Page:The History of Oregon Bancroft 1888.djvu/637

 Spring scouts also were scouring the country toward the east. In the mean time Mason was ordered to hold the Modoc fortress, while his camp at Hospital Hock was removed to the camp at Scorpion Point, on the east side of the lake. This left the trail along the south side exposed to attack from the enemy's scouts. On the afternoon of the 18th they appeared on a ridge two miles off, and also at nearer points during the day, firing occasional shots. On the morning of the 19th they attacked a mule pack-train on its way from Scorpion Point to supply Mason at the stronghold, escorted by Lieutenant Howe with twenty men, and were repulsed. Lieutenant P. Leary, in coining to meet the train with an escort, had one man killed and one wounded; and Howe, on entering the lava-beds, both coming and returning, was fired on. A shell dropped among them dispersed them for that day; but on the 20th they again showed themselves, going to the lake for water, and fired on the Warm Spring scouts, who were burying one of their company killed on the 17th. They even bathed themselves in the lake, in plain view of the astonished soldiery in camp. After two days, Perry's and McKay's commands came in without having seen a Modoc.

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 impatience, the troops went so far as to say that it was concern for his personal safety which deterred Gillern, 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