Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-05-06

comrades IN camp. Every preparation is
made for their proper reception.
Whenithe news of the massacre reached the
camp. soldiers who had grown old and grey in
the service wept like babies at the fate of
their officers and comrades.
April 2s-6 A. Me-The troops with the
killed and wounded are returning.
In many instances it would be difficult TO
recognize the dead, but for some articles of
dian barbarity has defaced the lineaments of
those killed.
Strength of tie Attacking Force-Fu1ther
Particulars.
New YORK, April ga Herald special
from the lava beds, dated Goth. says: The
force under Captain Thomas, which started to
reconnoitre the position supposed to be held
by the Modocs, numbered sixty-nine mem
The object was mainly TO fud out how the
Modocs were situated and whether morters
could be brought up and used effectively
against them as the troops approached the base
of the lava beds. About half>past ten our
command was brought to halt. and the men
allowed to take rest.
The story of the first fire is differently re-
rorted, some saying five OF six shots were fred
and others only four. but Tick nor states posi-
lively that it came from party of nine In
dams, who occupied bluff to the eastward of
where the troops we're stationed.
Major Thomas Immediately threw his men
into skirmishing order, with Lieutenant
Wright's company on the right. The latter,
however, had not more than got into position
before they were fanked to the right by
party of fourteen other Indians. The cross
fire on Wright'smen proved very demorilizng,
and they broke back in confusion, leaving
their gallant leader in an exposed condition,
and supported by few of his non commits
stoned officers
In the meantime another small party of In
dams had obtained position to the left, and
opened a ranking fire on the two batteries of
artillery. 1t was fearful trap, and the first
four shots were only fred to draw the troops
more directly between the fire of the Indians
on the right and left. The rout was complete,
and, with the exception of officers and non>
commissioned, a majority of whom Law
stretched on the rocks, with the life blood eb.
hing fast away, the watchword was suuve qui
peut.
Confused and demoralized as thew were the
men became an easy prey to the Modocs. who,
confident in the protection of their native
rocks. shot them down like SO many fright.
cned deer. Occasionally news was brought
in by the scared stragglers. exaggerated in the
extreme, but significant of some dire disaster.
Many of these men, who had deserted their
officers in time Of peril, had seen 100 Indians
all around them.
Fear had disturbed their vision and made
therein SO helpless, that one of their number
was afterwards found dead on the field wth>
out shot. He mad been butchered by knives,
and SO panic struck that he could not fire a
shot in his own defence.
There was mystery about the attack that
nobody appeared osolve-as to how the troops
were SO completely surprised. If in camp,
where we're the pickets or advanced skirmish>
ers? 1t, appeared so strange that party of
sixty>nine men should be almost surrounded
by Indians without their boing aware of a
sign of an Indian rs far as they could see.
This fact alone will give the public an idea
of the nature of the ground in which these
Indians fight. and which our soldiers have to
contend against
During the night the Indians were crcep>
ing through the rocks to scalp and strip the
dead
Soldiers coming through Colonel Greene's
line told him where the remains of batteries
* and were to be found. Colonel Greene
Immediately moved forward his line to tho
place indicated, and there. hidden in some
Lieutenant Howe. Acting Surgeon Lining.
Sergeant Rover and sixty others
Colonel Weights body lay little to the
left, and on the right was Lieutenant Harris.
severely wounded. and tho bodies of five of
his men. stripped of all their clothing.
Forty>ni were killed and wounded, out of
the command of sixty nine men.
Indians Fortity;ng.
Ep.~,,eco
from Portland, Oregon, Tonight, says that
] 400 Indian warriors are encamped at White
Bluffs, Yakima river, above Walla- Walla and
are putting up breastworks Settlers are
greatly alarmed. Indians are travelling about
painted, and the whites to leave the
country. The Spokane Indians are threaten
ing, and are also warning the settlers to leave
Massacres like those by the Modocs are feared
Cdiria1 Report Of the Affair.
WASHINGTON, April So Gen. Sherman
received the following account of the distress
sing disaster to troops at the lava beds on
the Goth. dated Yreha. April 2Sth. being
COPY of the official report of Col. Alvin Gillcm
to Gen. Scho6eld
sOn the 26 instant, Major Green, COM
manding the camp on tho west side of the
lava beds, ordered Captain Thomas, of the
Fourth Artillery, with batteries A and K,
Fourth Artillery, comnany Z, Twelfth In
fantry, and party Of Warm Spring Indians,
(about seventy soldiers and fourteen Tudians.)
to make reconnaissance in a southeastern
direction to point abont four miles from
camp. The party left camp at I A. NJ. At
~ NJ. the party reached a designated point
and were resting. No Indians had been seen.
Suddenly the party was fred upon by Indians,
when portion of the command seems to have
become panic stricken, and organization seems.
in great measure, to have ceased Strag>
glers arrived in camp at abont half past l P.
NJ. Major Green at once went to the assistance
of CAPT Thomas. Arriving on the scene he
found Thomas command entirely disorganized
and scattered. Upon searching in lava chasms
the bodies of Capt Thomas and Lieut. Howe,
Fourth Artillery, and Lieut. Wright, Twelfth
Infantry. were found. First Lieut. Arthur