The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-05-31
The Modoc War.

The California papers are filled with details of the
singular war that is now going on in Northern Cali
fornia between about 500 United States soldiers and a
handful estimated at forty-Modoc Indians. These
Indians, as we learned by a previous mail, had
treacherously murdered the Peace Commissioners at
On interview professedly planned for the purpose of
arranging for peace, and then orders were sent from
Washington to surround and e~xterminate them.
Thenceforward the operations of the troops appear to
have been a series of blunders. On the 26th of
April, a detachment of seventy soldiers was marched
into an ambuscade Of the Indians, overwhelmed and
slaughtered, twenty-three having been killed and
about twenty wounded. The news was received in
San Francisco with grief and amazement. Says the
fila:
This news created a great sensation in the city.
Criticism on the acts of the officers in charge at the
Lava Beds was freely INDUCED in during the day.
There are many who condemn in the severest terms
the tactics which have been used, not only on this oc-
casiou, but throughout the entire war, and charges
of gross Encouragement are frequently heard. How
ever, it is on easy matter to fight Modocs on Mont
gomery street, or in q club room.
1t seems certain, nevertheless, that Gen. Schofeld's
plan for the campaign has not been followed out in
detail as it was forwarded in general instructions.
His design was to cautiously surround Captain Jack
and his band, cutting off all chance of escape, and
by gradually drawing lines closer, proceeding all the
time with watchful care, to force the savages to yield
or be exterminated.
1t has been repeatedly said that the Indians occupy
natural ~fortresses of an almost impregnable charac-
ter, where they can lie unseen while on the watch for
the approaching troops.
That they are not only willy and brave, but good
and determined fighters, the history of this war is
sufficient evidence.
Knowing these facts, it does seem strange that
Major Green should have dared to order Captain
Thomas to march in broad daylight with seventy
men, into the very teeth of danger, without prOvid-
ing some means for covering their movements by a
force of artillery. Had the precaution been taken to
she'll the rocks in advance of the men, the Indians in
ambuscade might have been kept off or forced to show
themselves.
From the number of those killed and wounded, it
is evident that q large band made the attack, and
must have been gathered in ambush, probably from
n distance, after the troops had shown themselves on
the march. That they could do so without being
perceived is another proof of the peculiarly difficult
country in which the work Of attempted extermina-
ton is going on. So far the determination has been
on the side of the savages.
After this sad affair, nothing was done in the way
of oil advance until May 9th, when the Warm Spring
Indians, allies of the whites, proceeded into the
Modoc stronghold, and reported that Capt. Jack and
his band had escaped, and we're travelling off over
the country, greatly to the terror of the defenseless
settlers. Cavalry we're Immediately started in pur-
suit. On the 10th, a party of these "pursuers -
were encamped, when at sunrise, Captain Jack and
thirty-three of his band, (the Captain wearing the
uniform of the late Gen. Canby) rode to within 100
yards of the troops, coolly dismouuted and poured in
volley after volley. They killed four soldiers and one
friendly Indian before they were driven off. There is
no telling how long this kind of warfare may con-
tinue before the last of the Modocs is exterminated.
There are undoubtedly mercenary people who prefer
to see it continued so long as they can make money
out of the government in furnishing supplies and
transportation. Says q late account There is
strong suspicion that Capt. Jack is receiving aid from
some unknown party, as it appeared strange how
otherwise he got six boxes of centre-primed wire
cartridges, as he did not capture any from our forces,
and it is certain he could not have picked up this
amount after the battle of Jan. IL" The total
losses up to May 14th were seventy killed and sixty
seven wounded.