Page:The History of Oregon Bancroft 1888.djvu/609

 In the skirmishing and clambering among the rocks, and the bewilderment of the fog, the volunteers had changed places with Perry's troop, and were now on the extreme right. They had, in fact, charged down the ravine, and Applegate's company had gained a position on the sage plain beyond where they lay concealed. Then came an order, "Look out for Bernard!" and a volley which mowed down the sage over their heads, so near were they to a junction with him. While the volunteers were preparing to charge on the stronghold the regular troops had begun to withdraw, seeing which, they were for a time puzzled, until nearing the Modoc position, it was discovered that most of the troops were passing to the left under the bluffs on the west side of the lake; soon after which an order reached the volunteers to report to headquarters, where they found a portion of Perry's troop and a reserve of infantry under Lieutenant Ross.

Meanwhile Mason and Green were endeavoring to make the junction by the left, the troops encountering a destructive fire as they plunged into a ravine on the shore of the lake nearly as dangerous to cross as that on the route first pursued. By pushing forward the sharp-shooters and a detachment of Burton's company to cover the troops as they passed, the crossing was effected. But as Wheaton afterwards said, "There was nothing to fire at but a puff of smoke issuing from cracks in the rock;" while the Modocs were stationed at the most favorable points for picking off the men as they hurried past, crawling over the sharp rocks on their hands and feet, suffering terribly.

After Green had passed the first ravine, Bernard was heard to say that he was within four or five hundred yards of the stronghold, and Green resolved if possible to join him, and make a charge before dark. But after sustaining a fire from the Modocs stationed in the cliffs overhanging the lake shore until he had almost made the junction, he found himself confronted by another deep canon, so well defended that he was