The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-24

intrigues of the Powers which dread
the spread of republican institutions in
Europe. But France has thus far triumphed
over similar attempts to destroy the govern
ment of the people, and, backed by her sue
cess, Spain ought to feel strong enough to
gain similar victory. With prudence and
constancy on the part of the true republicans
of the nation the battle can be won. 1t is
only by the Inconsistency Of the Spanish peo-
pie themselves that they can lose the advan-
tage the abdication of King Amadeus SO un-
expectedly bestowed upon them.
The Battle OF tho Lava Bcds-The Pa
ciAc Slope and Its Indlans-Captain
Jack.
From special HERALD correspondent on
the ground, we give this morning very full
and specific account of that most extraordinary
fight on the northern frontier of California,
between the United States troops and volun-
teers, under General Wheaton, and the Modoc
Indians, under Captain jack known as 'the
battle of the lava beds" This report en-
braces the general field orders of General
Wheaton for the attack upon the Indians
stronghold, and the reports Of several officers
of the operations of their respective detach-
ments in the engagement with its unfortunate
results to the United States forces. Consider
ing only the number Of men actually engaged
in this battle it was small affair, the fighting
force of General Wheaton being only some
three hundred, regulars and volunteers, while
the opposing warriors of Captain Jack ore sup
posed to have been about two hundred. But,
considering the nature of the ground and its
difficulties, the extent of the field of
operations, the enveloping fog, the invisible
enemy, the casualties to Wheatons command
and the duration of the engagement, it be-
comes the most remarkable battle with the
Indians, in oil the records Of the Indian wars
Of this country, since that Of Braddocks de-
feat in the woods on the Monongahela, ono
hundred and seventeen years ago.
This California ''battle of the lava beds"
is without comparison in reference to the
natural difficulties to the attacking party of
the ground over which it was fought The
operations of Gaines and Scott and Taylor,
in the everglades of Florida against the Sem
inoles, were child's play compared with the
attack upon the natural defences of Captain
Jack, from which it was found impossible not
only to get at his Indians, but impossible to
obtain more than passing glimpse of war
rior, here and there, though the fight was
maintained OF short rifle range from early
morning till late in the evening In pre-
vious letter from the HERALD headquarters
accompanying Wheatons command, our cor
respondent, speaking of these lava beds, says
that ''nobody had any idea of the nature of
the ground until they got in there, and that
that fact, coupled with the dense
fog, completely bewildered the troops
and settlers forming the attacking
party" that ssome of the settlers who were in
the fight have since told me that they would
hear the voices of Indians they knew were
right above them, speaking to them and jib-
ing them, and, while looking up to see where
the sound came from, they would hear it again
right behind their backs or from an entirely
different quarter" that the battle field is q
locality formed of immense masses of rocks
heaved from the bowels of the earth and had
fallen in understandable confusion one over
another" that 'there are assures and crevices
between these masses of rocks over a hundred
feet deep, and all kinds of rocks on rocks,
heaped up in various groups, forming natural
Notifications that five men could defend
against hundred"
But even this description fails TO convey to
the reader an approximate idea of the geo.
logical character of this battle field of the Lawn
beds and of the volcanic country round them
for scores and hundreds of miles. Between
the forty-second and forty-third parallels
of north latitude and between the
one hundred and twentieth and one
hundred and twenty-frst parallels of west
longitude from Greenwich there is o won
derful system of lakes, mountains, plains
and volcanic debris. Some of these lakes
having no outlets, are brackish or bitter and
are known as alkali lakes but chain of them
connecting with the Klamath River, which
empties into the Pacific enc hundred and
fifty miles to the westward, are sweet, fresh
water lakes and near one Of these, named
Tule or Rhett Lake, is the scene of this bat
tie of the lava BEDS From the Rocky Noun
tains to the Pacific coast the prevailing char
acter of the country, as described by Fremont,
is that Of "a land Of fracture and violence and
fire." From the Yellowstone to the Pacific
coast tho numerous geysers, bot SPRINGS. exc