Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-05-02
WESTERN NEWS.


TIE REC mi MNDHt hAlA Ah.
LAVA Bed CAMP. April =, 5p. m.-From
a recent despatch sent by Col. Green it APP
pears that there are collected and waiting
CONVEYANCE to camp the bodies of sixteen
men killed, including Capt. Thomas, Lieut.
Howe of the ith artillery, Lieut.. Wright Of
the 18th infantry and eight wounded. in
GLIDING Lieut. Harris, fth artillery. These
added to the number of wounded men above
cited, show large percentage of cl-ualtie~
from the small number of men engaged
some sixty or sixty-one Modes are armed
with Spencer carbine- and breech loading
muskets In more than one instance
Modoc has been known to have two or more
Spencer rifles, enabling him To keep up
rapid fire from his NATURAL or artificial
breastworl,-. The rocky surface in many
places is torn up by volcanic actions, which
form creyice-, adapted TO the purpose
either of hiding or defence In several in
stance, the soldiers knowing nothing of the
topography, have come unawareS on such
assures, and before they could escape, were
confronted with an Indian. rifle levelledani
finger on the trigger; death or at least
dangerous wound Is the result.
Too often the cOwardly redskins escape
by Sd many paths being known only To
themselves. As a sample of their treach-
cry anG cunning may not be ami-~, Will
state that a portion of batteries 4 and X
18th artillery, and company +. ETH infantry.
finding themselves in danger Of being out
tianSed, took shelter in hollow spot ai-
iording partial cover. No sooner had they
done so, than the Indians who knew and
commanded every egress from the cavity ut
that point. numbering u warriors, detached
seven of their number on one side. fourteen
remaining on the other. and then opened
crO>>-hre ON the poor fellows who could not
show head or hand without certainly being
struck. Very few escaped injury. the rest
were either killed OF wounded 10 is i'm
possible % ascertain the number of Modes
killed and wounded Yesterday Captain
Mckay reported that his Warm Spring In
dams had taken 30 scalp> This may De the
whole OF it may be only a portion of the
killed, the M0docS being very careful o.
destroy a. far a. possible all traces Of their
casualties, carrying wounded into caves ana
Burning dead bodies. Their wounded arc
supposed to be hidden in the caves, but few
of them having been seen 80 far.
Justice to the memory Of the gallant dead
cOmpels the record of the following well au-
tlenticated facts When Captain Thomas
found himself and men surrounded by his
vintlcuve foe, true TO his nature as sol
der, he sought TO cheer the soldiers 1u o.
the bitter end, and obtain, IF possible. life
for life. and sell their lives dearly. saving.
. Men, we are surrounded. We must fight
and die ike men and soldiers" In his
noble efforts TO sustain the courage Of his
small command, he was ably seconded hy
Lieutenant Howe and Lieutenant Wright.
Alter receiving a mortal wound, he buried
his gold watch and chain among the rock~-
and emptied his revolver amongst the enc
my before dying. Ii living. he also would
write in terms Of well-de~erved praise of
the conduct of Lieutenant Howe, who was
similarly situated. Captain Thomas. with
his battery tx, 18th artillery, set an exam
pie Of bravery and determination % his
men. utterIng some such sentences as those
already quoted.
ga. m. 3oth.-Thc rcini1rccment> sent uff-
der Colonel Green. together with the killed
and wounded, are expected momtuariIy
\ heavy rain is now falling, which Is bcuc-
fetal 10 the wounded men in alley atiug
their suffering and relieving their wounded
limbs. When the news Of the massacre
reached t be camp, soldiers who had grown
old and gray in the service wept like babes at
the fate Of their officers and comrades
g a. m.-Iroops with the killed and
wounded are returning. In many instances
1t would be difficult to recognize the dead
but for some articles Of dress known To have
belonged tn them. Indian harbarity has de-
laced the iHraments of those killed.