Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-04-30
TWO CENTS.



Terrible Slaugheer 81 u Recounoaser.
ing Party-49 One Of 90 KILLED OF
WOunded-Cnavatit Galiaatry Of
our Omeers.
The report Of another terrible conflict be.
tween the troops under Gen. Gillem and the
Modocs, published in yesterdays STAR, is con-
frmed by later dispatches. On Saturday morn
Capt. Evan Thomas. Of the ith artillery. and
composed of batteries h and A, 4th artillery
and company +, 18th infantry sixty nine men
point where it was supposed the Modocs were
encamped, the object being 20 lind out how the
enemy was situated, and whether artillery
Spring Indians were expected to Cooperate on
the right of Capt. Thomas line. The troops
having formed a line of skirmishers, advanced
without molestation until they arrived at the
foot OF the buff south o. the lava beds, having
meanwhile signalCd TO camp that no Indians
were TO be found. On reaching the bluff the
Modoes opened severe ire, causing the troops
crevices, chasms, &c. As usual, the foe was
unseen.
1t seems that Capt. Thomas command
FELL INTO AN AMBusCApR,
nom which there was no possibility of escape.
Four or five shots were fired upon the aiyanc-
ing troops, when Capt. Thomas Immediately
threw his men in diminishing order, with Lieut.
Wrights company on the right. The latter,
however, had not got into position before thew
were thanked to the right by party Of fourteen
other Indians. The cross fire on wright's men
proved very demoralizing, and they broke i'm
confusion. leaving their gallant leader in An
exposed condition and supported by few of hls
nome commissioned officers. In the meantime
another small party Of Indians had obtained a
position to the left and opened a raking IRE on
the two batteries of artillery. IL was a fearful
trap, and the first four shots were only fired 90
draw the troops more directly between the fire
OF the Indians on the right and left.
THE RoUT WAS COMPLETE,
with the exception of officers and non-commis-
stoned officers, majority of whom lay stretched
on the rocks, with their life-blOod ebbing fast
away. Confused and demoralized as they were,
who, confident in the protection of their native
rocks, shot them down like so many frightened
deer. portion of batteries A and X, ith ar
ullery, and company L, 18th infantry, finding
themselves In danger of being outflahked, took
shelter in hollow spot, affording partial cover.
No sooner had they done so than the indians
who knew and commanded every egress from
the cavity at that point, numbering twenty-one
warriors, detached seven of their number on
one SIDE, fourteen remaining on the other, and
then
OPENED CROSS FIRE
on the poor fellows, who could not show head
or hand without a certainty of being struck
Very Few escaped injury. The rest were either
killed or wounded. Occasionally news was
brought in by the scared stragglers, exaggerated
IN the extreme, but significant OF some dire dis
aster. Many OF these men, who had deserted
their Officers in time of peril, had seen hun
dred Indians all around them. Fear had dis
tracted their vision and made them so helpless
that one of their number was afterward found
dead on the field without a shot. He had been
butchered by knives, and 20 panic-struck that
he could not fire a shot IN his own defence.
During the night the Indians were creening
through the rocks
To SCALP AND STRIP THE DEAD.
As soon as the news reached Gen. GiIlemrs
headquarters four companies of cavalry, under
Col. Green, were ordered to march TO the relief
of Capt Thomas, and stretchers were forward
ed Tor the conveyance OF the wounded. Soldiers
coming through Col: Green's line told him
where the remains of batteries X and A were TO
be found. Col. Green Immediately moved for
ward his command to the place indicated, and
there hid in some sage bushes were the bodies
OF Major Thomas, Lieut.. Howe, Acting Surgeon
Lining Sergeant Bower, and six others Lieut..
Wright's body lay little to the left and on the
right was Lieut.. Harris, severely wounded, AMI
the bodies of five of his men stripped of all
their clothing. FOrty-nine were killed and
wounded out of a command OF sixty-nine men.
In many instances il was difficult TO recognize
the dead but for some article OF dress known TO
have belonged TO them-Indian barharity had
deiaced all ';neaments OF those killed. Colonel
Green returned from the scene OF the terrible
the killed and wounded. Twentv-four of orr
men we're killed, including the three commits
stoned officers mentioned.
THE INDIAN Loss.
IT is impossible - ascertain the number of
Modocs killed and wounded. Captain Mckay
reported that his Warm Spring Indians had
taken four scalps. This may be the whole, o. il
may be orly portion the killed, the Modocs
ng very careful to destroy, as far as possible,
i traces Of their casualties, carrying their
bodies. Their wound q are supposed to be
hidden In the caves; but few have been seen so
far.
ADVANTAGES OF THE sAvAGEs.
The Modocs are armed with Spencer rifles
and breech-loading muskets. In more than one
instance a Modoc has been known TO have two
or more Spencer rifles, enabling him to keep up
rapid fire from his natural or artificial breast
works OF rock. The surface of the ground in
many places Is torn up by volcanic action,
winch forms crevices, and these are adaptable
TO the purposes OF either hiding or for points of
defense.
CALAMITY OF OUR OFFICERS
When Captain Thomas found himself and his
men surrounded by his yindictive foe, true 20
his nature as soldier, he sought to cheer his
soldiers TO the bitter end, and obtain. if posi-
Die, life Tor LIE, and to sell their lives dearly
saying: MEN, We are surrounded; we must
hight and die like men and soldiers" In his
noble efforts to sustain the courage of his small
command he was ably seconded by Lieutenant
Howe and Lieutenant Wright. After recei wing
has mortal wound he burie his gold watch and
chain among the rocks, and emptied his re-
volver among the enemy before diving. III liy-
ing he would also write i'm terms of well-de-
served praise OF the conduct of Lieutenant Har-
RS, who was similarly situated as Captain
Thomas with portion of his battery, X. of
the ith artillery, and set an example OF bravery
ard determination TO his men. Lieutenant
George nj. Harris, battery X, 4th artillery who
is reported wounded, graduated at West Point
IN 1861, and Is SON OF George w. Harris a
merchant OF Philadelphia.