Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-04-16
History Of The Modoc War.


by the commissioner Of Indian affairs Of
Oregon to remove a small band Of Modoc
Indians TO a reservation. The Modocs
originally formed quite tribe in south
western Oregon, near the California boun-
Diary line, along the Lost river, but the
greater portion Of them removed some years
ago in accordance with a treaty concluded
with them in 1864, to the klamath reser-
walton Here a portion Of the tribe, under
their head chief have remained quietly
ever since, but Capt Jack and his band
which comprises the more turbulent and
lawloss Of the Iudians, with the exception
Of few months 10 1869 and 1870, never
complied with their treaty stipulations, but
have persisted in living at their old home
near Clear Lake, about sixty miles east Of
klamath, where, by their petty depreda-
tions, they have been the source Of constant
annoyance to the settlers in the vicinity
Finally, the commissioner determined TO
remove this troublesome band to the Kla.
math reservation, and about the middle Of
November he gave orders to an under Of
fetal, Superintendent Ordeneal, to effect
the transfer at once, using force, if necos-
sary. The Superintendent went in person
to the Modocs and ordered them to make
the removal, but they fatty refused to
abandon their old country for a region
which they thought was far its inferior
Ordcneal finding himself powerless TO
ohengo their determination, the mat
ter was referred to the military authorities,
aud. on the Goth Of November, Mai jack
son started with a company Of cavalry for
the headquarters Of the refractory band,
who had gone into camp near the mouth 81
Lost river. Upon reaching the scene, he
surrounded the camp and requested an in
teryicw with the chicl-Capt Jack, the
murderer Of Gen. Canby--in which &c told
him that the soldiers had not come to fight,
but to put the Indians on The reservation,
and that, if the latter would 20 to the APP
pointed place they should not be molcsted
los the troops The Modocs, however, re-
fused TO comply, and were ordered to lay
down their arms. Before the parley wa,
over trcacherous savage seized a gur
which one of the military party had care
lessly laid down, and fred at Lieut.. Bou.
telle. lie missed bis mark, but the lieut.
enant returned the FIRE and, more fortunate
in his aim, killed bis assaiaut. The firing
instantly became general and the Modoc
Indian war was iDaugurated. The skirmsh
continued with vigor for two hours, aud re.
suited in the killing Of one soldier and two
citizens, and fifteen Of the Indians, while
oil the women and many Of the horses be.
longing to the savages we're captured. The
Indians finally retreated TO the hills, but
their losses had aroused desire for revenge
and they soon after attacked the Tue LAX,
settlement, killing several men, the womer
having fortunately escaped TO an adjoining
settlement.
BY this time soldiers and settlers were
alike incensed against the Indians, the
governor was called on for state aid, and re,
Inducements we're sent to the seat Of war
Meanwhile Capt. Jack and his band had re-
treated to Wright's cave in what has since
become famous as the lava bed" TIL,
country in this section is flooded with fields
Of lava, scanned by labyrinthinc passages
and honeycomb with caverns. These cav.
erns are sometimes miles in length aud con
stitute strongholds of singular power, in
asmuch as a small force Of determined meu
can hold one of them against almost any
nunoor VI i m P,o''ueu 'nei, suPPie'
nUiu ou.' ING ,u'rea' "n'cn Oapt' JacS
Tule lake, on a high tabc-land, aud cover,
about three acres. 1t has an underground
entrance and is easily guarded, and havnl
iniu ~ gOou supply OF provisions 'ne III
M, mans were wen prepared 'Vr '0ns siege
Inc precise nu'noer Oh tue oanu mas neVe'
poeu NuoMu, ou' nus PopP.e ~il' Ver,a'n'
oe su'P',seu W iea'n '"a' Oapt' JACK
ioroe prooaoiy uoes not ieacn oV men,
roi so'no '.,no 'no iuuians anu troop
na'n'alneu 'ne'r respective POSITIONS 'h'
a''ei sp'uu'ue '"e 'inio u getting nowi'
GERS ioto positon, preparatory 10 Storminl
inc s'rongno'u' inese preparations naVln!
peen AT last coulpieteu, pat'ie was JOINED
on rrlday' the l'th oil January, the troops
VINO were anuer command command OF zen Wheat
o. consisting oil XVI regulars TWO com
panies OF oregon volunteers ana 70 Can
lorna lorna rlnemen' making altogether aoou
aoo men Inc Dat,'e TOOK place nea
inc eastern snore OF luie lake
On thursday nigh,' however there wa
very ueuse roy ana Tue ieauers oil the wv
FORCES Vi troops were unaoie 10 reaen IN
POSITIONS they mad agreed on, so that the
were ABOUT Twelve miles apart when, o
rriuhy morning, capt bernard opened IN
pa''ie against capt JACK, VINO had hi
warriors concealed among the rocks aion
me OF TWO n,iies IN iength, zen Whea
lou heard tue uring' ana had no aiiernatIy
g1oep' 70 go 10 the alu OF capt, Bernard
ino au'an'age was entirely win the IL
u'ans' Inc result was that ten oil IN
uoops were k'lleu ana thirty wounded
"u'le .ae lhu'ahs captured seven guns an
a oons.ue'uoIc quap.lly OIL ammunition U
.ue,r sue MOI QUE OF tue savages Is KNOW
W nav ueeu hl'leu'
Sot iong ai'er MS victory Capt Jac
pro'esseu uesire 10 talk me matter owe
'uu see II Tue u'nicu',y could not DC settle
"''noa' any iurtnel nghung' ms was
'ne 'A,'er Patt OF January ana as he Al
pe',eu u o1 III carues'' tue government Q
Tue hfs' OF FEBRUARY appointed three peat
Vv'u'n'ssloners--A; d. meachem' jesse Al
P'so'e "pu oanuei case tne hrst OF who
war one al lne victims iasl rrluay' Meac'
a'l "nu APP'ega'e were ola settlers OF Or
sVn' anu oase an ihuian agent at Alse