The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-07
THE LAVA BED BATTLE.
A Detailed Description Of the
Fight Of. April l6.
PREPARATIONS IN CAMP.
The March Out and
First Encounter.
A BRILLIANT CHARGE.
Gallant Conduct Of the Troops in
Presence Of the Enemy.
INCIDENTS OF THE DAY.
Effect of the Smelling on the
Nerves of the Indians.
The Herald Correspondent
Under Fire.
A Prophecy After the Fight Too
Well Fulfilled.
Effect of the Smelling on the
Nerves of the Indians.
The Herald Correspondent
Under Fire.
A Prophecy After the Fight Too
Well Fulfilled.
CAMP ON LAVA BEDS, April 20, 1913.

well FuIHll0Q.
CAMP ON LAVA BEDS, April 20, 1913.
Tho massacre OF April II efectually solved the
peace problem, and General Gillem Immediately
commenced preparations with a view to surround
ing and melting out the punishment the Modocs so
richly deserved The duties OF the Peace Commits
sion were ended and the Modocs were handed
over to the tender mercies Of the military. The
troops were impatient to be led to the attack and
although those that had figured in the fight OF
January II would rather have met their foes in
different country they were impatient to avenge
the murder Of their General. On Monday, April Ia,
General Gillem decided to commence operations on
the following day, and orders were issued to the
company commanders to that effect. The General
determined that, in order to avoid loss OF life, the
advance should be made very slowly, keeping the
men as much as possible under cover. On Monday
afternoon, while walking through the camp found
the unusually cheerful, and during the evening
singing and laughing were heard in every direction.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE ATTACK.
1t had been first proposed that the troops from
both sides were to advance simultaneously at day
break on Tuesday morning, and press forward until
the enemy's fire made it prudent to take shelter.
The Warm Spring Indians, seventy-two IN number,
under Donald Mckay, well known halfbreed
scout arrived at Colonel Masons camp on Sunday
evening, and they received orders to advance with
that command. AS the operations in the lava
bed could only be conducted foot they were
Instructed to keep their horses on herd Hospital
Rock. On Monday afternoon Colonel Mason re-
quested and obtained permission to move his line
ut midnight Of that day, so that he might be able
TO obtain good position under the cover of night
and preserve his men much as possible from the
Ore Of the enemy. General Gilem then decided 10
move two troops Of cavalry from our side, with
similar object in view, and also with the hopes
that they might get under cover unseen by the
Modocs, and perhaps be able to flank them II they
advanced too rar to meet our main line. Ali the
troops in the command were ordered to take with
them blanket overcoat, canteen full OF water, 100
rounds Of ammunition, and three days cooked
rations.
BREAKING CANT.
At twelve O'Clock on the night OF Monday,
April IA, the camp at Hospital Rock was quietly
broken up, and Colonel Mason moved out with his
command and succeeded in'taking up an excellent
position without hearing a shot fired. Colonel
Mason's command comprised Company G, Twenty
first infantry, Captain George II. Burton; COM
pany b, Twenty-irst infantry, First Lieutenant
John NJ. Ross; Company /, First Lieutenant f. r.
Theller; Troop G. First cavalry, Captain II. +.
Bernard, brevet colonel; Second Lieutenant John
G. Kyle; Troop b. First cavalry, Captain James jack
Second Lieutenant F. A. Boutelle, and seventy-two
Warm Springs, commanded by Donald Mckay. The
infantry were the right the cavalry in the Gen.
tire and the Warm Spring Indians on the left.
Shortly before three A. M. on the morning Of Tues
day, April IS, the cavalry moved out OF onr camp
under the command OF Captain Perry, brevet
colonel. His command comprised Troop X, First
cavalry First Lieutenant Charles G. Cresson,
brevet major; Second Lieutenant George r. Bacon;
Troop +, Second Lieutenant w. H. Miller. Colone
Perry succeeded in obtaining excellent position
within mile OF the stronghold without firing
shot. They threw up some slight breastworks and
lay behind them, awaiting the arrival OF the rest
OF the troops.
DEPARTURE FROM CAMP.
: The main body OF troops left camp about seven
A. N. on Tuesday. April Is. The command comprised
Battery T., Fourth artillery, Captain M. P. Miller,
brevet colonel; First Lieutenant Peter Leary, Jr.
Battery n, Captain q. b. Throckmorton, prevet
major; Battery X, Fourth artillery. Second Lieu
tenant George M. Harris; Company f. Twelfth in
fantry. First Lieutenant Thomas f. Wright, colonel
OF volunteers, ana Company @, Twelfth Infantry,
First Lieutenant Charles p. Eagan. The camp was
left under the command OF Captain J. G. Trimoe,
brevet major, with de tachment OF II Troop. First
cavalry. Captain G. n. Hoyt, chief quartermaster
or the expedition, First Lieutenant A. NJ. Camp,
and First Lieutenant NJ. f. Guedas, acting quar-.
termasters. remained In camp.
THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT
under the command OF Assistat Surgeon Henry
NcEideny, was divided up as follows :-Asslstant
Surgeon Calvin Dewitt In charge OF hospital at
Hospital Rock; Acting Assistant Surgeons J. o.
skinner and f. s. Stirring, in the field with Colonel
kason's command; Acting Assistant Surgeon b.
Semig In charge OF hospital at Major Trim
ble's camp, and Assistant Surgeon II. McEl-
deny and Acting Assistant Surgeon f. Ca
banies, in the field with Colonel Green's
command. Battery A, Fourth artillery, Captain
Evan Thomas brevet MAJOR First Lieutenat Abln
y. Howe and First Lieutenant Arthur Cranston de-
tachcd from Battery NJ, were left in camp with four
coehsrn mortars awaiting orders; Second Lieu
tenant T. :. Chaplin, detached from Battery f,
Fourth artillery, with detachment from Battery
A, was Ia command Of the two howitzcrs in po-
siton on Colonel Mason's line. The troops moved
SLOWLY OUT OF CAMP,
with Colonel Miers battery In skirmshng order
ss the advance guard. Major Green, brevet colonel
First cavalry, followed, accompanied by his aide
dc-camp, Second Lieutenant $. W. Taylor, OF the
Fourth artillery. and the HERALD correspondent.
For the rear OF the command came Colonel Alvan
G. Gilem, First cavalry. brevet major general:
MAJOR Biddle, sixth cavalry; Second Lieutenant
James Rockwell, First cavalry. Acting Adjutant
General, ana FIRST Lieutenant Jonn Quincy Adams,
Acting Signal onicer. Second Lieutenant II. De
Witt Moore was Acting Signal unlcer on colonel
MasOn's side.l The advance guard, In skirmishinc
order, 81 fye PAGES interval, advanced slowly over
with the lfe blood OF the martyred General canbv
and Dr. Thomas, and rounding the little inlet ~
the lake. closed IN by the right and faced in the d.
CAPTAIN JACKS STRONGHOLD
| stumbling over the rocks the troops advanced
steadily ana presently coming IN sight OF tie cav
ary In posit,0n Colonel MiIcT'e battery de ployea