Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-04-24
General News.


HEADQUARrEas or NoDoc EXPEDITION. I
Camp South Tule Lake, April Is.
The day opened warm aud, SIN, but was
ushered by the roar Of musketry and Occa-
sional booming Of the howitzers. Col. Ma
sons camp was at Hospital Rock. on the
north side Of Capt. Jacks position and
directly under that famous stronghold.
Gen. Gillen who had been waiting the
arrival of his stores and the Warm Spring
Indians, issued orders for tents 10 be
struck and drawn In compact form ~
place near Hospital Rock, FOR the troops
to he supplied with three days rations
and one hundred rounds OF ammunition,
for the cavalry to be ready to move at ?
o'clock A. NJ. to-day. and for Col. Mason,
on the opposite side OF the Lava beds, to
move at the same hour on the enemy.
The plan Of battle was on the north side
Col. Mason was to advance his command
on the right. the Warm Spring Indians on
his left circlng up on the edge to unite
with the right Of the troop from this side.
leaving only the lake for the Modocs to
ESCAPE by. Col. Perry and Lieut.. Cressan
with the cavalry were to move from point
beyond the main cave and conceal them
selves, till joined in the morning by infant
~ and artillery. 1t was hoped that when
the latter companies left camp the Moiocs
would observe them, and In an attempt to
cut them OIL fall into the hands of the caval-
ry. These movements were faithfully exc
cuted and probably hurried a little on our
side by the escape Of Long Jim, Modoc
who was under guard AS prisoner of war.
At midnight he leaped past the guard and
| escaped, though many shots were fired at
him.
Atdaylight we heard an irregular fi,silade
on the opposite side of Lava bed. and knew
that Colonel Mason's force or his skimish-
ers were engaged. At six o'clock we heard
the boom of howitzers and saw shells
bursting over Capt. Jacks camp. At this
time the rocks were swarminc with Indians
and firing WAS rapid. Col. Green ut seven
O'Clock united with Col. Perry's command;
abont an hour and half amer leaving
camp. and sooner the ball opened.
| Capt. Miller of Co. Z, It'll Infantry COM
handing the battalion had the extreme
right Next to him were Capt. Trock-
morton's battery NJ. 4th Artillery. and
Lieut.. Harris battery X. 5th Artillery.
Capt. Eagan's, Go. G, and Capt. Wright's
| Co. +, both Of II Infantry formed the
centre. The cavalry were on the extreme
LEFT. While marching along the Lake shore
] just at the head of Long Cove. about a mile
and half from Jacks camp. the troops
| Cling shots were fired from a bluf at
long range. The men were depioyed In
open skirmish order, and advanced slowly
| under such cover As the rocks afforded.
| Our right opened a gorge in the bluff from
| the right bank Of which came struggling
shots, while a few fell around us from the
bank. Our skimishers crept up. supported
by the reserves until we arrived at short
range, when n severe volley was fired
from the Bluti. there evidently being - or
30 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 deafening
! yells from the Modocs. Such was the
rapidity ofthe onslaught, and so unexpect-
ed. that the troops were on them before
they knew it. and in few minutes We were
! masters of the situation, and our brave
| boys behind the rocks resting at their
\ leisure.
Gen. Gillen had sent an order to Col.
| Mason to stir the Indians up on this side.
and he let into them with vengeance, dis
tracing their attention and materially as
| sisting our troops. Meanwhile we extri-
| Gated our wounded, four in number. None
were killed. Capt. Eagan and his men
fought calamity. rs did all engaged. Capt
Eagan was wounded in the arm. but would
not leave the field. l.. .. Connor, private
! OF battery NJ, +th Artillery. was shot in the
leg flesh wound. Private J. Danley, of
| Battery h. tth Artillery. shot in the fore
arm. Corporal T.. Relish. Battery n. i,h
Artillery, received scalp wound; private
McManus, Co. T.. 18th Infantry, had his
thigh crushed.
thf dgf55 S senHyd heSS vEds
AT 2r. ". order was given 10 advance
the mortars's Maj Thomas in command,
/ Lieut.. Crompton Howe, OF 4th Artillery.
and Sergeant Ramer, with 10 men compose
the party. and are as gallant set as ever
handled guns. At 40 the line was deploy-
cd down the lake. opposite Jacks camp,
and crossed an intervening open space at
double quick, without receiving a shot.
They are In now readiness 10 charge on
the bluffs as soon as the mortars have done
| their work. The mortars have arrived on
the ground and taken their position.
All was quiet until p. N. when sud-
den and heavy yolley ratified along Col.
MasOns line, and continued several min
| utes Just previous TO this Ii was signalled
that no one had been killed or wounded.
| At 80 p. NJ. the, first shot was fired from
the mortars, planting shell far in the
bluffs; few shells were thrown going well
into the lava beds, and apparently doing
good work.
Out htfc now eAIcnus from hhuer the
bluffs, where Capt. Jacks cave is. up to
the ledge TO the south nearly mile. The
bluffs carried by Captain Miller are now
held; two lodges intervene between the
men and the main plateau: The monars
are now(B L. M, being moved forward.
as our men are ready TO scale the heights.
Col. Mason's line has not been broken; by
Tomorrow. we shall be with the Warm
Spring Indians. and have these red iends
encircled. with but the lake left them to
escape by. From appearances. 1t would
seem the lower lake shore and bluffs have
been cleared OF Indians by Col. Mason. AS
our men are steadily advancing without
receiving any shots. The troops will prob
ably hold the lower rocks tor cover until
morning.
LAVA BEDS, April l6.-During the night
the Modocs position remained the same AS
they occupied at sunset yesterday. This
morning hotly contested fight took place
on Col. Green's left. The Indians endeav-
ored to get to the lake for water. but our
troops succeeded in keeping them away.
At A. NJ. despatch from Col. Mason's
camp was received saying that some of the
MOdocs had passed out on his left. and
were then on his flank and rear. During
the night the mortars under the command
OF Maj. Thomas opened fire on the ModOcs
annoyed the Indians who could be heard
yelling and shouting at an awful rate.
At A. NJ, the troops under Col. Green
were ordered to move forward from the
position they bad held during the night
The whole line started with q cheer. and
before 10 O'Clock they had reached the top
Of the ridge next to Capt. Jacks camp
which was 50 holly contested yesterday
and which was nearly deserted to-day.
When our men gained this position
cheers could be heard along the whole
line. Orders were then given to sweep the
Lava Beds, A despatch was sent by sig
nails to Capt. Boynard ordering him in |
case the Modocs had got out In Col Mt
sons left to pursue them Immediately with
cavalry and give them no rest. !
At 10 O'Clock our troops had gained con-
siderable ground and firing was becoming
more frequent, and the general impress
sion was that the Lava Beds are. Orders |
have been given for Col. Mason to move
his right forward rapidly and il possible |
join Col. Green's left. This will cut the
AodOcs OF. From 10 to II O'Clock there |
was considerable firing from the south In 1