
knowing journals, waged against the Coufed-
crate forces aad officers at the incipiency of
hostilities, whenever an advantage was gained
by the Union forces. To any one who has
she least know ledge Of the lava beds, and the
general conformation of the volcanic regions
of the Rocky Mountains. the huge Difficult
ties to be encountered, when small! but de-
sermined foe is concealed among them, be-
come apparent, and it is no. reflection on the
skill Of Gen. Gilem that his troops were MUIR
dered by an unseen foe. Gen Sherman himself
might have done no better, nor Gen. Crook,
acknowledged to be the best Indian fighter
ON the continent, prevented.
The regular troops are not the forces to
conduct such war, however skilled they may
be in tactics, or however daring in the
charge. We have heard Kit Carson often
remark, that he would not give twenty-five
picked mountaineers for a regiment of infant
~ and cavalry, to wage an offensive war
against the Indians iu the sorges and cav
ems and defles of the mountains, and it will
be economy of human life and treasure to &C.
cept the services Ct experienced frontisrsmen
to aid 10 the subjugatiou or determination of
the Modocs. The Indian is no equal to the
white man even 10 cunning. daring, or cru
city, when the latter is accustomed to the In
dian mode of warfare Carson had the great
esteeutempt for Indian character when he
appeared as an enamy, and thought no more
Of shooting him down, or tomahawking him
than If he were rastle-snake, or rabid dog.
We anticipate bloody summers work on
the extreme Northwestern frontier, and the
sooner the war department prepare for it by
securing the cooperation of volunteers living
in tina. region, and such Indians as can be
induced to join them, the better it will be,
and the less human life sacrificed.
Hon. James Brooks, of New York, whose
health had been failing for six months past,
died in Washington City on Wednesday OF
last wee:. fIe was the senior editor of the
New York Express, a member Of Congress
for a number of sessions, and gentleman of
splendid intellect, varied requirements, and
high character. He was i'm plicated in the