Chapter XXII

U. S. SENATORS COST BLOOD——FAIR FIGHT——OPEN
FIELD.

Change in the Indian Superintendency——T. B. Odeneal Appointed——
His Qualifications for the Office——Did not Understand the
Indians——The Modocs Ordered to Klamath Reservation——They
Refuse to go——Captain Jackson Ordered to the Modoc Camp——
Twelve Settlers go to see the Fun——Character of Frontiersmen——
Who are Responsible for Indian Wars——Situation of Jack’s Camp——
Number of his Braves——Arrival of the Soldiers and Citizens——
They come Unexpected——A Fatal Mistake——First Gun of the Modoc
War——First Battle——Modocs Victorious——Fight on the other side
of the River——Inglorious Results to the White——Reinforcements
sent for by Major Jackson——Captain Jack and his Braves retire
to the Lava Beds——Scar-face Charley remains behind——His
Strange Motive for so doing——John A. Fairchild——He learns an
Important Lesson——His Humanity and Wisdom——White Citizens cry
for Vengeance——Fourteen Modocs agree to return to Klamath——Why
they rejoined Captain Jack——The latter always for Peace——The
curly-haired Doctor wanted War——He and other Modocs Commit
Horrid Crimes——Seventeen Whites Butchered——The Scene that
followed——The Victims of the Slaughter——Friends of the
Murderers——The Author’s Authority for many of his Statements——
Captain Jack denounces the Murderers, and demands that they
shall be surrendered to the Whites——Is overruled 361

CHAPTER XXIII.

MOURNING EMBLEMS AND MILITARY POMP.

“Wails of Anguish”——“Intense Excitement”——“A Scene of Woe seldom
Equalled”——“A Sublime Portraiture of Frontier Life”——“Who
shall say Vengeance on The Avenger”——“The Government called to
a Rigid Account”——“War Succeeds Sorrow”——“The Grand Army of
Two Hundred”——“Opinions that _are_ Opinions, and the Reasons
for them”——“A Job before Breakfast not accomplished”——“Benefit
of the War to Oregon and California”——“The Politicians and
Speculators’ Opportunity”——“Four Hundred White Soldiers”——
“Proposition to slay Modoc Women and Children”——“A Little
Gray-eyed Man Objects”——“A good deal of Buncombe and of
anticipated Glory” 377

CHAPTER XXIV.

PEACE OR WAR——ONE HUNDRED LIVES VOTED AWAY BY
MODOC INDIANS.

A Descent to the Lava Bed——Tule Lake——The Lone Woman with a
Field Glass——The Deserted White House——The Dark Bluff——The
Red-skinned Loyal Soldiers——The Solitary Tree——Description of
the Lava Bed——Link River Jack the Natural Traitor——Council
among the Modocs——Jack Still for Peace——Earnest Speeches on
both sides——The Curly-headed Doctor decides the Momentous
Question——The Vote is for War——How the Doctor makes Medicine——
Captain Jack Plans the Battle——A Lost Warning to the Sleepers
388

CHAPTER XXV.

WARPATH.

4 A.M., January 17, 1873——Preparation for the Battle——The
Conflict Begins——The Deadly Modoc’s Bullets——Where are the
Volunteers——The Battle Rages with fearful Loss of Life——Orders
to Retreat——The Wounded to be Rescued——Vain Attempt, the
Victims Scalped——Modoc Rejoicings——Speeches of the Victors——
Captain Jack not so Enthusiastic——General Wheaton’s Defeat——
Comments of the Volunteers——The Sarcasm of the Gray-eyed Man
400

CHAPTER XXVI.

OLIVE BRANCH AND CANNON BALLS——WHICH WILL WIN?

The Peace Commission Appointed——Terms of Peace unwisely Proposed
to the “Modocs”——The “Modocs” seem to accept the Terms——Joy in
Camp——It is suddenly Dampened——The Great Mistake of Steele,
the Messenger——The Fearful Crisis——A Most Suitable Time to say
Prayers——Honor among Savages——The Messenger’s Strategy——It
Saves his Life——His Report——The Author’s Dispatch to
Washington——The Reply——Anxiety and Gloom in Camp——Modoc
Messengers——What they Propose——Commission in the hands of
General Canby——Prejudiced against Tobey——The Modocs offer to
Surrender——Wagons sent to Receive Them——Their Intentions——They
Fail to Agree——Modoc Horses Captured——General Canby won’t
return them 413