USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. II, 1848-1888 > Part 60
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Meanwhile Gillem was waiting for two companies of the 4th artillery, en route from San Francisco, under captains John Mendenhall and H. C. Hasbrouck, to make another attempt to surround the Modocs in their new position, which he reported as being about four miles south of their former one. In their im- patience, the troops went so far as to say that it was concern for his personal safety which deterred Gillem, who had not stirred from camp during the three days' fight, but had all the troops that could be spared posted at his camp.
From the 20th to the 25th nothing was done except to keep the scouts moving. On the night of the 22d McKay discovered a camp of forty Modocs in a ridge at the southern end of the lava-beds, known as the
620
THE MODOC WAR.
Black Ledge. Its distance from headquarters was about four miles, with a trail leading to it from the lake, which was practicable for light artillery. For two days after its discovery no Indians were seen coming to the lake for water, and the opinion prevailed that they had left the lava-beds, in which case they were certain either to escape altogether or to attack the settlements.
In order to settle the question of their whereabouts, a reconnoissance was planned to take place on the 26th, to extend to the Black Ledge. In arranging this scout Gillem consulted with Green. It was decided to send on this service Thomas, with Howe, Cranston, and Harris of the artillery, and Wright of the infantry, with a force of about seventy men, and a part of Donald McKay's scouts, making about eighty- five in all.
Some anxiety was felt as the expedition set out at eight o'clock in the morning, and a watch was kept upon their movements as they clambered among the rocks, until they passed from view behind a large sand-butte, a mile and a half away. Before passing out of sight, they signalled that no Indians had been found. As no official account of what transpired thereafter could ever be given, the facts, as gathered from the soldiers, appear to have been as follows:
Thomas advanced without meeting any opposition or seeing any Indians until he reached the point des- ignated in his orders, keeping out skirmishers on the march, with the Warm Spring scouts on his extreme left, that being the direction from which it was thought the Indians might attack if at all. But none being discovered, and the field appearing to be clear, a halt was called about noon, when inen and officers threw themselves carelessly upon the ground to rest and take their luncheon.
While in this attitude, and unsuspicious of danger, a volley of rifle-balls was poured in among them. It would be impossible to describe the scene which fol-
621
DEFEAT OF THOMAS.
lowed. When the troops were attacked they were in open ground, from which they ran to take shelter in the nearest defensible positions. Many of them never stopped at all, or heeded the word of command of their officers, but kept straight on to camp. "Men, we are surrounded; we must fight and die like sol- diers," cried Thomas; but he was heeded by few, fully two thirds of the men being panic-stricken, and nearly one half running away.
The only shelter that presented itself from the bul- lets of the concealed Modocs was one large and sev- eral smaller basins in the rocks. In these the re- mainder of the command stationed themselves, but this defence was soon converted into a trap in which the victims were the more easily slaughtered. The Indians, who from the first aimed at the officers, were now able to finish their bloody work. In what order they were killed no one could afterward tell; but from the fact that only Thomas and Wright were remembered to have said anything, it is probable the others fell at the first fire, and that it was their fall which demoralized the men so completely. Thomas received several wounds. Wright was wounded in the hip, in the groin, in the right wrist, and through the body. He was in a hole with four of his men, when a sergeant attempted to bring him some water, and was also shot and wounded in the thigh. Soon after Wright died, and the remaining three, all of whom were wounded, were left to defend themselves and protect the body of their dead commander. About three o'clock an Indian crept up to the edge of the basin, calling out in English to the soldiers if they were not wounded to leave for camp, as he did not wish to kill all of them, at the same time throw- ing stones into the pit to cause some movement if any there were really alive. Hearing no sound, he crept closer and peered over, with two or three others, when the soldiers sprang up and fired. The Indians then left them, whether wounded or not the soldiers could
622
THE MODOC WAR.
not tell. Similar scenes were being enacted in other parts of the field. As soon as it was dusk those of the wounded who could move began crawling over the rocks toward camp.
Out of sixty-five enlisted men, twenty-two were killed and sixteen wounded, a loss of over three fifths of the force; of the five commissioned officers, not one escaped, though Harris lived a few days after being mortally wounded; Surgeon Semig recovered with the loss of a leg; making the total loss of twen- ty-seven killed and seventeen wounded, besides a citi- zen shot while going to the relief of the wounded. "Where were the Warm Spring scouts ?" asked the horrified critics of this day's work. They were in the rear and to the left of Thomas, and after the attack, could not get nearer because the soldiers would mis- take them for the Modoes, not being in uniformn.84
According to some witnesses, help was very tardily rendered after the attack on Thomas' command be- came known,85 which it soon was. Although the stragglers began to come in about half-past one o'clock, it was not until night that a rescuing force was ready to go to Thomas' relief. When they did move, there were three detachments of cavalry under captains Trimble and Cresson, and two others under Jackson and Bernard, with two companies of artillery under Throckmorton and Miller. In two lines they moved out over the lava-beds, soon lost to sight in the gloom of night and tempest, a severe storm having come on at the close of a fine day. A large fire was built on a high point, which gave but little guidance on account
84 Boyle's Conduct of the Modoc War, MS., 41-2; Corr. S. F. Chronicle, in Portland Oregonian, May 6, 1873; S. F. Call, April 30, 1873; S. F. Alta, April 30, 1873; Sac. Record-Union, April 30, 1873; S. F. Post, April 29, 1873; S. F. Bulletin, April 29, 1873; Annual Report of Maj .- Gen. Jeff. C. Davis, 1873, p. 5-6; Or. Deutsch Zeitung, May 3, 1873; S. F. Elevator, May 3, 1873. 85 Boyle says that the firing, which began about noon, could be distinctly heard at camp. Cabaniss testified the same. The correspondent of the S. F. Chroni le said that no firing was heard, but that he could see through his glass, from the signal-station, the soldiers running wildly about and crawling over the rocks, evidently panic-stricken. Col Green, he says, went immedi- ately to their assistance; but this was false.
623
CONTINUED DISASTER.
of the weather. When found, the whole extent of ground covered by the dead and wounded was com- prised within a few hundred feet, showing how little time they had in which to move.
Finding it impossible to bring in all the dead, the bodies of the soldiers were piled together and covered with sage-brush, which the Indians subsequently fired. The wounded, and the dead officers, were carried on stretchers, lashed upon the backs of mules, and the ghastly procession returned through the storm to camp, where it arrived at half-past eight on the morn- ing of the 27th.
The loss of so many officers and men deeply affected the whole army. Soldiers who had been in the ser- vice all their lives wept like children.86 The discon- tent which had prevailed since the command devolved upon Gillem became intensified, and officers and men did not hesitate to say that had an experienced Indian fighter, instead of young officers just from the east, been sent upon this reconnaissance, or had these young officers received the proper orders, the disaster need not have occurred. The effect on the public mind was similar, which was at first incredulous, then stunned. "Whipped again! whipped again!" was the universal lament.87
86 ' Especially was this the case as regards Lieut Harris of the 4th art., whose battery, K, perfectly idolized him.' S. F. Call, April 30, 1873. 'That night's march made many a young man old.' Boyle's Conduct of the Modoc War, MS., 4.
67 Evan Thomas was a son of Lorenzo Thomas, formerly adj .- gen. of the army. He was appointed 2d lieut of the 4th art. April 9, 1861, from the dis- trict of Columbia; was promoted to a first lieutenancy on the 14th of May 1861, and made capt. Ang. 31, 1864, though brevetted capt. in Dec. 1862, and brevetted maj. in July 1863, honors won on the field of battle. He left a widow and two children at San Francisco. After receiving his death wound Thomas buried his gold watch and chain, in the hope it might escape discovery by the Modocs, and be recovered by his friends. But the watchful foe did not permit this souvenir to reach them.
Thomas F. Wright was a son of Gen. George Wright, formerly in command of the department of the Columbia. He was appointed to the West Point mili- tary academy in 1858, and served subsequently as Ist lieut in the 2d Cal. cavalry, but resigned in 1863, and was reappointed with the rank of maj. in 6th Cal. inf. He was transferred to the 2d Cal. inf. with the rank of col until he was mustered out at the close of the war of the rebellion with the rank of brevet brig .- gen. He was appointed Ist lieut of the 32d inf. in July 1866. In Jan. 1870 he was assigned to the 12th inf. at Camp Gastou, Cal.,
624
THE MODOC WAR.
On the 2d of May Colonel Jefferson C. Davis, who had succeeded Canby in the command of the depart- ment of the Columbia, arrived at headquarters, where the army had lain inactive and much dispirited since the 26th. Davis sent for Wheaton, to whom he soon restored the command of the troops in the field, and Mendenhall's command having arrived, the army was to some extent reorganized, Davis taking a few days to acquaint himself with the country.
During this interval the Modocs were not idle. Their fires could be seen nightly in the lava-beds, and on the 7th they captured a train of wagons between Bernard's old camp and Scorpion Point, wounding two soldiers. Two Indian women, sent on the same day to reconnoitre the last position of the Modocs, re- ported none in the lava-beds, a statement verified by Mckay. Hasbrouck's light battery, serving as cav- alry, and Jackson's cavalry were immediately ordered to prepare for an extended reconnoissance on the 9th to make sure that no Indians were secreted in any part of the lava-field. On the night of the 9th Has- brouck encamped at Sorass Lake, south-east of the pedregal on the road to Pit River, but the water be- ing unfit for use, a detachment was sent back seven- teen miles to procure some. While the detachment, which was escorted by the Warm Spring scouts, was absent, a company of thirty-three Modocs, headed by Jack, in the uniform of General Canby, attacked the
whence after the battle of the 17th of Jan. he was ordered to the Modoc country. Albian Howe was appointed 2d lieut in 1866, having served as maj. of volunteers during the war. He was promoted to a Ist lieut in Nov. 1869, and brevetted capt. in March 1867. He was the son of Col H. S. Howe, formerly of the U. S. army, but on the retired list. He had but a short time before his death married a daughter of W. F. Barry, colonel of the Ist artil- lery, and commander of the artillery school at Fortress Monroe. Arthur Cranston was a native of Mass., 30 years of age. He graduated from West Point in 1867, and was appointed 2d lieut in the 4th art. He had served in the 7th reg. Ohio vol. before entering the military academy, and was pro- moted to a lieutenancy in the 55th Ohio reg. which served in western V. He left a widow and one child in Washington. George M. Harris was a na- tive of Pa, 27 years of age, and a graduate of West Point of the class of 1868. He was appointed 2d lieut of the 10th infantry in 1868, and assigned to the 4th artillery in 1869. S. F. Call, April 30, 1873.
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A SLIGHT VICTORY.
camp, stampeding their horses and leaving the com- mand on foot.
While the troops were getting under arms, the Mo- docs continued to charge and fire, killing four soldiers and one scout, and wounding seven other men, two mortally. Hasbrouck rallied his command and charged the Indians at the very moment the detachment re- turned, which joining in the fight, the Modoes were pursued three miles and driven into the woods, with a loss of twenty-four pack-animals, their ammunition, one warrior killed, and several disabled, who were carried off on horses toward the mountains on Pit River, Mckay's scouts following.
This was the first important advantage gained since the beginning of the war. The amount of ammuni- tion captured led to the conviction that Jack was re- ceiving aid from some unknown source, a suspicion which he afterward attempted to fix upon the Klam- aths, against whom no evidence was ever shown, all the proofs going to show that the assistance came from Yreka. 83
On news of the attack on Hasbrouck reaching head- quarters, Mason was sent to reënforce him with a hundred and seventy men, and take the command of an expedition whose purpose was to capture Jack. On arriving at Sorass Lake, Mason received in- formation from Mckay that Jack was occupying a fortified position twenty miles south of the original stronghold. He proceeded with three hundred men to invest this position, and keep a watch upon the Mo- docs until the batteries should come up to shell them out of it. But when the attack was made on the 13th Jack had again eluded his pursuers. Has- brouck's command, which had been again mounted, was ordered to give chase toward the south, while Mason remained in camp, and Perry's troop made a
88 Boyle was of opinion that in the fight of the 17th the Klamath scouts gave their ammunition to the Modocs, but Applegate, who was in command, strongly repelled the suspicion, and there was evidence enough of illicit com- merce with persons in or about Yreka.
HIST. OR., VOL. II. 40
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THE MODOC WAR.
dash along the southern border of the lava-beds to beat up Indians in ambush. A thorough scouting of the whole region resulted in surprising a party of the Cottonwood Creek band, killing one warrior and two armed women, who were mistaken for warriors. All the rest of the men escaped, leaving five women and as many children, who were taken prisoners.
From these women intelligence was gained that after the defeat at Sorass Lake two thirds of Jack's following had deserted him, declaring a longer contest useless, and that he had now no ability to fight except in self-defence. At the last stormy conference Jack had reluctantly consented to a cessation of hostilities, and the advocates of peace had retired to their beds among the rocks satisfied; but when morning came they found their captain gone, with his adherents and all the best horses and arms, as they believed, toward Pit River Mountains. The intelligence that the Mo- docs were roaming at will over the country caused the adjutant-general of the militia of California to order to be raised a company of fifty sharp-shooters, under the captaincy of J. C. Burgess of Siskiyou county, which was directed to report to Davis.
On the 20th of May, Hasbrouck brought his pris- oners in to headquarters, at Fairchild's farm, deliv- ering them to the general, who immediately despatched two Indian women, Artena and Dixie, formerly em- ployed as messengers by the peace commissioners, to find the remainder of the Cottonwood band and invite them to come in and surrender without conditions. Artena had no confidence that the Modocs would surrender, because of their fear that the soldiers would fall upon them and slaughter them in revenge for their atrocities. But Davis succeeded in convincing her that he could control his men, and she in turn, after several visits, convinced the hesitating Indians so far that they consented, especially as Davis had at last sent them word that if they again refused they
627
SURRENDER OF THE WARRIORS,
would be shot down wherever found with a gun in their hands.
About sunset on the 22d the ery was heard in camp, "Here they come! Here they are!" Every man started to his feet, and every eamp sound was hushed. In front of the procession rode Blair, tlie superintendent of Fairehild's farm, who sharply eyed the strolling soldiers. Fifty yards behind him rode Fairchild; behind him the Modoc warriors, followed by the women and children, all mounted, or rather piled, upon a few gaunt ponies, who fairly staggered under them. All the men wore portions of the United States uniform, and all the women a motley assortment of garments gathered up about the settle- ments, or plundered from the houses pillaged in the beginning of the war. Both men and women had their faces daubed with pitch, in sign of mourning, giving them a hideous appearance. Among them were the lame, halt, and blind, the scum of the tribe. Slowly and silently they filed into eamp, not a word being uttered by any one. Davis went forward a little way to meet them, when twelve warriors laid down their Springfield rifles at his feet, these being but about a third of the fighting strength of this band. Among them, however, were Bogus Charley, Curly- headed Doctor, Steamboat Frank, and Shacknasty Jim, four notorious villains. When asked where were Boston Charley and Hooker Jim, Bogus answered that Boston was dead, and Hooker Jim was searching for his body, neither of which stories was true. Con- scious of his deserts, Hooker was skulking outside the guard, afraid to come in, but perceiving that the others were unharmed, he finally presented himself at camp by running at the top of his speed past the sol- diers and throwing himself on the floor of Davis's tent. The surrendered band numbered sixty-five in all.
The captive Modocs now endeavored by their hu- mility and obedience to deserve the confidenee of the commander, and if possible to secure immunity from
828
THE MODOC WAR.
punishment for themselves, and Davis thought best to make use of this truckling spirit in putting an end to the war. From the information imparted by them in several interviews, it was believed that Jack was on the head-waters of Pit River with twenty-five war- riors and plenty of horses and arms, and it was deter- mined that a scouting expedition should take the field in that direction. On the 23d of May, Jackson left Fairchild's with his cavalry, marching by the Lost River ford to Scorpion Point, where the artillery com- panies were encamped. On the 25th Hasbrouck marched to the same rendezvous, Perry following on the 28th, and with him went the expedition and dis- trict headquarters.
Three days previous to the removal of headquar- ters, the commander, with five soldiers, two citizens, and four armed Modocs, made a reconnoissance of the lava-beds, the Modoes behaving with the most perfect fidelity, and convincing Davis that they could be trusted to be sent on a scout. Accordingly, on the 27th, they were furnished with rations for four days, and sent upon their errand. Soon they returned, having found Jack east of Clear Lake, on the old im- migrant road to Goose Lake, preparing to raid Apple- gate's farm on the night of the 28th.
Jackson's and Hasbrouck's squadrons, and the Warm Springs scouts were at once ordered to Applegate's and to take the trail of the Modocs toward Willow Creek cañon, a despatch being sent to notify the troops en route from Fairchild's under Wheaton to hasten and join headquarters at Clear Lake. Elabo- rate preparations were made for the capture, skirmish lines being formed on each side of Willow Creek, and all the prominent points in the vicinity held by de- tachments.
When all these preparations had been completed for investing the Modoc camp, a number of the Indians appeared, calling out to the officers that they did not want to fight, and would surrender, when orders were
629
IN PURSUIT OF JACK.
given not to fire. Boston Charley then came forward and gave up his arms, stating that the band were hidden among the rocks and trees, but would surrender if he were allowed to bring them in. At this moment the accidental discharge of a carbine in the hands of one of the scouts caused the Indians on the north side of the creek to disappear; but Boston offered to undertake gathering them in, if permitted to do so, which permission was given by Green. It happened, however, that after crossing to the other side of the cañon for that purpose, Boston was captured by Has- brouck's troops coming up that side, and sent to the rear under guard, and that Green did not become aware of this fact for two hours, during which he waited for Boston's return, and the Modoc warriors escaped, though some women and children were captured. It being too late to follow the trail of the fugitives, the troops bivouacked for the night.
On the morning of the 30th Hasbrouck's scouts discovered the trail on the north side of Willow Creek, leading toward Langell Valley. Owing to the broken surface of the country, it was not until late in the day that the foremost of the troops under Jackson, who had crossed the creek and joined in the pursuit, reached the crest of the rocky bluff bounding Langell Valley on the east, and where the Modocs were discovered to be. When the skirmishers had advanced to within gun-shot, Scarface Charley came forward with several others, offering to surrender, and was permitted to return to the band whom he promised to bring in. Jack's sister Mary, being with the troops, went with Scarface, as did also Cabaniss,8 to both of whom Jack promised surrender in the morning. But when morning came, true to his false nature, he had again disappeared with a few of his followers.
The news of Jack's escape being sent to head- quarters, Perry was ordered, on the morning of the
19 Eureka West Coast Signal, March 1, 1876; Corr. Oregonian, June 3, 1873.
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THE MODOC WAR.
31st, to take guides and join in the pursuit.90 About half-past one o'clock on the morning of June Ist Perry struck Jack's trail five miles east of Apple- gate's, and at half-past ten he was surrounded. He came cautiously out of his hiding-place, glanced un- easily about him for a moment, then assuming a confident air, went forward to meet Perry and the officers present with him, Trimble, Miller, and De Witt, with whom he shook hands. He apologized for being captured by saying "his legs had given out." 21 The troops were all called in, and the world was allowed to know and rejoice over the surrender of this redoubtable chieftain to a military force of 985 regulars and 71 Indian allies.
The number of Jack's warriors at the outset was estimated to be sixty. By the addition of the Hot Creek band he acquired about twenty more. When the Modoes surrendered there were fifty fighting men and boys, over fifty women, and more than sixty children. The loss on the side of the army was one hundred in killed and wounded; forty-one being killed, of whom seven were commissioned officers. Adding the number of citizens killed, and the peace commis- sioners, the list of killed reached sixty-three, besides two Indian allies, making sixty-five killed, and sixty- three wounded, of whom some died. Thus the actual loss of the army was at least equal to the loss of the Modocs, leaving out the wounded; and the number of white persons killed more than double.92
Now that Captain Jack was no more to be feared, a feeling of professional pride caused the army to make much of the man who with one small company armed with rifles had baffled and defeated a whole regiment of trained soldiers with all the appliances of modern warfare. But there was nothing in the ap-
90 Henry Applegate, son, and Charles Putnam, grandson, of Jesse Apple- gate, were the guides who led Perry to Jack's last retreat.
91 Annual Rept of Jeff. C. Davis, 1873.
92 The Yreka Union of May 17, 1873, makes the number of killed 71, and wounded 67.
631
CAPTURE OF CAPTAIN JACK.
pearance of Jack to indicate the military genius that was there. He was rather small, weighing about 145 pounds, with small hands and feet, and thin arms. His face was round, and his forehead low and square. His expression was serious, almost morose, his eyes black, sharp, and watchful, indicating cunning, caution, and a determined will. His age was thirty-six, and he looked even younger. Clad in soiled cavalry pan- taloons and dark calico shirt, his bushy, unkempt hair cut square across his forehead, reclining negligently on his elbow on the ground, with a pipe between his teeth, from which smoke was seldom seen to issue, his face motionless but for the darting of his watchful eyes, he looked almost like any other savage.93
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