Wigwam and war-path; or, The royal chief in chains

A gloomy picture fills the eye from the height of the bluff whence we took our first view of the Lava Beds, Jan. 16th, 1873. The whited tents are there no more. The little mound...

A Portion of Fort Klamath, mentioned in the last chapter, is used as a court-room. A long, narrow table stands near the middle of the hall. At the farther end of the table sits...

The Modoc town was composed of thirteen lodges, built after the model of Klamath’s Indian houses. A circular, oblong excavation, twenty or thirty feet in length and twelve wide,...

While these two parties are wending their way to the council tent, let us see what is going on around it. On the side opposite from the camp a small sage-brush fire is burning....

A few days after this battle Captain Jack sent a message to John Fairchild and Press Dorris, proposing a “talk,” telling them that they should not be molested, and agreeing to m...

For an account of the immediate circumstances attending the final surrender of the Modoc chieftain, I subjoin the following from the pen of Samuel A. Clarke, of Salem, Oregon, w...

The story I have related is but one of the many that belong to this region, and for the truth of which, witnesses still live, both whites and Indians; another reason I introduce...

The Modocs, men, women, and children, who were not placed on trial, were confined in a stockade near the fort, except the traitor scouts, who enjoyed the liberty of the camp, an...

On our arrival we made our camp one mile below the post, on the bank of a small stream. No Indians were visible until the day appointed for the council we had ordered. Messenger...

To my readers of the Pacific coast, I need say nothing in commendation of this writer. He is too well known to require an introduction. But that his communication may be appreci...

“Oh, that mine enemy would write a book!” With that ominous warning ringing in my ears, I sit down to write out my own observations and experiences, not without full appreciatio...

Friday morning, and a Warm Springs soldier is sitting beside the commissioner. A look at his face, and we recognize him as the man who stood out so long in the meeting at Warm S...

Ten _o’clock, Wednesday morning_, April 22d, Meacham is being transported to Ferree’s ranch at the south end of the Klamath lake twelve miles from Linkville. We have been here b...

How-lish-wam-po, chief of the Cayuse (Kiuse), is owner of several thousand horses. He is a stout-built man, has a dark complexion, wears his hair just clear of his shoulders, an...

Since we are now en route to the Modoc country, and since they have taken a place in modern history as a warlike people, and have enrolled their names on the record of stirring...

It is four o’clock on the morning of Tuesday, the 14th of April. The men are silently falling into line. The mules are groaning under the heavy weight of “mounted pieces,” or lo...

On the morning of January 1st, 1870, Captain Jack’s band of Modoc Indians was placed in charge of Captain Knapp, under favorable circumstances. Supplies of beef and flour were s...

Without waiting for red tape, we proceeded to erect a new saw-mill. The Indians performed much of the necessary labor. With one white man to direct them, they prepared all the t...

The road from Salem was over a beautiful country, settled by white men, who had transformed this once wild region into a paradise. The first view of the agency proper was from a...

Taking up our narrative, let us resume our journey to Klamath Agency, accompanied by O-che-o and a few of his head men; Tah-home and Ka-ko-na taking charge of the loose stock, a...

The Reservation furnishes abundance of real romance, mixed with tragedy, sufficient to make up a volume. The Indians tell, and white men confirm, the story of an officer of the...

The southwestern portion of Oregon is a vast plain, whose general altitude is nearly four thousand feet above the level of the sea. A greater part of it is an uninhabited wilder...

The commission had on all occasions expressed willingness to meet the Modocs on fair terms, saying to them, “Bring all your men, all armed, if you wish to; station them one hund...

The recommendation of the author’s name was made without his solicitation or knowledge. On the accession of President Grant, the recommendation was renewed, the nomination was m...

While matters were thus in suspense a change was made in the office of Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Oregon, T. B. Odeneal, Esq., of Oregon, succeeding to the Superintend...

It is night, and in the solders’ camp a wail of anguish is heard coming from the tent nearest Gen. Canby’s late quarters. Grief weighs down the heart of Orderly Scott, who is gi...

I have found a good country and more business than I can manage alone; come and help me. Better leave your family until you can see for yourself. You may not like it, though I d...

Our starting-point now is from a little grove of mountain mahogany trees on a high plateau, a few miles south of the California and Oregon boundary line, and within a short dist...

It was understood, in the treaty stipulation with the Government and these people, that they were to have the privilege of hunting and grazing stock in common with citizens on t...

On the following day the council tent was erected in a comparatively smooth plot of land, in the Lava Beds, care being taken to select a site as far as possible from rocks that...

Leaving the Modocs to wrangle over their troubles, suppose we listen now to the wails of anguish and grief that burdened the air of the Lost-river country, and especially at Lin...

Four A.M., _January 17th, 1873_.——The tattoo is beaten, and the soldiers throw aside their blankets. They dress themselves; the blankets are rolled together; the men sit around,...

An Indian game of ball is not exactly like America’s great game of base ball. It resembles, somewhat, the old game of shindy or bandy. The field is one-fourth of a mile in lengt...

For hours we have steamed along in the shadows of the Cascade mountains, through deep, dark cañons, with walls so high that the smoke-stack of our little boat seemed like a pipe...

Leaving “The Dalles” early one morning in February, 1870, with Dr. W. C. McKay as guide, I set out on my first visit to Warm Springs Agency. Our route was over high grassy plain...

In 1846 Pow-e-shiek came with his band to visit his old home. We were “early settlers” then, and had built our cabins on the sloping sides of a bluff overlooking the valley belo...

Let us change the scene, and transfer ourselves to the marquee of Gen. Gilliam. Gen. Canby is sitting on a camp-chair, and near him Col. Barnard. On the camp-bedstead sits Gen....

Umatilla Agency has been mentioned on former pages. I return to it now to say something more of its people. It is under the management of the Catholic Church. It has had but _fo...

The Scene near the Council Tent——Several Desperate Modocs Described——Preparing for the Carnival of Death——The Boy Murderers and their Weapons——Bogus and Boston Announce the Appr...

Modocs in the Prison and Stockade——New Hanging-Machine——The Announcement of the Death Sentence——The Fallen Chief——His Speech——Boston Charley’s Speech——Schonchin’s——The Enraged M...

Captain Jack’s Apology——He Makes a Camp for his Visitors——The Modoc Women not Slaves like other Indian Women——Sage Brush—— The Modocs would not Eat First——The Reason——Tobey and...

The Legend in the Last Chapter——Why it is Introduced——Siletz Agency——Oyster Beds and Timber Lands——The same “Old Story” Rehearsed——The Boat Race——Indian _vs._ United States Sena...

Change in the Indian Superintendency——T. B. Odeneal Appointed—— His Qualifications for the Office——Did not Understand the Indians——The Modocs Ordered to Klamath Reservation——The...

The Snake War——Alleged Cause of the War——Manner of Warfare—— Charley Winslow and Nathan Dixon——H. C. Scott and Family, and Wheeler, all Victims of the War——Eighty Chinamen Murde...

Preparations for Another Battle——Stretchers for the Wounded—— Mattresses and Lint——The Wounded Man in the Hospital Expects Company——The Iowa Veteran——The Signal for Battle——It B...

The New Camp——The Modocs Allowed to Visit the Camp——Reasons for it——The Seven Hours’ Talk with Captain Jack——The Diplomatic Savage——His Skill in Debate——His Logic and his Eloque...

A Settlement of Old Difficulties——Trouble Ahead——The Modocs Taunted with their Poverty——Agent Knapp——His Character—— Captain Jack Applies to Knapp for Protection——Is Treated Coo...

Watching and Disappointment——Visit of Pia-noose to Meacham——Gen. Canby’s Remains in Portland, Oregon——Burial of Dr. Thomas—— Burying a Leg——Col. Wright’s Opinion of the Modocs——...

Indian Sportsman——How-lish-wampo, the Famous Horseman——Pat and the Indians Once More——French Louie, the Confident Sport——He is Beaten and Fleeced——Returns on Ponies Given in Cha...

Resuming the Journey——Klamath Reservation——Saying Prayers——The Accident——Value of a Dead Mule——Different Tribes on the Reservation——Klamaths never Enemies of the Whites——Lindsey...

The Modoc War——The Origin of the Modocs——The La-la-kas——The Great Indian Rebellion and the American Revolution——The Office of Indian Chief——Captain Jack——Form of Government amon...

A Camp Scene——Peace Council with the Snake Indians——Announcing the Presence of Ka-ko-na——Their Representations——Colonel Otis—— Old Winnemucca Sent For——A Bloodthirsty Chief——His...

New Efforts for Peace——Dr. Thomas’ Faith——It Avails Little—— Riddle Appealed to——The Author’s Fatal Absence——Modoc Cunning—— The Guileless Betrayed——The Author’s Fears——The Comp...

Meacham at Ferree’s——Then and Now——Capt. Jack——Another Scene in the Hospital——Maybridge——Bunker Bildad——Modocs Impatient to be on the Warpath——Gen. Canby’s Remains in San Franci...

Mementoes of the Horrid Butchery——A Nation’s Justice towards the Strong, and its Tyranny over the Weak——Grant’s Humane Policy—— On Whom should the Blame Fall——The Answer——Witnes...

Making Coffins in the Lava Bed——The Patient in the Hospital——A Broken Finger will not Disfigure a Corpse——The Commotion in the Modoc Camp——The Disputes——Common Interest a Strong...

The Author’s Fears and Hopes——A Bit of Personal History——Two Great Wrongs——Early Reflections——Removal of Pow-e-shiek’s Band in 1844——The Lava Beds——Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas ref...

The Author Appointed Superintendent of Indian Affairs——Not a Political Friend of President Johnson——An Indian “Agency”—— Description of a Hunting-Ground——Shipwrecks——Signal Fire...

A Fort Turned into a Court-House——The Prisoners at the Bar—— Those Glittering Bayonets——The Prisoners Arraigned——The Trial Begins——A. B. Meacham in Court——Have the Prisoners no...

Official Correspondence——What the Indians Need——Important Questions Asked——Commissioner Parker’s Reply. (See Appendix)—— The Mills Built——Indian Laborers——A Misunderstanding——Th...

Grand Round Agency——Indian Houses——Cost of a Board——Gen. Phil Sheridan——A Romance of a Young Chief——The Family from Missouri——The Red-skinned Archer and Pale-face Gunner——Their...

The Peace Commission Appointed——Terms of Peace unwisely Proposed to the “Modocs”——The “Modocs” seem to accept the Terms——Joy in Camp——It is suddenly Dampened——The Great Mistake...

“Wails of Anguish”——“Intense Excitement”——“A Scene of Woe seldom Equalled”——“A Sublime Portraiture of Frontier Life”——“Who shall say Vengeance on The Avenger”——“The Government c...

Two Letters——Why they are Introduced——Lee’s Encampment——Gold Fields of Idaho and Eastern Oregon, in 1863——Tides of Adventurers——Means of Transportation——Umatilla City——The Saddl...

Warm Spring Agency——Indians in Treaty Council——Intimidated by Government Troops——Pledges Unfulfilled——John Mission and Billy Chinook——They become Converts to Christianity——Treac...

Wife Robbery——Divorce made Easy——Names of Uniformed Officers Withheld——Why——Blo’s Searching Questions——The Law One-sided—— Little Sally——The New Court——A Novel Scene——The Court...

A Descent to the Lava Bed——Tule Lake——The Lone Woman with a Field Glass——The Deserted White House——The Dark Bluff——The Red-skinned Loyal Soldiers——The Solitary Tree——Description...

Captain Smith’s Letter——His Opinion of Catholics——The Indian Council——An Indian Leads in Prayer——Appearance of this Council——It was like a Methodist Revival Scene——The Head Chie...

Treaty with the Government——The Annual Visits——Indians and Whiskey——The White Man’s Advantage, and the Indian’s Privilege——Punishment for Intoxication——Indian “Muck-a-muck”—— Th...

Pow-e-shiek Visits his Old Home——His Recognition of the Writer—— He Spends the Winter——His Character——The Ceremonial Smoke, and the Writer’s Mistake——Pow-e-shiek’s Return——“Van,...

Umatilla Agency——The Council——Its Object——The Purchase by the Government of the Reservation——A. B. Meacham’s Speech——Many Indian Speeches (See Appendix, Chap. XII.)——The Council...

The Scene Changes——The River Steamer——The Railroad——The Battle Ground——Causes of War and Slaughter——A Legend of the Cascades—— Battles——Divine Interpositions——Soul-stirring Trad...

General Gilliam’s Opinion about Taking the Modocs——Colonel Mason’s Opinion——Difference in Judgment——Another Discussion Going On——Colonel Greene Speaks——Colonel Tom Wright in Com...

4 A.M., January 17, 1873——Preparation for the Battle——The Conflict Begins——The Deadly Modoc’s Bullets——Where are the Volunteers——The Battle Rages with fearful Loss of Life——Orde...

Vivid Account of the Surrender of the Modoc Chiefs——Butchery by “_Brave Civilized_” White Men——Oregon Laws——The White Butchers not Arrested——Men who have Political Influence——Th...

Indian Games——Long John, the Gambler——The Wocus Fields——How it is Prepared for Food——Egging and Fishing——A Bird’s Nest Described——Trout-fishing——Various Kinds of Trout——Game——Bi...