of the weather. When found, the whole extent of ground covered by the dead and wounded was comprised within a few hundred feet, showing how little time they had in which to move.
Finding it impossible to bring in all the dead, the bodies of the soldiers were piled together and covered with sage-brush, which the Indians subsequently fired. The wounded, and the dead officers, were carried on stretchers, lashed upon the backs of mules, and the ghastly procession returned through the storm to camp, where it arrived at half-past eight on the morning of the 27th.
The loss of so many officers and men deeply affected the whole army. Soldiers who had been in the service all their lives wept like children.[1] The discontent which had prevailed since the command devolved upon Gillem became intensified, and officers and men did not hesitate to say that had an experienced Indian fighter, instead of young officers just from the east, been sent upon this reconnoissance, or had these young officers received the proper orders, the disaster need not have occurred. The effect on the public mind was similar, which was at first incredulous, then stunned. "Whipped again 1 whipped again!" was the universal lament.[2]
- ↑ Especially was this the case as regards Lieut Harris of the 4th art., whose battery, K, perfectly idolized him.' S. F. Call, April 30, 1873. 'That night's march made many a young man old.' Boyle's Conduct of the Modoc War, MS., 4.
- ↑ Evan Thomas was a son of Lorenzo Thomas, formerly adj.-gen. of the army. He was appointed 2d lieut of the 4th art. April 9, 1861, from the district of Columbia; was promoted to a first lieutenancy on the 14th of May 1861, and made capt. Aug. 31, 1864, though brevetted capt. in Dec. 1862, and brevetted maj. in July 1863, honors won on the field of battle. He left a widow and two children at San Francisco. After receiving his death wound Thomas buried his gold watch and chain, in the hope it might escape discovery by the Modocs, and be recovered by his friends. But the watchful foe did not permit this souvenir to reach them.
Thomas F. Wright was a son of Gen. George Wright, formerly in command of the department of the Columbia. He was appointed to the West Point military academy in 1858, and served subsequently as 1st lieut in the 2d Cal. cavalry, but resigned in 1863, and was reappointed with the rank of maj. in 6th Cal. inf. He was transferred to the 2d Cal. inf. with the rank of col until he was mustered out at the close of the war of the rebellion with the rank of brevet brig. -gen. He was appointed 1st lieut of the 32d inf. in July 1866. In Jan. 1870 he was assigned to the 12th inf. at Camp Gaston, Cal.,
