Page:The History of Oregon Bancroft 1888.djvu/602

 tion become exhaused, nothing was easier for them than to steal out unobserved through the narrow chasms, while watch was kept upon one of the many lofty pinnacles of rock about them. But they were not likely to be soon forced out by want, since they had taken $700 in money at one place, and $3,000 worth of stores at another, besides a large amount of ammunition and a few rifles, in addition to their own stock on hand. Everything indicated that hard fighting would be required to dislodge the Modocs. Another delay now ensued, caused by sending to Vancouver for two howitzers, to assist in driving them out of their fastnesses.

Both the regular troops and militia were restive under this detention. The 23d infantry had just come from fighting Apaches in Arizona, and were convinced that subduing a band of sixty, or at the most eighty, Modocs would be a trifling matter if once they could come at them; and the state troops, having only enlisted for thirty days, saw the time slipping away in which they had meant to distinguish themselves. The weather had become very cold, and the militia were ill supplied with blankets and certain articles of commissariat. Another difficulty now presented itself. They had enlisted to fight in Oregon, whereas the retreat chosen by the enemy lay just over the boundary in California; but General Wheaton overcame this last, by ordering Ross to pursue and fight the hostile Indians wherever they could be found.

Actual hostilities were inaugurated December 22d, by Captain Jack attacking Bernard's wagon-train as it was returning from Bid-well with a supply of ammunition, guarded by a small detachment. The attack was made a mile from camp, on the east side of the lake, by firing from an ambuscade, when one soldier and six horses were killed at the first fire. Lieutenant Kyle, hearing the noise of shooting, hastened to