Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-04-30
The MOd0cS.

night from the lava bed, who says that the
opinion prevailed at headquarters that the
Nodes will not make another stand but
will break up into small parties, which must
be hunted IN detail, making an all summer s
work Tor the cavalry. Donal Mckay reports
that the Modocs are encaaped at the base
ot the mountains at the south end OF the lava
beds. Other reports indicate that Gen Gillem
is puzzled as to the whereabouts Of the
Nodes. 1t is supposed they are scattered.
Small parties are al times visible IN a number
OF places, but not found when the places are
cap ured, having escaped by sDme un Ter
ground connection. GLlem' 5 inactivity b Is
had Tad effect on all the untrIcndy tribes
in northern California and Oregon. Gen
q lem requires at least d,uble his present
torce, and sharp-sh Doters and experienced
Indian Fl 5hters are badly needed. The latest
reports are that the Nodes are entrenched
10 Il new ambush, anu gradually approaching
the edge of the lava beds. The troops are
now divided INTO three camps. Capt. thomas
lett on the 18th with the cavalry ard Warm
Spring Indians to reeonnoiter in the vicinity
ot the Modocs' position. Lieut.. E IAN i. con-
valescent. Near,y all the c,valrv horses ART
sick with the ep one. Gn. jeff d lvisr
and staff reached Yreka, yesterd ~, and vii
proceed immediately TO the front.
LATEST. DISASTROUS BATTLE.
Capt. Thomas with his party ell in with
the MJdOcs ) lturdAy AMI was surrounded .
He and many OF his men were SLAIN. The
following dispatches show the extent of this
second Modoc calamity.
LAVA BED CAMP, April y. 5 b. m.-From
recent despatch sent by Col Green 1t APP
pears that there are collected and waiting
conveyance to camp the bodies Of sixteen mer
killed, lnciu ling Capt. Thomas, Lieut.. uowe
of the 4th ARTILLERY. Lleut. Wright OF the l2th
intautry; and eight wounded, including
| Lieut.. Harris, 4th artillery. S,me sixty OF
slxty-one Nodes are armed with openceI
car0lnes and breech loading muskets. In
more than one instance Modoc has b eu
known to have two or more Spencer rifles
enabling him % keep up rapid fire from hi,
| Natural or Artificial breastWotks The rOcN Y
sur ace IN many places rs torn up by volcanic
actions, which torn creVlces, al 10, ell to the
purpose either OF hiding or defence In
several Instances, the soldiers knowing
nothing OF the topography have come un-
I awareo on such assures. and before they
could escape, We're confronted with an Indlau
ie leveled and finger on the trigger; death
Or at least a dang erOus wound IN the result
! loo often the redskins escape by SO many
paths being known only to Themselves Al
d sample OF their trtaUhery and cunning,
will state that portion Of batteries \ ant
X. 18th artillery, aud company Z 9Th iofantry
hiding themselves in danger Of beng out
htnkod, tfok shelter III hallow spot afford
inS partial cover. No sooner had they dout
s., than the Indians VINO knew aud command
ed every egress from the cavity at that punt
numbering u warriors, detached seven 0
their number on one side, fourteen remain
lnS on the other, and then opened cross
tire the poor fellows who could not show
head or hand without certainly being struck
Very lew escaped injury; the rest either XII
ed or wounGel.
1t is imp Js,lble to ascertain the number
of MJdocs killed and wounded Ye terda,
Captain Mck,y reported that his Warn
Spring Indians had taken 40 scalps. Thi
may be tie whole or 1t may be only por
ton OF the killed, the Moijcs being Yer,
careful to destroy as far as possible all ira
ces of their casualties, carrying wounded IN
TO caves and burning dead bodies. Then
wounded are supposed to be hidden in the
caves, but few OF them having Teen seen 5,
| lar.
Alter receiving mortal wound, buried hi:
ed his revolver among the enemy be ore dy
lng. 1t living he wonld write IN terms o
pause OF the conduct OF Lieut.. Howe, VIII,
Was similarly stui ed Capt Thomas, with
nls battery (k 4th artillery set an exlmple
OF bravery to his man.
3a. III. 2S.-rne reinforcements sent un-
der Col. Green VITA the killed and wounde /
are expected. A heavy ram is falling, which
Is ben,tlcl Il TO the wounded men 10 alievlat
ing their suffering and relieving their woun-
ded limbs. When the Gews of the ma sacre
reached the camp, oldiers who had grown
old and gray in the service wept like babes
at the Late vi their comrades
a. m.-Eroops with the killed and wouu.
ded are returning. Ia many instances il
would be difficult to recognize the dead bu,
for some articles of dress known to have be-
Ionged to them. Iniaa barb .rlty has deia
| ced the ineaments OF those killed