, 1873-02-17
THE MODOC WAR.


20 --,,r xaCno1 mh1
}HE MOUOA VfHNs
The First &1Rhts
A correspondent Of the Oregon Herald, writing
under date Of 23i Inst, from tho camp Of tho
Oregon Militia operating In tho Modoo country.
tells tho story Of tho battle Of tho 18th ult., as
follows: ,., .u,.,, .,,.t
portion Of tic Fairchills purity mud tho soldiors
fhat made The junction with bernard during the
battle arrived at this camp last night. footsoro
nhattarod and demoralized troop. A portion Of
and ii orovieos sheltered from tho deadly fro
Of m unBeon enemy until darlfnesa gavo them
chance to escnpe. Their retreat began at
midnight and continued until daylight with,
out halt Ihe suffering s of s,5 ths 10y; tM9anaea
trome. Ono Of these rode on horseback through 3
the nghs over tho worst imaginable .sa Th ha
instance to bo mortal wound Tue fSroeg npo1n
deBpnir OF making 1t olear how 80 formidable
and carefully-prepnred an expedition could have
accomplished auch disastrous y results ;Eayery.
but fair to say that that enemy atfooted the
Bornard openod Ills nro on tho east, although
the Sa had sstaS on 6s 5 pn nss
right, and ran nlong and around their limo
through rocky cayerns, . distance Of nearly two
miles. In close quarters, tho Indians showed
themselves protlclont in tho use Of slang Eng
1sh. Their romarkB wero more e1aspeEating
than edifying, Their profanity nnd ohaconity
was enough TO provoke the envy of the most ac-
hoaring @ Colonel Green's namo mentioned, said:
Ills that you, Colonel Greene Wel, so, along,H
you informal old -, ne won't hurt you
The Fairchilds party formed themselves witha
part Of tue infantry battalion in r. rocky gGFge
Frank, shouted across, to another yoice-scar-
faced Oharloy'e-ont tho opposite aide: Hello,
Charley, here is como YroAa boys; don't you aee
them 2"
"Yes."
"Boye, what do you want7 What mhkes you
come here to fight us9" And the sa1no voice
continued,
"Charloy, there is old Doris. Doris, what
do you want hero2 Spy, Doris, how long arc
* Mf fx thxfa Talk tx was @ accompanied by lively
shower Of bullets. Only an occasional glimpse
Of an Indian was seen. -Four Of the little party
had already been shot. Tho mon wore lying flat
behind rocks and sage-bushea. ANY exposure or
movement. however slight, invitcd shot: No
answer was made to this Indian talk. Steam
boat Frank persisted III trying to uraw LOFTS
out.
"Whaps tho matter With you, Dorris7 Can't
you hear2 Amt you got ears9 Cant you ta4R
An't you got q mouth7"
But Dorrls knew his man and laid low, occa-
Hionally blazing away at the rock from which
these questions seemed to proceed, and con-
eoious that his rock vas being peppered IN turn.
Il soldier near BY peered over his cover, IN the
direction Of tho VOICE. moment-a shot, and
he sank back with bullet-hole in his forehead,
mortally wounded.
Near this spot, Colonel Perry, IN officer Of
great galantry was Rhot inrouen tno arm 4na
breast. 10 inyoluntarily moaned: 20, I'm
shot"
4 shrill voice, that Of aquaw likely mocking
him. said: s'You come here to fight indians,
and you make noiHe like that you no man, you
sauaw."
Tho number Of narrow escapes, where bullets
were stopped or turned aside BY cartridga-belta.
An awkward German, unaccustomea to tho
ma of arms carried hjs pistol at ful oook an hia