USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. II, 1848-1888 > Part 56
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27 Military Correspondence, MS., June 10, 15, and 20, 1872; Odeneal's Mo- doc War, 31-2.
28 Steele was threatened with prosecution by Odeneal, and in the defence before referred to, after explaining his acts, says: 'At this last interview with Capt. Jack I again tried to persuade him to go upon the reservation, but I must confess that it was as much to avoid the trouble and expense that would fall upon me in getting the land grant through for them as from any other motive.' Modoc Question, MS., 25.
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THE MODOC WAR.
It now being definitely settled that Jack's band must go upon the reservation to reside before winter, Odeneal repaired to the Klamath agency November 25th, sending a special messenger, James Brown of Salem, and Ivan Applegate to Lost River to invite them to meet him at Linkville, and to promise them the kindest treatment if they would consent to go to Yainax, where ample provision had been made for their support. If they would not consent, he required them to meet him at Linkville on the 27th for a final understanding.
To the military authorities a communication was addressed requiring them to assist in carrying out the instructions of the commissioner of Indian affairs by compelling, if necessary, the obedience of the Modoes to recognized authority, and they had signified their readiness to perform this duty.29 On the 27th Ode- neal and Dyar repaired to Linkville to meet the Mo- does, according to appointment, but found there only the messengers, by whom they were apprised of Jack's refusal either to go upon the reservation or to meet the superintendent at that place. "Say to the super- intendent," returned Jack, "that we do not wish to see him or talk with him. We do not want any white man to tell us what to do. Our friends and counsel- lors are men in Yreka, California. They tell us to stay where we are, and we intend to do it, and will not go upon the reservation. I am tired of being talked to, and am done talking." One of Jack's lieu- tenants, commonly known as Scarface Charley, from a disfigurement, would have taken the lives of the messengers upon the spot, but was restrained by Jack, who preferred waiting until the superintendent was in his power.30
29 Odeneal's Modoc War, 33. Capt. Jackson had been superseded in the command at Fort Klamath by Maj. G. G. Hunt, who in turn was relieved July 17th by Maj. John Green. Major Otis had also been relieved of the command of the district of the lakes by Colonel Frank Wheaton, 21st inf.
30 This was revealed by friendly Indians present at the conference. It is found in Dyar's statement.
573
FORCE TO BE USED.
Being now assured that nothing short of an armed force could bring the Modocs to submission, Odeneal sent word to Colonel Green, in command at Fort Klamath, that military aid would be required in ar- resting Captain Jack, Black Jim, and Scarface, who should be held subject to his orders.
It had never been contemplated by the superintend- ent or by Canby that any number of troops under fifty should attempt to take Jack and his warriors. In view of this necessity, Canby had issued a special order early in September giving Wheaton control of the troops at Klamath, that in an emergency of this kind he might have a sufficient force to make the movement successful, and Wheaton had directed Green to keep him fully advised by courier of the attitude of the Modocs. But now occurred a fatal error. Ivan Applegate, who carried Odeneal's requi- sition to the fort, supposed that there was a sufficient force of cavalry at the post to arrest half a dozen Ind- ians,31 however brave or desperate, and gave it as his opinion that no serious resistance would be made to the troops. Odeneal, in his letter to Green, said: "I transfer the whole matter to your department, with- out assuming to dictate the course you shall pursue in executing the order." Green, who was of Apple- gate's opinion that the Modocs would yield at the ap- pearance of his cavalry, and thinking it better to take Jack and his confederates before they were reënforced, innnediately sent off Captain Jackson with thirty-six men to execute the order.82
The troops left Fort Klamath at noon on the 28th,
31 The order to arrest did not include more. Jack was believed to have about 60 fighting men, and that about half that number were at his camp.
32 When the mistake had been made, there was the usual quarrel between the military and Indian departments as to which had been in the wrong. Gen. Canby exonerated Odeneal by saying: 'The time and manner of apply- ing force rested in the discretion of the military commander.' It is easy to see that Green might have been misled by Applegate's report that Jack had only about half his warriors with him, but he must have known that he was not carrying out the intentions of the commanding general of the department, I myself think that he wished to show how easy a thing it was to dispose of the Modoc question when it came into the proper hands.
574
THE MODOC WAR.
officered by Captain Jackson, Lieutenant Bontelle, and Dr MeEldery. Odeneal had sent Brown, his special messenger, to notify the settlers who were likely to be endangered in case of an engagement with the Modocs. How imperfectly this was done the sequel proved. 33 The superintendent met Jackson on the road about one o'clock on the morning of the 29th, directing him to say to Jack and his followers that he had not come to fight, but to escort them to Yainax, and not to fire a gun except in self-defence.
A heavy rain was falling, through which the troops moved on, guided by Ivan Applegate, until daybreak, when, arriving near Jack's camp, they formed in line, and advancing rapidly, halted upon the outskirts, calling to the Modocs to surrender, Applegate acting as interpreter. The Indians were evidently surprised and wavering, a part of them seeming willing to obey, but Scarface and Black Jim, with some others, re- tained their arms, making hostile demonstrations dur- ing a parley lasting three quarters of an hour. Seeing that the leaders grew more instead of less defiant, Jackson ordered Lieutenant Boutelle to take some men from the line and arrest them. As they ad- vanced, Scarface fired at Boutelle,34 missing him. A volley from both sides followed. Almost at the first fire one cavalryman was killed and seven wounded. The balls from the troops mowed down fifteen Indians.
Up to the time that firing commenced, Jack had remained silent and sullen in his tent, refusing to take any part in the proceedings, but on the opening of hos- tilities he came forth and led the retreat of his people, now numbering twice as many as on the visit of Brown and Applegate. In this retreat the women and chil- dren were left behind. It was now that the rashness of Colonel Green became apparent. Jackson's force,
33 Brown afterward said he knew nothing of any settlers below Crawley's farm, and that the men he notified said nothing about any. Odeneal's Modoc War, 39. The truth was that none comprehended the danger.
34 Oregonian, Dec. 12, 1872; Yreka Journal, Jan. 1, 1873; Red Bluff Sen- tinel, Dec. 7, 1872.
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BEGINNING OF HOSTILITIES.
already too light, was lessened by the loss of eight men, whom he dared not leave in camp lest the Indian women should murder and mutilate them, and he was therefore unable to pursue. Leaving a light skirmish line with Boutelle, he was forced to employ the re- mainder of the troops in conveying the wounded and dead to the east side of the river in canoes, and thence half a mile to the cabin of Dennis Crawley, after which he returned and destroyed the Indian camp.
In the mean time a citizens' company, consisting of O. C. Applegate, James Brown, J. Burnett, D. Craw- ley, E. Monroe, Caldwell, and Thurber, who had gath- ered at Crawley's to await the result of the attempted arrest, attacked a smaller camp on the east side, and lost one man, Thurber. They retired to the farm and kept up firing at long range to prevent the Indians crossing the river and attacking Jackson's command on the flank and rear. While this was going on, two men fled wounded to Crawley's, one of whom, William Nus, soon died. At this intimation that the settlers below were uninformed of their danger, Ivan Apple- gate, Brown, Burnett, and other citizens went in various directions to warn them, leaving but a small force at Crawley's to guard the wounded. During their absence Jackson was called upon to protect this place from the hostilities of Hooker Jim and Curly- headed Doctor, two of Jack's head men not before mentioned. As there was no ford nearer than eight miles, the troops spent two or three hours getting to Crawley's, where they encamped, and beheld in the distance the smoke of burning hay-ricks. 35
On the morning of the 30th, Captain Jackson hav- ing heard that a family named Boddy resided three and a half miles below Crawley's, who had not been warned, despatched a detachment with a guide to ascertain their fate. Finding the family absent, and the premises undisturbed, the troops returned with this report, the guide Crawley coming to the conclu-
35 S. F. Alta, Dec. 12, 1872; Oregon Herald, Dec. 14, 1872.
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THE MODOC WAR.
sion that they had fled south, warning others on the way. But in this he was mistaken, four out of a family of six at this place having been killed, and two having escaped.36
It was afterward ascertained that no more persons were killed on the 29th; but on the following day a number of men about Tule Lake were slain, among them their good friend Miller.37 Living within sev- enty-five yards of Miller's house was the Brotherton family, three men of which were killed. That the remainder were saved, was due to the courage of Mrs Brotherton, who defended her home for three days before relief arrived.38 The victims in this collision
36 The men, William Boddy, Nicholas Schira, his son-in-law, and two step- sons, William and Richard Cravigan, were killed while about their farm work. Mrs Schira, seeing the team-horses coming home without a driver, ran to them and found the lines bloody. She put the horses in the stable, and with her mother walked along the road to find her husband. About half a mile from the house he was found lying on the ground, shot through the head. Remembering her brothers, she left her mother with the dead and ran on alone to find them. On the way she passed Hooker Jim, Curly-headed Doctor, Long Jim, One-eyed Mose, Rock Dave, and Humpy Jerry, all well-known members of Jack's band, who did not offer to intercept her. After finding the body of one brother, Mrs Schira returned to her mother, and together they fled over a timbered ridge toward Crawley's, but while on the crest, seeing a number of persons about the house, mistook them for Indians, and turned toward the highest hills in the direction of Linkville, which were theu covered with snow. After wandering until the middle of the 21 day without food or fire, they were met and conducted to the bridge on Lost River, from which place they were taken to Link ville. On the 2d of Dec. Mrs Schira returned with a wagon to look for her dead, but found that Boutelle had gone on the same errand. The Boddy family were from Australia, and were industrious, worthy people. Jacksonville Sentinel, Dec. 1872.
37 In the Yreka Journal of Dec. 4, 1872, is the following: 'In the massacre of settlers that followed the attack on the Modocs, the Indians killed none but those who were foremost in trying to force them on the reservation.' On the contrary, it is remarkable that not one of those killed were signers of the petitions for their removal, lists of which have been published in documents here quoted. These persons were afraid to petition for Jack's removal.
38 Seeing some Indians approaching who had her husband's horses, Mrs Brotherton took the aların. Three Indians surrounded the house of John Shroeder, a neighbor, and shot him while he was trying to escape on horse- back. Joseph Brotherton, a boy of 15 years, was in company with this man, but heing on foot, the Indians gave no attention to him while in pursuit of the mounted man. Mrs Brotherton, seeing her son running toward the house, went out to meet him with a revolver. Her younger son called her back and ran after her, but she ordered him to return to the house and get a Henry rifle, telling him to elevate the sight for 800 yards and fire at the Indians. He obeyed, his still younger sister wiping and handling the cartridges. Under cover of the rifle the mother and son reached the house in safety. which was fastened, barricaded, and converted into a fortress by making loop-holes. The Indians retired during the night, but guard was maintained. One Indian was
577
THE WAR BEGUN.
between Jack and the troops counted eighteen white men and about the same number of Indians. 39
War was now fairly inaugurated. Jack had thrown down the gauntlet to the United States, and Crawley's cabin in the midst of the grassy meadows of Lost River had become the headquarters of a so far defeated and humiliated military force. The distance from Craw- ley's to Fort Klamath was sixty miles, to the agency fifty-five, to Camp Yainax about the same, to Link- ville twenty-three miles, to Ashland, in the Rogue River Valley, eighty-eight miles, to Camp Warner about the same distance, and to Yreka farther. There were no railroads or telegraph lines in all the country, and a chain of mountains lay between the camp and the post-road to army headquarters. That was the situation.
As soon as news of the fight reached the agency, Dyar raised a company of thirty-six Klamaths, whom he placed under D. J. Ferrec, and sent to reënforce Jackson. O. C. Applegate hastened to Yainax to learn the temper of Sconchin's band of Modocs, and finding them friendly, organized and armed a guard of fifteen to prevent a raid on the camp, and taking with him nine others, part Modocs and part Klamaths, crossed the Sprague River mountains into Langell Valley, and proceeded thence to Clear Lake, to ascer- tain the condition of his uncle, Jesse Applegate. Arriving December 2d, he found his brother Ivan had been there with a party of six citizens and five cavalrymen. The troops being left to guard the family at Clear Lake, the citizens set out upon a search for the bodies of the killed, and O. C. Applegate with his company of Indians, himself in disguise, imme- killed and one wounded in the defence. On the third day Ivan Applegate came that way and took the family to Crawley's. Oregonian, Dec. 9, 1872. Besides those mentioned, the persons killed were John Shroeder, Sover, a herdsman, Adam Shillinghow, Christopher Erasmus, Collins, and two travellers, in all 15 men and boys, besides Nus, Thurman, and the cavalryman.
39 S. F. Call, Dec. 2, 6, 8, 1872; S. F. Bulletin, Dec. 2, 3, 12, 27, 1872; S. F. Post, Dec. 6. 1872; Sac. Union, Dec. 13, 19, 1872.
HIST. OB., VOL. II. 37
578
THE MODOC WAR.
diately joined in the search. While at Brotherton's they had a skirmish with Scarface's party of Modocs. Fortifying themselves in a stable, one of the friendly Modocs was sent to hold a parley with Scarface, and to spy upon him, which he did by affecting to sym- pathize with his cause. He escaped back by pre- tending that he went to bring in other sympathizers from the reservation, but instead revealed the plan of the enemy, which was to finish the work of murder and pillage on that day. Jack and eighteen warriors were to proceed down the west side of Lost River to the Stone Ford, and join Scarface. When they had killed the men who were searching for the dead, they would return and attack Jackson; but Applegate's party prevented the junction. Ferrer's company of Klamaths had also been on a scout down the west side of the river, under Blow, one of the head men on the reservation, which being observed by Jack, re- strained his operations on that side. They could not now attack without exposing themselves to the fire of two camps a short distance apart, and retired to the lava-beds.
Entering lower Klamath Lake from the southi was a small stream forking toward the west, the southern branch being known as Cottonwood Creek, and the western one as Willow Creek. On the first was a farm belonging to Van Bremer, and on the other the farm of John A. Fairchilds. On Hot Creek, a stream coming into the lake on the west side, lived P. A. Dorris. Between Dorris' and Fairchild's places was an encampment of forty-five Indians called Hot Creeks, a branch of the Modocs, a squalid company, but who if they joined Jack's forces might become dangerous; and these it was determined to bring upon the reser- vation. Being a good deal frightened by what they knew of the late events, they yielded to argument, and set out for their new home under the conduct of Fair- child, Dorris, and Samuel Culver.
579
UNFORTUNATE RUMORS.
Dyar had been notified to meet them at Linkville, where the Indians would be turned over to him. But now happened one of those complications liable to arise under circumstances of so much excitement, when every one desired to be of service to the common cause without knowing in the least what to do. The same thought had occurred to William J. Small, residing three miles below Whittle's ferry on Klamath River, who organized a party among his neighbors and set out for Hot Creek with the purpose of removing these Indians to the reservation. Knowing that they were liable to fall in with the hostile Modocs, they went well armed. At Whittle's the two parties met, and the conductors of the Indians, being suspicious of the in- tentions of Small's men, opposed their visiting the Indian encampment, on which Small and his men re- turned home.
In the interim four citizens of Linkville, all good men, hearing of Small's enterprise, and anxious for its success, started to reinforce him. On the way a drunken German named Fritz attached himself to the party, and talked noisily of avenging the death of his friend William Nus. From this man's gabble the re- port spread that the Linkville men contemplated the massacre of the Hot Creek Indians. Alarmed by this rumor, Isaac Harris and Zenas Howard hastened by a shorter route to the ferry to warn Fairchild, so that when the Linkville men arrived they found them- selves confronted by the escort of the Indians with arms in their hands. An explanation ensued, when the Linkville party turned off to Small's place. Fritz, however, remained at the ferry and contrived to alarm the Indians by his drunken utterances.
When Dyar reached Linkville he too heard the rumor afloat, and hastened on to the ferry, although it was already night, intending to thwart any evil intent by moving the Indians past Linkville before daylight. Fairchild agreed to the proposition, and hastened to inform the Indians and explain the cause. An ar-
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THE MODOC WAR.
rangement had been entered into with Small's party to escort them, and the Indians readily consented, saddling their ponies, and the foremost accompanying Dyar to the ferry. Here they waited for some time for the remainder to follow, when it was discovered that they had fled back to their native rocks and sage- brush. The few with Dyar soon followed, and thus ended a laudable attempt to lessen the hostile force by placing this band peaceably on the reserve.
In a day or two these Indians were employed making arrows and bullets, in the midst of which a wagon arrived from the Klamath agency, and another attempt was made to remove the Hot Creek Indians to the reservation, but they disappeared in a night, taking with them not only their own horses and pro- visions, but those of their friend Fairchild.
After the failure of the attempt to remove the Hot Creek band, an effort was made by Fairchild, Dorris, Beswick, and Ball, all personally well known to the Modocs, to persuade Jack to surrender and prevent the impending war. They found him in the juniper ridge between Lost River and the lava-beds south of Tule Lake; but although he refrained from any act of hostility towards them, he rejected all overtures with impatience, and declared his desire to fight. In this interview Jack denied all responsibility of the affair of the 29th, saying that the troops fired first; and further, placed all the guilt of the murders of innocent settlers upon Long Jim, although Scarface, Black Jim, and himself had been recognized among the murderers.40
The effect of Fairchild's visit was to give Jack an opportunity to gain over the Hot Creek head men who
" This moral obliquity of Jack's makes it impossible to heroize him, not- withstanding I recognize something grand in his desperate obstinacy. On his trial he said, referring to this occasion: 'I did not think of fighting. John Fairchild came to my tent and asked me if I wanted to fight. I told him, "No, I was done fighting."' Scarface admitted at his trial that he killed one of the settlers, and Jack was with him. But it is observable all through the history of the war that Jack denied his crimes, and endeavored to fasten the responsibility upon others, even upon his own friends. He was the prince of liars.
581
MILITARY MOVEMENTS.
accompanied him. It also convinced the military that no terms would be accepted by the Modocs except such as they were able to enforce. All the families in this region were immediately sent to Yreka, and men in isolated places surrounded themselves with stockades.
The courier of Colonel Green found the commander of the district of the lakes confined to his bed with quinsy. He trusted there would be no serious diffi- culty, but advised Green to use all the force at his command, and sent him Captain Perry's troop F, of the 1st cavalry, and also a small detachment from Fort Bidwell under Lieutenant J. G. Kyle, which he said would give him a force of seventy-five cavalry- men in addition to Jackson's company, or a hundred and fifty completely equipped troops.41 Before Whea- ton's order reached Fort Klamath the mischief had been consummated. On news of the disaster being received at Camp Warner, Perry's troops set out by way of Yainax, to join Jackson, and Captain R. F. Bernard was ordered from Bidwell by the southern immigrant road to the same destination. They were directed to make forced marches, the supply-trains to follow. But the condition of the roads made travel- ling slow, and a week had elapsed after Jackson's fight before he was reënforced.
In order to protect the roads between the settle- ments, and to keep open the route to Yreka, Bernard's troops were stationed at Louis Land's place on the east shore of Tule Lake, on the borders of that vol- canic region popularly known as the lava-beds, in whose rocky caves and cañons Jack had taken refuge with his followers. From Bernard's camp to Jack's stronghold, as reported by the scouts, was a distance of thirteen miles, or two miles from the western
+1 II. Ex. Doc., 122, 40, 43d cong. Ist sess. This remark of Wheaton's shows that he, as well as Odeneal and Applegate, thought there must be at Klamath from 60 to 75 cavalrymen-twice as many were sent to arrest the Modocs.
582
THE MODOC WAR.
border of the lava-fields. The trail thence was over and among rocks of every conceivable size, from a pebble to a cathedral. The opportunity afforded for conceal- ment, and the danger of intrusion, in such a region was obvious.
At Van Bremer's farm, distant twelve miles from the stronghold on the west, was Perry's command, while Jackson remained at Crawley's, where Green had his headquarters. As fast as transportation could be procured, the material of war was being concen- trated at this point. General Canby, on receiving in- formation of the affair of the 29th, at once despatched General E. C. Mason with a battalion of the 21st in- fantry, comprising parts of C and B companies, num- bering sixty-four men, to join Wheaton's forces. A special train on the 3d of December conveyed Mason, Captain George H. Burton, and lieutenants V. M. C. Silva, W. H. Boyle, and H. De W. Moore to Roseburg, then the terminus of the Oregon and California railroad.42 The remainder of the march, to Jacksonville and over the mountains through rain and snow, occupied two weeks, making it the middle of December before the infantry reached Crawley's. It was not until about the same time that Wheaton reached Green's headquarters, where he found the anı- munition nearly exhausted by distribution among the settlers, necessitating the sending of Bernard to Camp Bidwell, ninety miles, with wagons, for a supply.
The governors of both California and Oregon had been called upon by the people of their respective states to furnish aid. Governor Booth of California responded by sending to the frontier arms out of date, and ammunition too large for the guns; " Governor Grover forwarded a better equipment. The Wash-
42 Boyle's Personal Observations on the Conduct of the Modoc War, a manu- script of 46 pages, has been of great service to me in enabling me to give a con- nected account of that remarkable campaign. Boyle was post quartermaster. He relates that the talk of the officers at Vancouver was that 'when Green goes after those Modocs he will clean them out sooner than a man could say Jack Robinson,' and that he thought so himself.
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