Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-04-19
Five indians Killed.
Fighting Still Going On.
Headquarters Of the Modoc Expedition I
Cano Sou.h Tula Lake April Is \

Camp South Tu,e Lake, April 10.
The day opened warm and still but was
Insured by the roar Of musketry and occa-
sional booming of tue howitzers. Col.
Mason's camp was at Hospital Rock, on :hc
north eide of Capt. Jacks position and ai-
rectly under that famous stronghold. Gees.
Gillen, who had been waiting the arrival OF
his stores and the Warm Spring Indians, gave
orders yesterday for tents to be struck and
drawn IN compac. form to a place near
Hospital Rock; for the troops to be supplied
with three days rations and 100 ronnds of
ammunition for the cavalry to be ready to
move at o'clock to-day and for Col. Mason
on the opposite side of the lava beds to move
at the same hour on the enemy.
Col. Perry and Lieut.. Cresson, with the
cavalry, were to move from point beyond
the main cave and conceal themselves till
Joined in the morning by infantry and artil-
lcry. TWAS hoped that when the latter
companies left camp the Modocs would OBJ
serve them and in an attempt to cut them off
tall into the hands of the cavalry. These
movements were faithfully executed, proba-
bly, hurried little on our side by the escape
Of Long jim, r Modoc who WAS under guard
as prisoner of war. AT midnight he leaped
past the guard and escaped, though many
shots were fred at him. At daylight we
heard an irregular fusilade On the opposite
size OF the lava beds and knew that Col Ma
sons force or his skirmishers were engaged.
At 6 o'clock we heard the boom of howtzers
| and saw shells bursting over Capt. Jacks
camp. AT this time the rocks were swarm
ing with Indians and the firing was rapid.
The plan of battle was On the north side
Col. Mason was to advance on the right, the
Warm Spring Indians on his left crcling up
along the edge to unite with the troops from
this side, leaving only the lake for the Mo-
docs to escape by. Lieut.. Greeny was in
camp in charge of the arms and ammunition.
Col. Green at o'clock united with Col.
Perrys command about al hour and half
after leaving camp and soon the bail opened.
Capt. Miller of Co. E, 18th infantry COM
manded a battalion, his company being com
manded by Lieut.. Leary, had the extreme
right. Next him were Capt. Trockmorton's
battery NJ, 9TH artillery and Lieut.. Harris
pany G and Capt Wright's company T, both
| of the 18th infantry, formed the centre. The
cavalry were on the extreme left.
| While marching along the lake shore, just
at the head of Long Cove, about mile and
| a half from Jacks camp, the troops encoun-
| tered. Struggling shots were fired from a
| bluff at long range. The men were deployed
in open skirmish order and advanced slowly
under such cover as the rocks afforded
Our right opened gorge in the bluff, from
the right bank of which came struggling
shots, while few fell around from the
| right bank. Our skirmishers crept up sup
ported by the reserves, until We arrived at
short range, when severe vollev was fred
from the bluff, there evidently being twenty
FIVE or thirty Indians posted there. After
standing about fifteen minutes, the order was
given to charge, and the men sprang forward
amid the most deafening yelIs from the Mo-
docs. Such was the rapidty Of the onslaught,
and so unexpected, that the troops were on
them before they knew it, and in few min
utcs we were masters of the situation, and
our brave boys behind the rocks resting at
their leisure.
Gen. Gillom had sent an order to Colonel
Mason to stir the Indians up on his side, and
he let into them with vengeance, distracting
their attention and materially assisting our
troops. Meanwhile we extricated our wound
| ed, four in number. None were killed. Capt.
Egan and his men taught calamity, and SO
did all. Capt. Egan was wounded in the arm,
but would not leave the field. z. O'Connor,
private of battery NJ, 4th artillery, was shot
| in the leg, flesh wound. Private J. Dom
ally of battery X, 18th artillery, was shot in
the forearm. Corporal +. Killish, battery
X, 4th artillery, received scalp wound
| Private McManus, company Z, 18th infantry,
had his thigh crushed.
The lines were five hundred yards apart,
| and the ground between them uncovered
When the mortars arrive the bluffs will be
shelled. At . p. NJ, the order was given to
advance the mortars. Major Thomas in COM
| mand Lieut. Crompton Howe, of the 4th
artillery, and Sergeant Ramen with 10 men
comprise the party, and are as gallant set as
| ever handled guns. At 4 80 the line was de-
ployed down to the lake opposite Jack camp
| and crossed an intervening open space at
double quick without receiving shot. They
| are now in readiness to charge on the bluffs
when the morters have done their work.
| The pack train of the Warm Spring In
dams has Just arrived, consisting of II mules
and $50 horses. At ) 10 p. NJ, the first shot
| was fred from the mortars, planting a she'll
fair in the bluffs. 4 few shells were thrown
going well into the Lava Beds and apparent
| " doing good work The bluffs carried by
Capt. Miller, are now held. Two lodges now
| intervene between the men and the main plat
| eau. Bv tomorrow we shall be with the
Warm Spring Indians, and have the red skins
| encircled, with but the lake left them to es.
cape by.
| Lava Beds, lG. Our losses in the two days
| fight have been five killed and ten wounded.
| The only officer yet wounded is Col Egan,
and he is doing well. Everyone who has
seen our troops in action speak of them in
the highest terms. Five Indians are re-
ported killed. None of our killed or wound
| cd have vet fallen into the hands OF the In
dians. 1t is evident that if our men can hold
their position on the lake shore the Nodes
will have TO surrender.