Page:The History of Oregon Bancroft 1888.djvu/634

 light the troops were in position, about four hundred yards east of the stronghold, the right of the infantry under Captain Burton resting on the lake, and Bernard's troop dismounted on the left, with a section of mountain howitzers, held subject to order, under Lieutenant E. S. Chapin. Breastworks of stone were thrown up to conceal the exact position of the troops. On the west side of the lake Perry and Cresson moved at two o clock in the morning to a point beyond the main position of the Modocs on the south, where they concealed their troops and waited to be joined at daylight by the infantry and artillery under Miller and Throckmorton, with Colonel Green and staff. Miller had the extreme right, and the cavalry the extreme left touching the lake, while Throckrnorton's artillery and two companies of infantry were in the centre.

The day was warm and still, and the movement to close in began early. The first shots were received a mile and a half from Jack's stronghold on the west, while the troops were advancing in open skirmish order along the lake shore, sheltering themselves as best they could under cover of the rocks in their path. On reaching the gorge under the bluff a galling fire was poured upon them from the rocks above, where a strong party of Modocs were stationed. Mason was doing all that he could to divide the attention of the Indians while the army passed this dangerous point, and the reserves coming up, a charge was made which compelled the Modocs to retire, and their position was taken.

At two o clock the order was given to advance the mortars under Thomas and Cranston, and Howe of the 4th artillery. By half-past four they were in position, and the left of the line on the west had reached a point opposite the stronghold. By five o'clock the mortars began throwing shells into the stronghold, which checked the Modoc firing. So far all went well. The bluff remained in the possession of Miller's men, between whom and the main plateau, or mesa, in