Natives versus Army: the Modoc War, 1872-73
Like many Native tribes, strife first arose between the Modoc of California and Americans around the time of the California Gold Rush. Unknown assailants, believed to be Native, attacked and killed some Settlers. The Settlers retaliated against the first Natives they came across, which happened to be a band of Modoc. A young Modoc known to his people as Kintpuash, or to Whites as Captain Jack, lost relatives during this raid. In 1852, a Modoc war party attacked a wagon train and the skirmishing between Settlers and Natives continued. By 1864, the United States government signed a treaty with three tribes, the Klamath, Yahooskin and Modoc, though most of the signatories were Klamath, a traditional enemy of the Modoc. The three tribes agreed to cede millions of acres of land in California and Oregon in exchange for a reservation in Oregon. Kintpuash, now a young warrior, refused to be bound by the treaty and left the Oregon reservation with a few followers.
Kinpuash and his people returned to Lost River along the California-Oregon border and began to harass White settlers, demanding rent for the use of their land. Some Settlers paid, others complained to the local Superintendent for Indian Affairs. Kintpuash and his band agreed to a peace parley in 1867 and were removed to the Klamath Reservation in Oregon. Friction flared between the Klamath and Modoc. After complaints to reservation authorities failed to stop the in-fighting, Kintpuash and his people moved several times, trying to stay away from the Klamath. In 1870, fed up with the continued harassment, Kintpuash and 200 warriors left the reservation and returned to Lost River. The problem was referred to Washington, where government officials recommended that the Modoc be given their own territory within the reservation. Following instructions from local authorities, Kintpuash and his people remained near Clear Lake, awaiting answers that never came.
Officials in Washington dithered and Settlers in California began complaining about stolen foodstuffs, saying that Modoc warriors were roaming the countryside. The local Superintendent requested help from the Army, asking General Edward Canby to simply remove Kintpuash's people to Yainax, on the Klamath Reservation. Canby held a council with the Modoc and Settlers, but the results were inconclusive. As the Army prepared to forcibly remove Kintpuash and his people. In November, 1872, Kintpuash met with Major Jack Green to discuss removal back to Oregon. Green required the Modoc to disarm, which Kintpuash and his men proceeded to do. An argument broke out between Lieutenant Boutelle, of the 1st Cavalry and Scarface Charley, one of Kintpuash's men. The two men fired at each other, missed and gunfire broke out between the Modoc and the Army. One soldier was killed and 7 wound, the Natives lost 2 killed and 3 wounded.
The Modoc retreated to the lava beds south of Tule Lake, today known as Captain Jack's stronghold. Familiar with the country, the Modoc could hold out there for as long as they needed. Fifty-two warriors manned the stronghold, along with women and children. They continued to raid local settlements and hold off the Army's attempts to invade the Stronghold. On January 17, 1873, troops advanced on the Stronghold in heavy fog, and lost 35 men killed, 25 men wounded. Interior Secretary Columbus Delano appointed a peace commission to treat with Kintpuash and his men. They trusted Alfred Meacham, the former Superintendent, along with Edward Canby, Jesse Applegate and some others. The parleys took place at Fairchild ranch, west of the lava beds. Aided by a Modoc woman and her husband, who spoke the language, the treaty commissioners began to make headway.
Kintpuash wanted a peaceful solution, but others in his band seeing more Army and militia units edging closer to the lava beds, weren't as willing. On April 4, 1873, the commissioners asked for a meeting with Captain Jack. As the two sides talked, it became clear to the Natives that their demands wouldn't be met. Kintpuash signaled for an attack and General Canby, along with a clergyman, Reverend Thomas, were killed. Meacham was wounded, but one of the interpreters shouted to the Modoc that more soldiers were coming. They broke off the attack and retreated the to lava beds. On April 15-16, 1873, the Army began to attack the Stronghold in the lava beds. By April 17, 1873, the Army had encircled the Modoc positions and cut off their water supply. The Modoc found an unguarded opening in the lava beds and escaped during the night.
On April 26, 1873, the Modoc attacked an Army detachment at Sand Butte. Thirteen men were killed and 16 wounded. A new general, Jefferson C. Davis, a relative of the former Confederate President, was placed in command. On May 10, the Modoc attacked again at Dry Lake, and took heavy casualties. Following this battle, dissent arose among those Modoc who wished to make peace and surrender and those who chose to keep fighting. Kintpuash was among those who elected to stay in the field. He was captured on June 4, along with his wife and daughter. He and most of his band were taken to Fort Klamath. Kintpuash and five other Modoc leaders were placed on trial. All six were convicted and sentenced to death. President Grant approved the death sentence for Kintpuash and three other men. They wre hanged at Fort Klamath on October 3, 1873. The other two were commuted and sentenced to life on Alcatraz, which was a military prison at the time. The remaining of the Modoc band were sent to the Quapaw Agency in Oklahoma as prisoners of war. Eventually, some returned to the Klamath Reservation in Oregon, but others chose to remain in Oklahoma. Today, the Klamath tribe of Oregon, including Klamath, Yanooskin and Modoc, and the Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma are both federally recognized tribes.
Kinpuash and his people returned to Lost River along the California-Oregon border and began to harass White settlers, demanding rent for the use of their land. Some Settlers paid, others complained to the local Superintendent for Indian Affairs. Kintpuash and his band agreed to a peace parley in 1867 and were removed to the Klamath Reservation in Oregon. Friction flared between the Klamath and Modoc. After complaints to reservation authorities failed to stop the in-fighting, Kintpuash and his people moved several times, trying to stay away from the Klamath. In 1870, fed up with the continued harassment, Kintpuash and 200 warriors left the reservation and returned to Lost River. The problem was referred to Washington, where government officials recommended that the Modoc be given their own territory within the reservation. Following instructions from local authorities, Kintpuash and his people remained near Clear Lake, awaiting answers that never came. Officials in Washington dithered and Settlers in California began complaining about stolen foodstuffs, saying that Modoc warriors were roaming the countryside. The local Superintendent requested help from the Army, asking General Edward Canby to simply remove Kintpuash's people to Yainax, on the Klamath Reservation. Canby held a council with the Modoc and Settlers, but the results were inconclusive. As the Army prepared to forcibly remove Kintpuash and his people. In November, 1872, Kintpuash met with Major Jack Green to discuss removal back to Oregon. Green required the Modoc to disarm, which Kintpuash and his men proceeded to do. An argument broke out between Lieutenant Boutelle, of the 1st Cavalry and Scarface Charley, one of Kintpuash's men. The two men fired at each other, missed and gunfire broke out between the Modoc and the Army. One soldier was killed and 7 wound, the Natives lost 2 killed and 3 wounded.
The Modoc retreated to the lava beds south of Tule Lake, today known as Captain Jack's stronghold. Familiar with the country, the Modoc could hold out there for as long as they needed. Fifty-two warriors manned the stronghold, along with women and children. They continued to raid local settlements and hold off the Army's attempts to invade the Stronghold. On January 17, 1873, troops advanced on the Stronghold in heavy fog, and lost 35 men killed, 25 men wounded. Interior Secretary Columbus Delano appointed a peace commission to treat with Kintpuash and his men. They trusted Alfred Meacham, the former Superintendent, along with Edward Canby, Jesse Applegate and some others. The parleys took place at Fairchild ranch, west of the lava beds. Aided by a Modoc woman and her husband, who spoke the language, the treaty commissioners began to make headway.
Kintpuash wanted a peaceful solution, but others in his band seeing more Army and militia units edging closer to the lava beds, weren't as willing. On April 4, 1873, the commissioners asked for a meeting with Captain Jack. As the two sides talked, it became clear to the Natives that their demands wouldn't be met. Kintpuash signaled for an attack and General Canby, along with a clergyman, Reverend Thomas, were killed. Meacham was wounded, but one of the interpreters shouted to the Modoc that more soldiers were coming. They broke off the attack and retreated the to lava beds. On April 15-16, 1873, the Army began to attack the Stronghold in the lava beds. By April 17, 1873, the Army had encircled the Modoc positions and cut off their water supply. The Modoc found an unguarded opening in the lava beds and escaped during the night.
On April 26, 1873, the Modoc attacked an Army detachment at Sand Butte. Thirteen men were killed and 16 wounded. A new general, Jefferson C. Davis, a relative of the former Confederate President, was placed in command. On May 10, the Modoc attacked again at Dry Lake, and took heavy casualties. Following this battle, dissent arose among those Modoc who wished to make peace and surrender and those who chose to keep fighting. Kintpuash was among those who elected to stay in the field. He was captured on June 4, along with his wife and daughter. He and most of his band were taken to Fort Klamath. Kintpuash and five other Modoc leaders were placed on trial. All six were convicted and sentenced to death. President Grant approved the death sentence for Kintpuash and three other men. They wre hanged at Fort Klamath on October 3, 1873. The other two were commuted and sentenced to life on Alcatraz, which was a military prison at the time. The remaining of the Modoc band were sent to the Quapaw Agency in Oklahoma as prisoners of war. Eventually, some returned to the Klamath Reservation in Oregon, but others chose to remain in Oklahoma. Today, the Klamath tribe of Oregon, including Klamath, Yanooskin and Modoc, and the Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma are both federally recognized tribes.
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