Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1873-05-07
THE LAVA BEDS.
Another Terrible Battle with the M0ioes.

LAVA BEDS, April 26 "A ret6nnoi
tering party. composed of Batteries X
and A, 4th artillery, and Company f,
18th infantry, left camp at 1880 this
morning proceeding in direction known
to lead to the present stronghold of the
Modocs, Capt. E. Thomas. of the 4th
artillery, being in command A dozen or
so Warm Spring Indians were expected
to cooperate on Captain Thomas left.
The troops having formed in line, the
skirmishers advanced without molesta-
ton until they arrived at the foot of the
bluff south of the lava bed, having mean
while signalled to camp that no Indians
were to be found.
On reaching the bluff the Modocs
opened severe fire, causing the troops
to seek such shelter as they could find in
crevices, chasms, &c As usual the foe
was unseen. The first position soon be-
came untenable, owing to the fact that
the Indians were able to deliver both a
cross lire and an enfilading fire, and the
position Of the troops was SO exposed
that up to the present writing, seven
o'clock P NJ, only two out of the nine
wounded could reach camp. Lieut..
Wright, of the 18th infantry, had sought
shelter in creyice, which was particu-
larly open 10 the Modoc fire. Grave
doubts exist % to their ultimate safety.
As soon as information was received at
headquarters relative to the peril of the
party, troops were at once pushed for
ward to their rescue. -Four companies
were ordered out. two of cavalry from
this camp and two from Col. Mason's.
Stretches for the conveyance Of the
wounded were forwarded, but the latter
are now returning without having achiev
ed the object for which they were in
tended. Poor fellows, bitter cold night
at least is before them. 1t is barely pos
sible that some of them no longer heed
the cold or heat
LAVA BEDS, April 81, ) P. M.-From
a second despatch sent by Col. Green it
appears that there are now collected and
waiting conveyance to camp the bodies
of sixteen men, killed, including Captain
Thomas, Lieutenant Howe, of the 4th
artillery, Lieutenant Wright, of the 18th
infantry, and eight wounded, including
Lieutenant Harris, of the 4th artillery.
These, added to the number of wound
ed men above ci ed show low large a
per centage of casualties for the small
number of men engaged.
Some sixty Modocs are armed with
Spencer carbines and breech- leading mus
Aets In more than one instance a Mo
dec has been known to have two or more
Spencer rifles, enabling him to keep up
rapid fire froin his natural or artificial
breastwork of rock.
The surface Of the ground in many
places is torn up by volcanic action,
which form crevices, and these are adapt
able to purposes of either hiding or for
points of defence.
As sample of the treachery ana cum
ming of the Modocs may not be amss,
will state that the portion of Batteries A
and X, 4th artillery, and Company f.
18th infantry, finding themselves in
danger of being outhanked, took shelter
in hollow spot, affording partial cover.
No sooner had they done go than Che In
dians, who knew and commanded every
egress from the cavity at that point, mum
bering twenty-one warriors, detached
teen remaining on the other, and then
opened cross fire on the poor fellows,
who could not show head or hand with
out certainly being struck. Very few
escaped injury the rest were either
killed or wounded. 1t is impossible to
ascertain the number of Modocs killed
and wounded.
Yesterday, Captain Mckay reported
that his Warm Spring Indians had taken
four scalps This may be the whole or
, it may be only portion of the killed,
, the Modocs being very careful to destroy,
as far as possible, all traces of their cas-
ualties, carrying their wounded into
caves and burning the dead bodies. Their
wounded are supposed to be hidden in
caves but few of them have been seen
, so far.
Justice to the memory of its gallant
dead compels the record of the following
well authenticated facts When Captain
Thomas found himself and his men sur
rounded by his vindietive foe, true to his
nature as soldier, he sought to cheer
his soldiers Oh to the bitter end, and OBJ.
tain, if possible, life for life, and to sell
their lives dearly, saying, Men, We are
, surrounded we must fight and die like
men and soldiers In his noble efforts
to sustain the courage of his small com
mand, he was nobly seconded by Lieu
tenant Howe and Lieutenant Wright
After receiving a mortal wound he buried
his gold watch and chain among the
rocks, and emptied his revolver among
the enemy before dying.
LAVA BEDS, April 26-[Speeial to
No.r Norx Herald -l'ha fnrce Under