The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-04-30
Various Matters.
THE MODOC WAR.
Bloody Repulse of a Detachment
of the Federal Troops.
Hist OF the KILLED and wounded.

left camp at 73O this morning proceeding in
the direction known to lead to the present
stronghold of the Modocs. Capt. Thomas in
command. A dozen or twenty of the Warm
Spring Indians were expected to cooperate on
Thomas left. The troops having formed line
the skirmishers advanced without molestation
till they arrived at the foot of bluff south of
the Lava Beds having meanwhile signalled to
the camp that no Indians were to be found. On
reaching the bluff the Modocs opened a severe
fire causing the troops to seek such shelter as
they could find in the crevices, chasms, &c.
AS usual the foe was unseen; the firSt position
soon became untenable owing to the fact that
the Indians were able to deliver cross fire and
an enfilading fire, and the position of the
troops is so exposed that up to the present
writing, o'clock p. M, only two could reacn
the camp out of nine wounded. Lieut.. Wright
of the 18th Infantry had sought'sheter in the
crevices which were particularly open to the
Modoc fire. Grave doubts exist as to their Ill
innate safety. As soon as information is re-
ceiyed at headquarters relative to the peril OF
the party, troops villa once be pushed forward
to the rescue. -Four companies are ordered out,
two of cavalry from this camp, and two from
Col. Mason'S.
Sire cheers for conveying the wounded were
forwarded, but the latter are now returning
without having achieved the object that they
were intended for. A bitter cold night is be-
fore them. Ii is barely possible from the char
acter of the evening that some OF them no
longer heed cold or heat.
LAVA BEDS, April q, $50 A. MA des-
patch received from Col. Green of the LIST
Cavalry, who went out witt, reinforcements
yesterday morning shows the surprise to have
been more complete and more terribly fatal
than was first supposed. The despatch states
the 4th Artillery were killed. Lieut.. Harries
of the Ath Artillery is badly and, perhaps, NOR
tally wounded, and Lieut.. Barnston OF tho 4th
Artillery is missing.
From the second despatch sent by Col. Green
it appears there are now collected and waiting
conveyance to camp the bodies of 16 men killed
including Capt, Thomas, Lieut. Howe, Lieut..
Wright. and eight wounded, including Lieut..
Harris of the 4th Artillery. Three added to
the number of wounded men above cited show
number of men engaged. Eighty Modocs are
armed with Spencer carbines and breech load
ing muskets. In more than one instance q
Modoc has been known to have two or more
Spencer rifles, enabling him to Keep up rapid
fire from his natural or artificial hreastwork of
rock. The surface of the ground in many
places is torn up by volcanic actions, which
form crevices and these are adaptable to pur-
poses of either hiding or for points of defence.
In several instances soldiers knowing nothing
of topography have come nnawares on such
assures and before they could escape were
confronted by willy Indian with rifle levelled
and finger upon the trigger. Death, or at
least dangerous wound, is the result Too
often the cowardly redskins escape by paths
known only to themselves. As q sample of
their treachery and cunning may not be amiss
will state that portion Of batteries A and
X, finding themselves in danger of being OUT
thanked, took shelter in a hollow spot affording
partial cover. No sooner had they done so
than the Indians who know and command
every egress from the cavity at that point,
numbering q warriors, detached seven Of their
number on one side, fourteen remaining on tho
other and then opened a cross fire on the poor
fellows who could not show head or hand
without the certainty of being struck Very
few escaped injury and the rest were killed or
wounded. 1t is impossible to ascertain tn Q
number of Modocs killed and wounded yester-
day. Capt. Mckay reported that his Warm
Spring indians had taken four scalps. This
may be the whole or it may be only portion
Of the killed, the Modocs being very careful to
destroy as fast as possible all traces of their
casualties, carrying their wounded in caves and
burning the dead bodies The wounded are
supposed to be hidden in caves, but few of them
have been seen so far Justice to the gallant
dead compels a record Of the following facts
which are well authenticated
When Capt. Thomas found himself and men
surrounded by his vindietive foe, true to his ma
ture as soldier he sought to cheer the soldiers
on to the bitter end and obtain if possible lie
for life and sell their lives dearly, saying:
die like men and soldiers In his noble efforts
to sustain the courage of his small command
he was ably seconded by Lieut.. Howe and Lieut.
Wright. After receiving mortal wound he
buried his gold watch and chain among the
rocks and emptied his revolver amongst the en-
write in terms of well deserved praise of the
conduct of Lieut.. Howe, who was similarly sit
uated. Capt. Thomas with a portion of bate
ry Il, 4th artillery, set an example of bravery
and determination to his men, uttering some
such sentiments as those already quoted, not
that that it required such expressions to stimu-
late men to deeds of bravery when every man
would willingly have followed either officer,
wherever he chose to lead, yet they showed the
mutual confidence existing between them. Since
when opposed to worthier foes. Yet it is
mournful consolation that Capt. Thomas, Lieut.
Howe and Lieut. Wright, the sons of soldiers.
met soldiers death in defence Of the govern
ment and laws of the country. OF the men
killed or wounded it is perhaps sufficient to say
they sealed their bravery with their lives
$50 P. M.-The reinforcements sent out up-
der Col: Green, together with the killed and
wounded, are expected momentarily Heavy
rain is now falling, which is beneficial to the
poor wounded men in alternating their suffering
anArelieving their feverish limbs. Their arrv.
nate comrades in camp. Every preparation is
made for their proper reception. When the
news OF the massacre reached camp the soldiers
who had grown old and grey in the service wept
like babies at the fate of their officers and com
rades.
APRIL 2S-6 A. M.-Tho troops with the kill
ed and wounded are returning. In addition to
the death of the list given are the following !:
First Sergt. Robert S. Romer. battery A, and
private James Rose, battery X, 4th artillery,
died yesterday; Sergt. Back, battery A, came
in wounded, not previously mentioned. In
many instances it would be difficult to recognize
the dead but for some article of brass known to
have belonged to them, Indian barbarity has so
detaced the hneaments of the killed.
Complete List of Killed and Wounded
The following is a complete list of the killed
and wounded now in camp Capt. Evan
son Howe, Battery A, 4th Artillery; Sergt
Robert s. Romer, Battery A., 4th Artillery
Private Parker, Battery A., 4th Artillery: Phi,
yate John Lynch, Battery K, 4th Artillery;
Private James Rose, Battery r., 4th Artillery
Private Joseph W, Ward, sBattery X, 4th
K, 4th Artillery; Lieut.. Thomas Wright, Com
pany E., 18th Infantry; Private Greed, Com
pany E., 18th Infantry; citizen Lewis Weber
Of Siskiyon County.
In addition to the foregoing 8 men were
buried on the field. whose names were not as
certained. Lieut.. Arthur Cranston, with four
men of Battery A., are still missing. Wound-
ed Private Joseph Broderick. Battery A., 4th
Artillery, left thigh; Private Mathew Num-
ply, Company e., 18th Infantry, ring finger;
l. IlFatC ciultS NlCNltildu, DdtIcEy a., I'LL AT
tillery, palm of right hand; Private John A.
Clifford, Battery X, 4th Artillery, back and
thigh; Corpl. James Noble, Battery K, 4th
Artillery, neck; Private Charles Cuff, Company
E., 18th Infantry, hand; Sergt M. Kennedy
Company E., II Infantry, right elbow and
breast; Private James I. Butler, company E.,
18th Infantry, both temples; Private John Hig-
gins, Battery K, 4th Artillery, through hand
and shoulder; Private Schancks Rola, Battery
K, 4th Artillery, left leg; Private George Van
derwater, Company E., 18th Infantry, right
hip; Private VIM. c. Coy, Battery K, 4th Ar
tillery, right bullock and right hand; Private j.
B. McLanchlin, Battery K, 18th Artillery, sboth
feet and right shoulder; Sergt. A. Beck, Bat
terry K. 4th Artillery. right arm; LIST Lieut..
Clayton, Company E., 18th Infantry, left leg;
Private W. Bremen, Company E., 18th Infant
~, both arms fractured; Lieut.. G. NJ. Harris,
4th Artillery, back; Sergt. Blessing, United
States Artillery, right leg; Privare WIN. Boyle,
Company E., 18th Infantry Private Howard,
Company E., 12lh Infantry Private Newsburg.
Company E., 18th Infantry
NEW YORK, April 29.-The Herald's speciaI
from the Lava Beds dated tho 26th saws that
the force under Capt. Thomas which started to
reconnoitre the position supposed to be held by
the Modocs, numbered SO men. The object Was
mainly to find out how the Modocs were situat-
ed, and whether mortars could be brought up
and used efficiently against them. As the troops
approached the base of the Lava Beds about 10f
o'clock, our command was brought to halt
and the men were allowed to take a rest. The
Glory of tLe first fire ia differently renOrtnl