Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-04-24
THE MODOCS
The Exterminating Process
Commenced in Earnest.
Details of the Fighting.
The Indians Cut Offs,0Ds
|. ~ III Water. -seok-ErSss
HEAnouARrrRs Monoc ExpEnIr1ol

|. WQteT. --@SA rie
HEADQUARTERS MoDoc EXPEDITION,
April 16, Camp South Tule Lake
The day opened warm and still but
was ushered in by a war OF musket-
ry and occasional booming Of how
itzers. Col. Mason's camp was at
Hospital Rock, at the north side of
Captain Jacks position and directly
under that famous stronghold. Gen.
Gillem. who had been awaiting the
arrival of his stories and the Warm
Spring Indians, issued orders yester-
day for tents to be struck and for
the troops to be supplied with three
days rations and a hundred rounds
OF ammunition. Next for the cav
airy to be ready to move at 2 A.M.to-
day, and for Col. Mason, on the op-
poslte side of the Lava Bed.to move
at the same hour on the enemy.
Col. Perry and Lieut.. Cresson, of the
cavalry, were to move at point be-
yond the main line, the cavalry to
conceal themselves until joined in
THE morning by infantry and ar
|tillery. 1t was hoped that when
the latter companies left camp the
the Modocs would observe them and
in an attempt to cut them off fall in
/ to the hands Of the cavalry. -
These movements were faithfully
executed, and probably hurried a
little on our side by the escape Of
Long Jim, a Modoc, who was under
guard as prisoner of war. At mid
night he leaped past the guard and
escaped. although many shots were
fired at him. At daylight we heard
an irregular fusilade on The opposite
side of the Lava Bed, and knew Col.
Mason's force, or his skirimishers,
we're engaged. At six we heard his
skirmishers, were engaged. At six
we heard the boom of fowitzers and
saw shells bursting over Captain
Jacks camp. At this time the rocks
were swarming with Indians and
the firing was rapid. The plan Of
battle was from the north side. Col.
Mason was to advance his command
on the right, the Warm Spring In
dians on his left, circling up along
the ledge, united with right of the
troops from this side, leaving only
the lake for Modocs to escape by.
Lieut.. Greery was in camp in.
charge Of the arms and ammunition.
Capt. Trimble, of the First artillery
with twenty men, was left in charge
Of the camp at this side. p ifsr.
- Col. Green alta. NJ. united with
Col. Perry's command in about an
hour and a half after leaving camp,
and soon the ball opened. While
marching along the lake shore, just
at the head of long cave, about a
mile and half from Jacks camp
was encountered the firstopposition,
consisting of struggling shots from
the bluff at long range. The men
deployed in open skirmish order and
advance slowly under such as the
rocks afforded. On our right the
gorge opened on the, bluff, from the
right bank of which came the strag-
Cling shots, while few fell around
us from the left point. Our skir-
mishers crept up, supported by re-
serves until we arrived at short range
when a severe volley was fired, from
the bluffs evidently, there being
twenty-five or thirty Indians posted.
Their fire was heavy. After stand
ing about fifteen minutes the order
to charge was given. and the men
sprang forward amid the most deaf
ening yells from the Modocs. Such
was the rapidity of the onslaught,
and so unexpected, that the troops
were on them before they knew it
and in few minutes we were mas
ters of the situation, and our brave
boys behind the rocks. resting at
their leisure. 5000.
General Gillem had sent an order
to Col. Mason to stir the Indi ans up
on his side, and he let into them
with yengance, distracting their
attention and materially assisting
our troops. The charge was gal
liant one. Meanwhile we extrlcated
our wounded, four, none were killed
Captain Egan and his men fought
gallantly; so did all engaged. Gap
tain Egan was wounded in the arm
but would not leave the field. E.O
Conner,private of Battery, Al. Fourth
Artillery, was shot In the leg, flesh
wound; private j. Darling, Battery
K. Fourth Artillery, shot in the arm
Corporal E. Kellesk, Battery K,
Fourth Artillery, scalp wound; pri-
yate McManus, Company E, Twelfth
Infantry, thigh crushed.
Col. Mason's line has not been
broken. BY tomorrow we shall be
with the Warm Spring Indians and |
have the red fiends encircled, with |
but the lake left them for escape. 1t |
would seem that at the lower lake |
shore the bluffs have been clear of
Indians by Col. Mason, and as our
men are steady advancing without
receiving any shots they will proba-
bly, hold the low rocks for cover un-
til morning.
SAN Francisco, April Is = The
following, dated the 18th, has been
received: Major General Scofield
San Francisco Have fought the In
dians all day and driven them to the
vicinity of their strong
holds. Our loss is one officer, Lieut..
Egan, wounded. We hope to sur
round them tomorrow. 1.
ta.a.-' A. C. GrLLEM.
Colonel Commanding Expedition.
Expect further news by courier to
day. The remains of Gen. Candy
arrived at Portland to day. The
funeral will be private. No military
display. Tomorrow the body will
lie in state at headquarters and at
four P. M. will be placed in vault
Sor further disposition.
+, LAVA BED April l6-During the
light the Modocs' position was the
same they occupied at sunset yester
lay evening. A hotly contested
light took place at Col. Green's left
his morning. The Indians endeav-
,red to reach lake for water, but our
,roops succeeded in keeping them ,
way. A dispatch was received .
rom Mason's camp at seven this
morning, saying that some Modocs
lad haen nnsted ont ON the left nnar