Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-04-26
FIGHTING THE MODOCS.

c,rrMEST AMONG SETTLERs-SCENE
OF THE LATE BATTLE-MoDoC FoRTI-
r1cArloNs-SAyAGEs BITING A SHE'LL,
&c
San Francisco, April PA dispatch
from Yreka, last night, states that Mo-
docs were seen hearding their horses 4
miles southeast of that point, and an
equal distance south of their former po-
sition in the lava beds, where they have
large caves and strong positions, with
their women and children. The lake is
near by. Notifications are in progress
to command the water line.
A pack train, under the escort of 1t.
Howe and 20 men, was attacked Satur-
day about 10 o'clock a NJ. Previous
to that hour an escort from Col. Masons
camp coming to meet it was attacked at
Headlong Cave. Lieut.. Leary's men
sought shelter behind the rocks and
drove the Modocs back. When Lieut..
Howe's train came near them the Mo
docs attacked it, but were again driven
back. Lieut.. Leary lost one man killed
and one wounded. The train arrived
safely, but was fired into when entering
the lava beds and again on the return.
When returning on this side of the
cave Lieut.. Howe was again attacked
by the Modocs, who followed him to the
camp, firing on the train. They crept up
to within 500 rods and fired at the pick
cts, and sent volley through the camp.
Major Thomas sent shell into their
midst, which scattered them. There
were eleven in the attacking party.
Arms were distributed to all i'll the
camp. and the Modocs soon fled among
the rocks.
Our allies, the Warm Spring Indians,
are securing the country east OF the bat
tie grounds, and are working toward
the craters, which are at the end of a
high ledge of the Modoc stronghold
south. Fifty desperate ModOcs, roam
ing these rocky businesses, will be able
to work incalculable destruction to pro-
perty, cause a fearful loss of life and lay
waste the country, while the soldiers
will be comparatively powerless, because
they cannot hunt them, and when they
find them they cannot venture out with
out mourning great risk, not knowing
what bunch Of sage brush conceals 4
foe. The troops will not be idle. The
Modocs will have no chance to recruit
their shattered forces. determination
is the word.
If the Indians will make stand TO-
gether in one place we will soon have
I 4he last one, but if they scatter into
small bands it will be very difficult to
! get at them. 1t seems evident now that
they are divided.
TIE RECENT FIGHT
Eleven dead bodies and one live
! Modoc squaw were found i'll a cave OF
the lava beds, making sixteen warriors
slain in the fights of last week. The
bodies of the dead were in sickening
state of decay and were burned The
number of Indians wounded is unknown.
Some of the bodies were horribly burn
ed. Some of the bodies were horribly
mangled by shells Six soldiers and one
civilian were slain. Eleven soldiers
were wounded, two severely, -Four
were disabled by sprained ankles.
Their wounded must be at a greater
rate than ours, as the ground is literally
covered with fragments of broken shells
all over the place. Three shells fell in
the main ravine, i'll the centre of their
camps. scattering the most of them.
There were about two hundred and
twenty men, women and children, sixty
of when could fight The captured
squaw states that john Schonchin, the
second chief, died OF the wound inflicted
bv Commissioner Mcacham on the day
of the massacre.
Mrs. Meacham was within three miles
OF the lava beds on the 18th inst, when
| she was turned back
, Mr.. Meacham is doing finely. The
/ day after tomorrow hc will be taken to
Ferris rancho, by boat to Lost River
and thence by ambulance to the rancho.
As soon rs the cavalry return the Mo
docs will be attacked if they remain
where we think they now are Captain
Eagan is rapidly recovering.
The remains of young Hovey were
disinterred at the scene of the late fight
by his father and reinterred at Yreka
The poor boy was scalped and disem-
boweled, and his head mashed with
three flat stones Harmon, who fell
within the Indian lines, was scalped.
TIE MODoC FoRTIrICATION.
Gen. Gillem and number of officers
visited the late lava bed stronghold, and
were much astonished at the ingenuity
of the Modocs in their artificial work
on these natural Notifications. At one
spot thcr constructed winding gallery
up rocky bluff. which was guarded by
side wall of broken rocks SO placed as
to render it impreenable to musketry
from any point. Every prominent rock
that commanded an approach was forti-
fled with breastworks of loose rock, be
hind which they could shoot with their
guns at rest and perfect security from
the fire of the attacking party. Our
shells, however, were too hot for them.
WHAT THE OLD SQUAw SAID.
The old Modoc squaw, who was cap
tured III the rocks, and who was recog-
nlzed 10y John Fairchild as Black Jim's
mother-in-law, was in great scare, but
finally, after finding that nobody was
gong to hurt her, and, getting plenty