The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-08
Incidents Of the Re
cent Battle.
OPERATIONS AT THE CAMPS.
The Oregon Troops Marching Two Hundred
Miles Through Mud Eaes Dcep.

least terribly disappointed at their failure to
disl0dge him. The only thing that can be done
now is to wax for the achievements which are on
the road, and. in the meantime, prevent the In
dams from raiding on the settlers. General
Wheaton has disposed Of his forces In such
manner that Captain Jack will have TO keep
to his camp. He has stationed his troops
ct different points around the lava BEDS
and from each point scouts are set out
to patrol the country and keep watch Of the
willy foe. Meanwhile, preparations for q renewal
OF the conflict are being made but the condition OF
the country makes haste in this matter impossible
The troops are acting in thinly out-0fthe
way place, far away from lines OF communication
and from their base Of supplies. The roads are
horrible. All supplies for the troops have to be
sent 100 miles by wagons and pack trains through
mud hub deep, and to accomplish this distance
days and days are required. more unfav0rable
season could not have been chosen to carry this
war than the present, and when the government
1Orcement5 which are on the way from San Fran
cisco and other points ae making slow progress.
The Preside troops. under Captain ThrOckmorton,
have Onlg accomplished twenty-five miles Of the
$50 they have to make to reach the front. They
have been three days doing this; vet, numbered
as they are with an enormous baggage train.
They have, perhaps, done pretty weM. The COM
pany from Camp CASTOR have not been heard from
since they left, now nearly week ago, while the
cavalry, which are on the way from Camp Halleck,
are not expected under ten days. Three more
companies have been sent down from the Column
bia River, but these may not get to the front Tor
month yet. as they have march OF over two
hundred miles OF mud knee. deep. 1t will thus be
that is likely to take months to accomplish
Meanwhile the willy old Indian lies in his lava bed
and laughs in his sleeve at the trouble ana expense
fights, and Is of course elated. He considers him
self safe in his lair now as he would be If there
were no troops within thousand ulies Of him.
He has killed thirty men al told since the war
began. and has lost but one warrior, and that one
lost none at ALL as all here cOncede. have seen
no one yet that claims that q single Indian was
impudent and saucy than ever. There are some
funny incidents OF the late battle which have not
yet been printed, but which 90 to show the brazen
else. About noon OF the day OF the fight, while
Fairchilds company were In the very hottest OF it,
p. A. Doris. one Of Fairchds men. suddenly heard
voice from above him. apparently not more than
forty feet of: He looked up, and could just see
There were two Indian faces, which he at once
recognized as belonging to Bogus Charlie and
Frank" the latter the same who accompanied
Doris and Fairchild when they went into Captain
Jacks camp six weeks ago. Quick as lightning
Doris lodged behind q rock, when the two Indians
"you old man Doris, why You no 90 home ana STAY
therep What for you come here to fight MOdocsY
You say you no want to fight We no want to
home. You can't get Injun out Of lava
bed" Doris made no answer but stood behind
the rock, out of harms way Just then Colonel
Green, who heard the talk, came up and called to
his men, Charge on that place, boys, and rOut out
those two Indians IT,. There's n only two Of themm
rifles from the crevce in the rock, and for an in
slant they wavered "Up and at 'em, boys ~ yelled
Bogus Charlie from behind the rocks. "Up and at
'em but Why you no come up and at 'em yourself
yo%rse Coonel could NOT stand iG ns
taunt and he made one spring at the rocks. The
Indians fired at him, but the fog was just thick
enough to render their aims imperfect. The sol
diers followed the Colonel, but before they could
climb up to the point the Indians lodged back, and
minutes afterward Doris came out from behind
fog. He hadn't got but ten steps when he heard
Bogus Charey's voice again from another direc-
tlOn He looked, and as the fog lifted little he
saw the Indians head just above rock. "Hi
0o to kin M You
up here" Doris lifted his gum but before he got 1t
up Charley twisted his fingers at the end OF his
nose, and with jeer lodged behind the rock and
was seen no more. All through the fight the In
dams had several scalp poles planted on the rocks,
These have the same significance that q battle flag
usually has,. Every once In while they would
come up and shake the poles in a suggestive man
ner and then dodge behind the rocks. The savages
oil fought without clothes, save clout about their
loins. They fought with terrible desperation, and
re- nseaa Of tens Would Nave oeen
killed. Fairchilds and his men got posses
sion OF the spot where his interview was held,
| but was unable to keep 1t, the Indian fire from
| the rocks above being too hot for human endur-
| ance Fairchilds got behind some rocks to protect
himself from fire, and while there Shack Nasty Jim
and Scar Face Charlie, who were not twenty rods
of, rode up from behind their shelter and called
out Hi, John, come up here and get some supper.
We've got more to eat than you haven Mr.. Fair
childs did not go to sup with the Indians, but when
the fog thickened got down on his back and rolled
out Of the line OF fire.
now THE TROOPS FOUGHT
Fairchilds' men say that the troops fought like
tigers. None OF them hinched and II the fog had
not covered everything they would have scaled
the rocky walls like cats. In fact there seems to
have been no fatering, no wavering anywhere.
it was the sharpest fight that ever took place in
California. II ended disastrOusly for our side, but
1t was none the less gallant AFFAIR, and all con-
cerned in 1t deserve the fullest measure Of praise
Col. Wheaton had for weeks been preparing Tor the
fight and had disposed his forces, as he thought
moment OF attack came. That he failed Is due
more to circumstances that he nor no one else
could control than to any lack Of generalshp or
military sagacity As an evidence OF the fact that
q long campaign is anticipated by the military 1t
may be stated that huge contracts for grain,
provisions and other supplies have been let
within two days. Mcconnell & McManus, of
Yreka, have one which will amount to $4,000; Ball
Brothers one that amounts to even more. and
others of greater or less amount are held in this
vicinity. This looks like long expensive cam
paign, and raises an important question as to
whether Captain Jack and his band are game worth
the powder.
YREKA, Jan. %, 1873.
There are indications that the government in
tends treating with the Modocs with view to
settlement OF the war without further bloodshed.
Elijah steele, prominent lawyer OF Yreka, and
one of the Oldest settlers in the country, received
despatch to-day from L. NJ Foulke, United states
Supervisor Of Internal Revenue at San Francisco,
asking II his (Steele's) and Judge Rosboroughs
names might be used In the organization OF peace
commission to visit CaptainsJack and try to enect
mt If q trOubles.
Judge Rosborough replied that his duties as Dis
tric Judge would prevent his accepting the trust,
but that Mr.. steele would be glad to go. THIS
would look as IL such q commission had been deter
mined upon though whether by the general gov
eminent or by Governor Booth is not known here.
Mr. steele mas no doubt that he would be able to
see Captain jack and run no risk whatever In
seeking an interview. He doubts, though, whether
II will be possible to arrange peace for the rea
son that the settlers in the Lost River country
would never consent to 1t, and would not keep
Al.ou sIi Roai1 oah 1a hir,Eo haA arl