Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-19

Wednesdays Fight.
LAVA BED, April 16.-During the night
the Modoc's position was the same they
occupied at sunset yesterday evening. A
botly contested fight took place on Col.
Greene's left this morning. The Indians
endeevored to reach the lake for water, but
our troops succeeded in keeping them
away. A dispatch was received from Ma
sons camp at this morning, saying
some Modocs had Passed Ont
on the left near his flank and rear during
the night. The mortars under command
of Maj. Thomas, kept fire on the Modoc
| camp which kept them very much worried.
The Indians could be heard yelling and
shouting at an awful rate. at O'Clock
this ,uorniug the troops under Col. Greene I
were ordered to move for ward from the
position they held during the night. The
whole line started with cheer and before
10 A. M. had reached the
Top OF the Ridge,
next to Capt. Jacks camp, which was so
hotiy contested yesterday. When our men
gained this position, the cheers could be
heard along the whole line. Orders were
then given to sweep thc lava bed. dis
patch was sent, signed, to Capt. Bernard,
ordering him 10 chase the Modocs, who had
got out on Col. Mason's left, to pursue
them Immediately with cavSlry and give
them no rest. At 10 O'Clock our troops have
gained considerable ground, and the firing
is becoming more frequent. The general
imp; ession is that the 80
Lava Bed is Ours.
Orders have been given for Col. Mason
to move his right forward and as rapidly as
possible Join Col. Greene's left. This will
cut the Modocs off from Tento. At twelve
O'Clock there was considerable firing from
south of the lake. Only part of the Mo
docs could have got ont on Mason's left, as
the Indians could be heard in the vicinity of
Jacks cave. The mortars which have
ceased since daylight have been ordered to a
new position within 800 yards of the cave
and near the water of the lake. About II
o'clock Col. Greene and Mason's COM
mand
Effected q Junction,
which entirely cut the Modocs from water.
After this movement was effected OCCASION
al firing was heard at different parts of the
line. 1t vas decided not to push our men
Oh the Indians strong hold, as we might
loose manyt without killing an Indian. If
We could keep them from water, they would
have to leave their position. We could not
find them in stronger one.
our Losses
in the two days fight have been killed
and 10 wounded. The only officer yet
wounded is Lieut.. .Egan, q flesh wound in
the left leg. He is doing WELL The juno
ton has been formed between Green and
Thomas OH the left. Five Indians are re-
ported killed. Of these We have some
scalps. None of our killed or wounded
have yet fallen into the Indians hands. 1t
is evident if our men can hold their posi-
ton on the lake shore, that Mr.. Modoc will
have to leave or surrender. A heavy fire
of musketry is heard now near the lake
shore. The Indians are evidently
Fighting for Water.
Every one who has seen our troops in
action speak of them in the highest terms.
Further Details of Wednesday.
YREKA, April 17.-Castello, the special
courier arrived at noon, having left head
| quarters at the Bed at 8 last night with
news of Yesterdays work. The Modocs
! had big fire in camp. Maj. Thomas drop
ped shell directly into it provoking fran
tic war whoop and the sudden extinguish-
| ing of the fire. Another shell
was dropped in the same locality
followed by yells of pain and dismay. The
Modocs then appeared and challenged
soldiers to come out and fight. Another
shell was the answer, and they were driv en-
back. At 4 A NJ, after another fight the
| Modocs gave up the attempt to break
! through the line and retired. Scattering
shots were fred at the men who attempt
| to advance on them. Col. Greene fell back
behind the ledge awaiting the Modocs,
should theshels drive them out. On the fifth
| shell there came raking fire ill the form
of sheet of flames; a small party of men
sprang out of the chasm, came into the
line amid a shower of bullets. The falling
back was caused by the
MOdOcs Thanking
the opening with cross fire. Col. Miller
attempting to form a junction with the
Warm Spring Indians missed them. AS he
swung down in the chssm, the Modocs
sprang up and cut him off with Is men.
| Miller fortified himself They fought for the
| lines until the Mortars opened and stood
the fire till P. NJ, when the shells began
| falling in their midst, they broke cover,
dashing across the ledge, losing two men,
andone wounded. The line was reformed
ard held around The Modes. Mason sig
nailed the Modocs were on his rear flank
trying to get out.
At 9:45 signals were given that the Mo-
docs were leaving the Lava Bed and the
cavalry were ordered to pursue. At 8 P.
n. when the courier left, a terrible fire had
just ceased where the Modocs tried to break
through to the lake.
1t is almost impossible to see an Indian.
| McManus (the civilian) was recovered, not
| hoyy l. thar 7la,, I,
mule was shot. The Warm Spring Indians
fought like heroes, stalking upon the foe,
ever ready TO take and hold any adVan-
tage. They lost killed. -
News up TO Yesterday-The MOdocs
Escape.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 18.-A private
dispatch from DR.. Simig, at the Lava Bed,
| bills southeast of the Lava Bed. The cav
airy are in pursuit. Forest, the Sergeant
| of Co. K cavalry, captured Modoc battle
flag, and took the scalp of Scarfaced Char
ley. The savages mutilated the body of
Eugene Haney fearfully. Meacham is i'm
proving rapidly.
Details of Thursday.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 1S.-Lava Bed,
April II, 8 p. m.-My dispatch of this even
ing stating the supposed death of Eugene
Haney between this camp and Col. Greene's
line proved to be only too true. Your
correspondent took q position about $50
yards in advance of the picket line in a
| ledge of rocks and waited for the appear
ance of the Modocs or orders. After re-
manning in the rocks an hour and half,
an orderly from the flag
station told US the cavalry were
coming in on foot, and not to mistake them
for Indians. In about an hour thereafter,
Gen. Gillem and his aid, Lieut.. Jas. Pack
well, came in sight, and we returned with
them to camp. Soon after troops K, and
F. appeared in sight, bearing with them the
medicine flag which has waved in front of
Capt. Jacks stronghold since he entered
into the Lava Bed, and the soap of Scar
faced Charley, who was found
wounded in the cave, as was
also squaw who was captured and turned
over to the Warm Spring Indians. Our side
has now five scalps in this fight. The In
dams have only the scalps of boy and Ha-
ney killed this morning. From officers who
| came in with the cavalry we learn that the