The Portland daily press., 1873-04-19
General Advance on Capt. Jack.
THE INDIANS SURROUNDED.
Splendid Conduct Of the Troops and Sig
nal Success of the Movement.
Still better Success the Second Day
a..
Capt. Jacks Cave Shelled.
THE MODOCS CUT OFF FROM WATER
SUPPLY.
Still better Success the Second Day
Capt. Jacks Cave shelled.
THE LOSS VERY LIGHT.


booming of the howitzers. Col. Mason's 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 an the Warm
Spring Indians, issued orders for tents to be
struck and drawn in a compact form to place
near Hospital Rock, for the troops to be sup
piled with three days rations and one hundred
rounds of ammunition, for the cavalry to be
ready to move at o'clock q. m. 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
circling up on the edge to unite with the right
of the troops 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 themselves, till joined in the morning
by infantry and artillery. 1t was hoped that
when the latter companies left camp the Nodes
would observe them, and in an attempt to cut
them off fall into the hands of the cavalry.
These movements were faithfully executed and
probably hurried little on oar side by the es-
cape of Long Jim, Modoc who was under
guard as a prisoner of war At midnight he
leaped past the guard and escaped, though many
shots were fired at him.
At daylight we heard an irregular fusilade on
the opposite side of Lava bed, and knew that
Colonel Mason's force or his skirmishers were
engaged. At.six o'clock we heard the boom of
ofihowitzers and cav shells bursting over Capt.
Jacks camp. At this time the rocks were
swarming with Indians, and firing was rapid
Col. Green at seven o'clock united with Col.
Perry's command; about an hour and half af-
ter leaving camp, and sooner the ball opened.
Capt. Miller of Co. E, 1th Infantry COM
manding the battalion had the extreme right.
Next to him were Capt. Trockmorton's battery
NJ, 4th Artillery, and Lieut.. Harris battery H.
tn Artillery, Capt. e lgan's, Co. G, and Capt.
Wrght's Co. E, both of 10th 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 mile
and half from jacks camp the troops en-
countered the first opposition. Struggling
shots were fired from bluff at long range
The men were deployed in open skirmish order,
and advanced slowly under such cover as the
rocks afforded. Outright opened gorge in
the bluff from the right bank of which came
struggling shots while few fell around us
from the left bank Our skirmishers crept up,
supported by the reserves until we arrived at
short range, when severe volley was fired
from the Bluff, there evidently being 25 or 80
Indians posted there; the fire was heavy.
After standing about fifteen minutes the or
der to charge was given, and the men sprang
forward, amid the most deafening yells from
the Modocs. Such was the rapidity of the on
slaught, and so unexpected, that the troops were
on them before they knew it, and in few min
utes 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, distracting their atten-
ton and materially assisting our troops, Mean
while we extricated onr wounded, four in num-
Der. None were killed. Capt. Eagan and his
men fought CALAMITY, as did all engaged.
Capt. Eagan was wounded in the arm, hut
would not leave the field. e OConnor, private
of battery NJ, 4th Artillery, was shot in the leg
flesh wound. Private j. Danley, of Battery
X. 4th Artillery, shot in the forearm. Corporal
Z. Relish, Battery X, 4th Artillery, received
scalp wound; private McManus, Co. E, 18th In
fantry, mad his thigh crushed.
The lines were five hundred yards apart and
the ground between them uncovered.
. At Up m. order was given to advance the
| mortars, Maj, Thomas in command, Lieut..
! Crompton Howe, of 4th Artillery, and Sergeant
| Ramer with 10 men compose the party and are
| as gallant a set as ever handled guns. At 4:30
the line was deployed down the lake, opposite
Jacks camp, and crossed an intervening open
space at double quick, without receiving shot.
| They are now in readiness to 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 8 p m, when sudden
aud heavy volley ratified along Col. Mason's
| line, and continued several minutes; just pre-
| vious to this it was signalled that no one had
| been killed or wounded. AT $40 m the first
| shot was fred from the mortars, planting
she'll far in the bluffs; a few shells were thrown
| going well into the lava beds, and apparently
| doing good work.
Our line now extends from under 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 inter-
| vene between the men and the main plateau
The mortars are nowt6 p ny, being moved for
ward, as our men are ready to scale the heights.
| Col. Masons line has not been broken; by to-
morrow, we shall be with the Warm Spring In
dians, and have these red fends encircled, with
| but the lake left them to escape by, From APP
pearances, it would seem the lower lake shore
and bluffs have been cleared of Indians by Col.
| Mason, as our men are steadily advancing with
| out receiving any shots The troops will prob
ably hold the lower rocks for cover until morn
ing.
1 LAVA BEDS, April 16-During the night the
| Modocs position remained the same as they oc-
cupied at sunset yesterday This morning a
holly contested fight took place on Col Green's
left. The Indians endeavored to get to the lake
| for water, but our troops succeeded in keeping
them away. Att a. M, despatch from Col.
Mason's camp was received saying that some
1 of the Modoes 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 camp which
was kept up, and very much annoyed the In
dams who could be heard yelling and shouting
at an awful rate.
At2 a. M, the troops under Col. Green were
ordered to move forward from the position they
had held during the night. The whole line
started with cheer, and before 10 o'clock they
had reached the top of the ridge next to Capt.
Jacks camp which was so hotly contested yes
| terday and which was nearly deserted to-day
When our men gained this position cheer rs
could be heard along the whole line. Orders
were then given to sweep the Lava Beds. A
| ordering him in case thejModocs had got out IN
Col. Mason's left to pursue them Immediately
with cavalry, and give them no rest.
At 10 o'clock our troops had gained consider
able ground and firing was becoming more fire.
quent, and the general impression was that the
Lava Beds are. Orders have been given for
Col Mason to move his right forward rapidly
and if possible join Col. Greene's left. This
1 will cut the Modocs off. From 10 to u o'clock
there was considerable firing from the south to
the lake. Only part of the Modocs could have
got out on Col Mason's left, and the Indians
can be heard in the vicinity of Jacks cave. The
mortars, which have ceased firing since day-
light have been ordered to new position with
in 800 var S of the cave near the lake.
About II o'clock Coils Greene and Mason
with their commands effected junction. which
entirely cuts off the Modoes from the water.
After this movement was effected, occasional
firing was heard at different points of the line
Il was decided mot to push our men on the In
dian stronghold, as we might lose many men
without killing an Indian, whereas if we conld
keep them from the water they would have to
leave their position. We could not find them
III stronger one '
our losses in the two days fight has been five
Killed ana ten wounded The only officer vet
we, wounded Is Lieut.. Eagan, flesh wound in the
n H..