Klamath County Museum

'1'o General Gillam - "It is absolutely impossible to connect our
lett w1 th Green's right, we are separated by a deep chasm held by'
the Modocs, we cannot cross it without great loss ot lite. It we
join our right with yo'ur lett and move directly south, we can find
whether or not the modocs have tled. Colonel Green is here and
sanctions this plan". ll'rom this dispatch it appears that although
the Modocs held a deep chasm there was a doubt as to "whether or
not they had fled". I at once replied "I sanction the moTement
suggested by Col. Green and yourself, execute it at once". I
ordered this movement in the hope that the troops once engaged would
drive the Modocs south, where they would come on captain !41.ller' s
command, but it resulted in no mterial advantage merely shutting
ott the Indians trom the water.
'l'h.e troops on the west ot the Modoc pos1 tion having been engaged
all day, and gained a position in the iiiiD.ediate vicinity ot the
:Modocs, bivouacked tor the night. 'rhose on the east side occupied
about the same position as the night previous, the right having
joined Major Green• s lett without opposition. On the retum ot
Major Green I asked him it he did not still believe the mvement to
join his right to Major Mason • s lett was practicable it Major !6ason
would make: a vivorous attack, he answered in the attil'IDB.tive, but
stated the attack •s so strenuously opposed by Major Mason and
Captain Bernard, 1st Ca.v, (the two senior otticers on that side)
that he thought it advisable under the circumstances to agree to
their plan. I have no doubt on the subject, and the attack would
JIT