First Battle of the Stronghold The First Battle of the Stronghold ( January 17 , 1873 ) was the second battle in the Modoc War of 1872 – 1873 . The battle was fought between the United States Army under Lieutenant Colonel Frank Wheaton and a band of the Native American Modoc tribe from Oregon and California , led by Captain Jack . The United States Army was attempting to remove the Modoc from the natural fortress Captain Jack ' s Stronghold , in the lava beds on the south shore of Tule Lake in northeastern California , and return them to the Klamath Reservation in Oregon . The Modocs soundly defeated the Army , forcing it to retreat . Factors aiding the Modoc included their excellent defensive position , steady patience , and the thick fog that obscured portions of the battlefield . Background . Immediately after the inconclusive November 27 , 1872 Battle of Lost River in Oregon , the Modocs involved escaped to the lava beds in what is now Lava Beds National Monument , California , where they joined with an additional band of Modoc Indians under the leadership of Shacknasty Jim from Hot Creek , who had not been involved in the " Lost River " action . The Modocs were encamped at a natural fortress of caves and trenches 300 yards ( 300 m ) wide and 2 miles ( 3 km ) long in the lava beds , now known as " Captain Jack ' s Stronghold " , which they had improved to make more defensible . The Modoc had also captured about 100 head of cattle that they were using as a food supply . The Army moved units from all across the Department of the Columbia to the south end of Tule Lake , where the units established two encampments , the larger at Van Brimmer ' s Ranch , about 10 miles west of the Stronghold , and a smaller force at Louis Land ' s Ranch , 12 miles ( 19 km ) to the east . Forces . Modoc . There were about 160 in the Modoc bands , 53 of whom were warriors . The leaders of the group were Captain Jack , Shaknasty Jim , Scarfaced Charley , Hooker Jim , and John Schonchin . United States . The US Army force in the field consisted of about 400 men . Lieutenant Colonel Frank Wheaton was in command , and had his headquarters at Van Brimmer ' s Ranch . Major John Green commanded the force in the west , and Captain Reuben Bernard was in command of the forces in the east . The west force , under Major Green , consisted of the 21st Infantry under Major Edwin Mason ; two companies of the Oregon militia under General John E . Ross ; 1st Cavalry , Troop F , under Captain David Perry ; a company of California volunteers under Captain John O . Fairchild , and one section of two 12 pounder ( 5 kg ) mountain howitzer s under 2nd Lieutenant W . H . Miller . Captain Bernard ' s much smaller force consisted of 1st Cavalry , Troop B under Captain James Jackson and Troop G under 2nd Lieutenant John Kyle ; and a company of Klamath scouts under Dave Hill . Preparation for attack . Colonel Wheaton planned a two - pronged attack . The primary attack would come from the main force in the west ; a secondary attack from the east would prevent the Modoc escaping . The two forces were to spread out and meet in the middle of the lava fields , south of the Stronghold , thus trapping the Modoc against Tule Lake . The howitzers were to provide support for the western attack . All men in the assault were to proceed on foot . The units left their camps on January 16 to move into position . Major Green ' s units arrived at the southwest corner of Tule Lake at 1 pm ; the artillery , which had traveled a longer , flatter route , arrived after dark . Their camp was at the top of a bluff , overlooking the lava beds , about 3 miles west of the Stronghold . Captain Bernard ' s group also advanced on the 16th , their objective being Hospital Rock , two miles east of the Stronghold . However , a thick fog obscured their view and the forces came within a mile of the Stronghold . At this point Bernard ordered a withdrawal , but the Modoc had already observed them and gave chase . They began firing on Bernard ' s left flank and pack train , before being run off . Three of Bernard ' s men were wounded in the exchange . Bernard ' s force withdrew to Hospital Rock , and prepared for the next day ' s battle . The battle . On the morning of January 17 , the entire battlefield was covered with a thick fog . In the west Major Green formed a skirmish line , with the 21st Infantry battalion and California volunteers on the left flank , next to the lake , and the Oregon militia on the right flank . He held a detachment of the 21st Infantry and 1st Cavalry , F Troop , in reserve to defend the howitzers . In the east , Bernard ' s force formed up with the Klamath Scouts and B Troop on the left flank , and G troop on the right flank , next to the lake . The battle orders called for the howitzers to fire three shots as a signal for Bernard to begin the attack , then they were to pause for 15 minutes before resuming firing to give the Modoc a chance to move their women and children out of the Stronghold . However , due to the fog , the howitzer crews could not determine where their shots were landing , and they did not resume firing after the signal shots for fear of hitting their own forces . Green ' s force advanced on the Stronghold , and after covering 1 . 5 miles ( 2 . 4 km ) , reformed with F Troop taking the extreme right flank , to attempt to join up with Bernard ' s force . At about this time the western force first began taking fire from the Modoc , who had left the Stronghold to attack the Army in the lava beds . Green ' s advance was slowed to almost nothing as the rough terrain and the enemy fire combined to make advance difficult . The Modoc , concealed by the fog and hiding in the rock formations , shot any target presented to them as they slowly gave ground , causing many casualties among the Army . At about 2 pm , Green ' s force came to a " very deep chasm " , which stopped their advance . In the east , after advancing to about 500 yards ( 500 m ) from the Stronghold , Bernard ' s force also came under fire from the Modoc ; they charged the enemy as the ground on the east was much easier than on the west . However , after advancing 100 yards ( 100 m ) , they encountered a deep gully which they determined to be impassable , and withdrew 150 yards ( 150 m ) . Here Bernard ' s force began building crude fortifications out of the available rock . At this point , Colonel Wheaton abandoned the plan to join the two forces south of the Stronghold . Major Green suggested that they instead attempt to join the units along the lake shore , north of the Stronghold . Orders were shouted to Bernard , who accepted the change in plans . However , Bernard ' s force , behind their makeshift walls , were unwilling to renew the attack . The east force did maintain their position and drew the enemy ' s fire . With the exception of the Oregon militia , who claimed to be stopped by a ravine , Green ' s force began to move to the north along the shore . The California volunteers , 21st Infantry , and F Troop advanced behind the Stronghold , and were within 50 yards ( 50 m ) north of the Stronghold when they were pinned down on the shore by overwhelming Modoc fire . Major Green was wounded when he stood up and urged his men forward , an act for which he later received the Medal of Honor . F Troop and half the 21st Infantry eventually made it to Bernard ' s force , but the rest of the Infantry and the California volunteers were pinned down along the lake shore and were ordered to remain in place until dark . At 5 pm , Colonel Wheaton realized he had failed to capture the Stronghold , and signaled Green and Bernard to retreat . The forces withdrew to their camps , a process that was not completed until after nightfall on January 18 . The US soldiers the Modoc had killed were left on the battlefield , which provided the Modoc with additional rifles and ammunition . The US lost 37 men killed or wounded ; the Modoc suffered no casualties . In fact , with the fog and rock cover , not a single survivor reported having seen a Modoc during the battle . The Modoc ' s spiritual leader , Curley Headed Doctor took credit for raising the fog through his rituals . Aftermath . The defeat of the Army at the First Battle of the Stronghold strengthened the Modoc position , and caused the United States to begin peace negotiations from a position of weakness . The Modoc also gained confidence in their ability to defend their position against a superior force . Lt . Col . Wheaton was relieved of command , and replaced by Col . Alvan Gillem , a veteran of the Seminole War . The US Army brought reinforcements to Tule Lake from San Francisco , Nevada , and Oregon . It recruited additional scouts from the Warm Springs Indian Reservation , while the Oregon militia and California volunteers left the field . During the peace conferences that followed the battle , Major General Edward Canby , commanding officer of the Department of the Columbia , came to the lava beds to lead the peace effort . On Good Friday , April 11 , 1873 , fed up with the long process and little perceived progress , Captain Jack and some of his men ambushed and killed General Canby and another peace commissioner and wounded two more . This act ended the peace talks and led to the Second Battle of the Stronghold that started on April 15 .