Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-05-08
THE MODOC WAR.

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THE MODOC WAR. ..
Another battle with the Modoc Indians, re
sulting in the defeat of the United States
troops, is reported to have occurred on Sat-
urday the 26th ultimo. The following ac-
counts of the engagement reach Us via San
Francisco, to which point the intelligence was
conveyed by courier from Yreka: ..
General Gillem ordered reconnaissance to
be made of the enemy, who were supposed to
be south of the lava beds. For this purpose
he detailed sixty men Of the Fourth Artillery
and Twelfth Infantry. The troops then
marched across the beds in the direction of
the bluff, to the south, where the Modocs were
supposed to be entrenched. The reconnaissance
was made with due. caution and sharp look
out was kept. The troops reached within
twenty feet Of the bluffs without molestation
or discovering any traces of the enemy when,
suddenly the Modocs, who lay in ambush
among the rocks awaiting their approach,
opened most telling and destructive fire
upon the unsuspecting troops. The latter on
finding that they had fallen iato trap, at
tempted to retreat. A number sprang among
the rocks and crept into the crevices for shell
ter from the CALLING fire Of the Indians. The
Modocs, who were hidden. behind the rocks,
fred with deadly precision, and had every
advantage over the troops, who found them
selves opposed to the whitening fire of an un-
seen foe without being able to return it effect
lively. A part of the infantry retreated to
hollow spot among the rocks. The Indians
saw this, and in few moments the troops
we're surrounded. The Modocs secreted in
the rocks, opened fire, and killed and wound
ed all except three, who managed to escape.
No Modocs are reported killed. The ambus-
cade was 80 complete that the Indians were
entirely covered from the return fire Of the
troops. The latter were completely taken by
surprise. During the entire engagement
seventeen privates were killed and twenty
three wounded. .t
The movement made by Major Green in
ordering reconnaissance by daylight is Sc
verely condemned, as it invited an ambush
attack. The Modocs evidently saw the move
ment made by the troops from their cave,
and, marching at double the speed of the
troops, reached the bluff and awaited the ar
rival of the soldiers unseen. Twenty-Five
Modocs were behind the bluff, and as the
soldiers drew near they leaped from their
ambush and fred a well-directed volley,
throwing the little army into confusion. The
officers while endeavoring to restore order
placed themselves in exposed positions within
range of the enemy, and were shot down. A
portion of the troops behaved shamefully,
firing in every direction to make good their
escape. Battery A, Fourth Artillery, under
Major Thomas, fought with great bravery,
and resisted the attack Of the Modocs to the
last. ALI the commissioned officers belong
ing to the battery are either killed or wound
ed, together with three sergeants and two cor
The officers killed we're Major Thomas,
Lieutenants Harris, Howe and Wright. They
were we'll known throughout the country, hav-
ing served in the late war. Maj. Thomas
was in command Of the garrison at Charlotte,
N. c., only quite recently, having been order.
ed from that post to the West He is son OF
ex-Adjutant-G General Thomas, prominently
known as ad interim Thomas, by reason of his
appointment by President johnson as Secre.
tary of War, during the Stanton regime.
FURTHER PARTICULARS. .."
The Modocs had Spencer and breech.load-
ing rifles. Some are known to have had two
or more rifles The Indians numbered tWen-
ty.one. When the soldiers took refuge in the
hollow every egress was commanded by the
Indians, and the soldiers could not show a
head or hand without certainly being woun-
ded. Very few escaped; the rest were either
killed or wounded. It was fearful trap, and
the first four shots we're only fired 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 the off,
GERS and nor. n.commissioned officers, majority
of whom lay stretched on the rocks, with their
life-blood ebbing fast away, the watch'word
was "Save himself who can" During, the
night the Indians were creeping through the
rocks to scalp and strip the dead. -.
Gen. Schofeld has officially communicated
with Gen. Sherman, confirming the foregoing
account of the engagement Thereport states
that Major Green, commanding on the west
side of the lava beds, ordered Captain Thom-
as, with seventy soldiers and fourteen Warm
Spring Indians, to reconnoitre four miles from f.
the camp. The party reached the designated
point and were resting. No Indians had been
seen. The party was suddenly fired upon;
panic ensued, and organization in a great
measure ceased. The stragglers reached the
camp at halfpast one, P. m. Major Green
went to the assistance of Captain Thomas and
found that Thomas command was entirely
disorganized and scattered. The details fully
confirm the casualties above reported. All