Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-05-08
Details of the Late Victory of the
Modors


WARRINGTON. April 30-Sherman has
an official dispatch, forwarded from Scho-
field, which confirms the lava bed news.
MAJ. Green, commanding on the west side
of the lava beds, ordered Capt. Thomas,
with seventy soldiers and the Warm Spring
Indians, to reconnoitre four miles from the
camp. The party reached the designated
point, and were resting No Indians had
been seen. The party was fired upon, and
part OF the command panicked. and or
ganization in great measure ceased
Stragglers reached the camp at half past
1.p m. Green went to the assistance of
Thomas. and found Thomas command en-
tirely disorganized and scattered. The de-
tails fully confirm che casualties telegraph
ed yesterday. All the officers and part OF
the men remained together and fought like
heIbes, but the Indians had secured the
advantage of position before discovered.
The remains Of the officers were sent to
Yreka. The bodies Of four warriors were
found near the scene. The Indians occu
py the rocks four miles below their oldpo-
sision. II Will be impossible to surround
them with the force here and en- route.
The report is signed by Gillem.
Battery a, Fourth Artillery, had nine
teen men engaged, and lost six killed, FIVE
missing, and four wounded. Battery X
had nineteen men, of whom four were kill
ed and six wounded CompanyE, Twelfth
Infantry, had seven men killed and six
wounded. A citizen named Lewis Web
Der, who had charge Of. stretehers for car
rying away the wounded, was also shot
and killed. The total number of troops
engaged amounted to sixty four, Of whom
seventeen were killed and sixteen wound
ed, besides five missing The missing SOL
diers are in all probability prisoners in the
hands of the Modocs, and their death GER
tain, as no mercy will be shown them by
the savages. The laundering movement
made by Major Green, in ordering the re-
oonnoisance by daylight is severely con-
demned as it invited an ambush sttack.
!. The Modocs evidently saw the movement
made By the troops from their cave and
marching at double the speed Of the troops
reached the bluff and awaited the arrival
of the soldiers unseen, Twenty-Five Mo
docs were behind the bluff, and as the sol
diers drew near they leaped from their
ambush and fired a well directed volley
into the ranks, throwing the little army
into demoralized confusion. Their officers,
while endeavoring to restore order, placed
themselves in exposed positions, within
range Of the enemy, Gld were shot down.
A portion of the troops behaved shame
fully, flying in every direction to make
good their escape. Battery A, Fourth
Artillery, under Maj. Thomas, fought with
great bravery, and resisted the attack of
the Modocs to the last. All the commits
stoned, officers belonging to the battery
were either killed or wounded, together
with three sergeants and two corporals
Three of the Modocs are supposed to have
been killed.
On finding they had fallen into trap,
the troops attempted to retreat. a num-
ber sprang among the rocks and dcrept into
crevices for shelter from the CALLING fire of
the Indians. The Modocs, hidden behind
rocks, fired with deadly precision, and had
every advantage over the troops, who
found themselves exposed to whitening
fire of an unseen foe without being able to
return it effectively. A portion Of the in
fantry retreated to Hollow Port among
the rocks. The Indians saw this and in
few moments the troops were surrounded.
The Modocs secreted in the rocks opened
fire, and killed and wounded all except
three, who managed to escape. No Modocs
are reported killed. The ambuscade was
80 complete that the Indians were entirely
covered from the return fire of the troops
The latter were completely taken by sur
prise.
The battle field presents horrible sight.
In one cavity there were found thirty SOL
dieA dead or wounded, huddled- together
like sheep, while in another seven were
found packed together in small space,
some being dead an1 others badly wound
ed. The Modocs burned and mutilated
several Of the wounded who fell into their
hands.
The difficulty of operating with regular
troops in the country occupied by the Mo-
docs, particularly the heavy losses in the
late attacks has suggested the necessity Of
organizing detachment of rihemen from
the crack shots of the frontier, who live
by hunting in the mountains. The troops
would still answer to invest the strong
hold of the ,avages so as to keep them
safely hemmed in.
A Lava Bed special says: All the troops
returned without hearing Of Lieut.. Gran
ston. The Modocs had a large dance. The
Warm Spring Indians during the excite
ment of the fight were fired upon by the
soldiers and compelled to retreat. Four
men were found around the body Of Lieut.
Wright and eleven around Maj Thomas
and Lieut.. Howe. There were thirty-fve
Modocs which is supposed to be their full |
strength They captured fourteen guns
and about 1000 rounds o. ammunition.
No movement against them for several
days.
San Francisco, April 3Q-A Yreka
dispatch says the people Of that place and
Scott's Valley are arming, fearing gen.
eral Indian war. Citizens in the valleys
of Oregon above the lakes and lava beds
are moving away with their cattle and
property.