The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-04-23
The Modoc Campaign.
The indians desert the Lava Beds
The Troops in Search of the Sand

from the lava bed camp the -lSt, coutaluS the
following:
For two DAYS there have been no Modocs to
fight with. They have gone-it is uncertain
where-but it is expected to hear soon OF their
whereabouts and destruction.
Thursday night two troops of cavalry and
seventy Warm Spring Indians, with three days
ratons. started the east side of the lava beds,
and Friday morning two more troops of cavalry
left for hunt of the Modocs. tits believed to
be impossible for the remainder of the Modocs,
encountered with women aud children, to es-
cape. -Four companies of infantry and two
batteries of artillery are now guarding Capt.
Jacks stronghold, under Col. Mason.
Gen. Gllem yesterday made personal ex-
animation of Capt. Jacks stronghold, which
shows that without mortars and howtzers the
Indians never could have been driven out. The
soldiers found the body of an Indian and a
squaw hidden in different parts of the rocks.
Ashes were found, showing that the ModocS
had burned their dead.
A few Indians were sighted about four miles
south yesterday on q bluff, but no troops were
sent after them.
An old Modoc squaw was captured yesterdny,
who stateo that one of the shells during the re-
cent attack fell near council of Indians, and
that One-eyed Jake picked it up and took it to
Schonchn and another Indian, when it explod-
ed killing all three. She stated that four 9TH
ers were killed by musket balls the same day,
and their bodies found and the traces of those
burned showed that at least sixteen or seven
lGeu nlOuUCS were ktllSu dllu al cQudl
wounded.
The matter now is reduced to hunting the In
dams in the rocks, and it will be some time be-
fore they are all destroyed.
Captain Hasfrouck's light battery are on
their way here.
SAN FRANclsco, April 21-A courier arrived
at Yreka tonight with the following news from
the front to April 18th.
Col Perry, Lieut. Miller and ITO men left the
camp at sunrise this morning on the scout
southeastward Nothing is to be done in the
camp until they return, unless the Modocs
make an attack, which is not probable. A part
Of the command will return tomorrow night,
and a part will proceed to Willow Spring by the
ID nd route, and determine whether the ModocS
have fled that way.
The Indians were seen in close proximity
to the camp to-day. They came for water.
Shots were heard in the southeast, evidently
fred by Indians killing cattle. This afternoon
the Indians were seen out herding horses four
miles southeast of this point, and an equal dis
lance south of their former position. Ii is said
there are huge caves and strong positions there,
and they will make q stand at that point The
women and children are there, having been re-
moved before the massacre There Is quantl-
ty of ammunition there, and a supply of water.
Notifications will be thrown up at points COM
handing the lake shore to guard the water line
Eleven dead bodies and one live Moaoc were
found in a cave of the lava-beds to-day making
sixteen warriors slain. The bodies of the dead
were UuIlbu u6 UuiliDcf Ol luultblS WOuuucN
is unknown. Some of the bodies were horribly
mangled by shells.
Six soldiers and one civilian have been slain
and eleven soldiers wounded, two severely, and
four disabled by sprained ankles. 1t is report
ed that two more of the wounded in the lava
beds are to arrive to night.
Mrs Meacham was within three miles of the
lava beds on the 18th, when she was turned
back Meacham is doing finely. The day At
ter tomorrow he will be taken to Ferris rancho,
by boat to Lost river, and thence by ambulance
to the rancho.
AS soon as the cavalry return the Modocs will
be attacked if they remain where we think they
now are.
Capt. Egan is rapidly recovering. Young
Hovey will be buried, at Yreka this evening.
He was scalpeda and disembowelled, and his
head was massed with a fiat rock Harmon,
who fell within the Indian lines, was scalped.
HEADQUARTERS, LAVA BEDS, April 90
Nothing further has TRANSFERRED, We are await
ing the return of the cavalry. The Warm
Spring Indians are securing the country east of
the battle ground, and are working toward the
craters, which are at the end OF the high ledge
OF the Modoc stronghold SOUTH If the Modocs
have fled to this section we will strike the trail
and the troops will follow as soon as we are no.
titled. The cavalry will return to night and we
will then know whether the Modocs have fled
to the south. The Warm Spring Indians and
the cavalry will probably communicate with
each other to-day.
Jacks cave. The lava bed presents q horried
spectacle. Bodies are discovered in the crew.
ces from under heaps of rocks, and q sickening
stencil fills the air. Their must have been
many killed and wounded that we no nothing
about, but we have evidence of the death Of
seventeen Modocs. There wounded must be at
a greater rate than ours as the ground is literal
ly covered with fragments of broken shells all
over the place. Three shells fell in I'll main
Tavlne, IN the centre of them, scattering the
The women and children were removed be-
fore the massacre of the peace commissioner,
ana therefore a large portion of them are alive
Ihere were about 20 men, women and child
rem, sixty of whom could fight
Ii the Indians make stand. this country
viii be 10 horried state this summer The
iancherS Will sell their cattle and be compelled
10 abandon their ranches. Fifty desperate saw
ages roaming these rocky Businesses will work in
eeulcstia9le destruction to property, and cause a
fearful loss OF life, and lay waste the country,
While the soldiers will be comparatively now
erless because they cannot hurt them, and when
they md them they cannot venture out with
OUT mourning great risk, not knowing what
t oranch OF sage brush conceals the foe. The
troops Will not be idle The Modocs will have
no chance to recruit their shattered forces
DISCRIMINATION" is the word. The country in
this section is in terrible excitement. All busi-
ness is suspended in a great measure We are
hourly expecting to hear of the massacre of de-
Indians will make stand together in one place
we will soon have the last one, but if they scat
ter into small bands it will be next to impossi-
bic to get at them
10 a. m.-Firing commenced at the head of
Long Cave, where the troops were attacked by
Indians down. to water. An escort coming to
meet the pack train has also been attacked, and
the men have been ordered to fall in. Light
battery Is OF the 9th art lery is on the way from
the presldio to assist the cavalry, and battery
q OF thes4th artillery is also on the way from
Black Point, about mile from the camp The
firing is heavy and steady, The escort is driv-
ing the Modocs
No further particulars can be obtained before
the courier leaves.
W. A. Hovey is on the way in with the re-
mains of his son. A company OF volunteers
who started out from Yreka q day before yes
terday will return tonight. The settlers on
Bogus and Willow creeks are. much excited, land
are preparing to move into the town. 1t IS re-
ported that three Indians were seen in the
neighborhood of Bogus creek few days since,
and others We're seen down near the 'plcards.
The Klamoth river Indians supposed the Mo-
docs were at Crystle creek in SCOTS valley.
The Kamoth river Indians were painted, and
were having war dances They numbered 10
or 20 warriors, and are well armed Whether
there will be any danger or not the people are
arming
Col. Mendenhall's command has been orler-
ed to move by the way of Shasta valley instead
of by the way of Pitt river route
Despatch from Gen. GilieM.
!, SAN FRANCISCO, April 22.--The following
has been received here
HEAD QUARTERS MoDoc EXPEDITION,
April ed.
To Major General Scofield. San Francisco.