Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1873-05-03
Disastrous Battle with Indians.
Troops Surrounded and Slaughtered
---Terrible Dilemma--Fighting an
Unseen Foe.

Troops Surrounded and Slaughtered
---Terrible Dilemma---Fighting an
Unseen Foe.
The Baltimore Sun Of Wednesday last says
lust when il see.ned that the AIodoeS had man
aged to elule capture by the troops, and It was
thought they had divided into small bands,
separated amidst the rocks and hills in and
near the lava beds, aud effected plaus for a sort
of guerilla campaign for the summer, the news
comes Of an unexpected battle with the treach-
erocs savages. in which a body of our troops
were surrounded and nineteen killed and more
than twenty wounded. history of the move
ment resulting in this disaster is given in the
following dispatches, received yesterday by
way Of San Francisco:
THE SURPRISE And ATTACH.
LAVA BEDS, April ga accommodating
party. composed of batteries X and 4, l2th
infantry, left camp at 76O o'clock this morn
ing, proceeding in a direction known to lead
to the present stronghold Of the ModocS, Capt.
Evan Thomas Of the 4th artillery, being in
command. A dozen or so Warm Spring In
dians were expected to cooperate on Capt.
Thomas left.
The troops, having formed line ofskirmsh-
ers. advanced without molestation until they
arrived at the foot Of the bluff south Of the
lava beds, having meanwhile Signalled the
camp that no Indians were to be found On
reaching the bluff the ModOcs opened severe
fire, causing the troops to seek such shelter rs
they could find in the creviceS, chasms, %c.-
As usual the fire was unseen.
The first position soon became untenable,
owing to the fact that the Indians were ena-
bled to deliver both cross-fre and enfading
fire, aud the position Of the troops was 50 eX-
posed that up to the present writing, Il z. NJ
only two of the wounded could reach the camp.
OF the wounded Lieut. Wright, of the 18th
infantry had sought shelterin a crevice which
was particularly open to the Modoc fire
Grave doubts exist as TO his ultimate safety.
As soon as information was received at head
quarters relative to the peril of the party.
troops were at once pushed forward to their
rescue. -Four companies were ordered out,
two of cavalry from this camp and two from
COL MasonS.
EXTENT OF THE DISASTER.
LAVA BEDS, April 81, 80 A. MA dis
patch received from Col. Green, first cavalry,
who went out with reinforcementS yesterday
morning, shows the surprise to have been more
complete and more terribly fatal than was at
first supposed Acting Assistant Surgeon b.
Semig was wounded in two places while at
tending the wounded.
From a second dispatch sent by Col Green,
il appears that there are now collected and a.
waiting conveyance TO camp the bodies of six
teen men killed, including Capt. Thomas, 1t.
Howe, Of the fourth artillery; 1t. Wright, Of
the twelfth infantry, and eight wounded, in
Guiding IL. Harris, of the fourth artillery
These. added to the Number Of wounded men,
between twenty and thirty, show large per-
centage Of casualties from the small number Of
men engaged.
April IS, 6 A. M.-The troops with the
killed and wounded are returning. In many
instances it would be difficult to recognize the
dead but for some article Of dress known to
have belonged to them. Indian barbariiy has
delaced the lmeamentS Of those killed.
THE NEWS IN WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, April 29.-The intelligence
from the Modoc war excites much interest, cs-
pecially in army circles. Captain Thomas re-
ported among the killed, was a son Of General
Lorenzo Thomas, formerly adjutant general of
the army Lieut. Howe was 4 son Of Major
Marshall Howe, and son.in-law of General
Barry. the commaudant at Fortress Monroe,
and It, Wright was a son of the late General
George Wright, and nephew Of the late Gen
eral Sumner.
The bodies Of Thomas, Howe. Wright and
Surgeon Semig aud several others we're found
among the rocks. Several bodies were fonnd
stripped Of clothing. The summary Of killed
aud wounded was 40 out Of 50 men.
INDIANS FoRTfFYGNd.
SAN Francisco, April ga dispatch from
Portland, Oregon, tonight, says that 400 In
dian warriors are encarnped at White Bluffs
Yakima river, above Walla-Walla, aud are
putting up breastworks. Settlers are greatly
alarmed. Indians are travelling about painted
and warn the whites to leave the country
The Spokane Indians e threatening, and are
also warning the settlers 10 leave. Massacre.
Ike those by the Modocs are feared.
HcVeigh's Tenant.