the advantage of being familiar with the passages among the rocks, whereas the troops were obliged to scramble over and among them as best they could, at the risk of falling any moment into an ambush—the movement aimed at on the right was extremely slow. Nevertheless, it was steadily pushed forward, all caution being used, the men sometimes lying down and crawling prone over the rocks within a few yards of the Indians, who could be heard talking, but who seldom could be seen, though they were able to see through openings in their defences the approaches of the troops as far as the fog would permit.
The howitzers, which had been so much relied upon to demoralize the Indians proved useless so long as the enemy's position was concealed from view. The line, after advancing a mile and a half, was halted, and a few shells thrown, causing some excitement among the Modocs, over whose heads they passed, falling beyond Bernard's line on the east side of the stronghold; but through fear of hitting Bernard's troops the firing of the battery was suspended and Green pushed on the west line by a series of short charges another mile and a half passing over ravines running and sounding the war-whoop.
It is related by Applegate that Green, who during this advance carried one of his gloves carelessly in his hand, was frequently shot at by the concealed Modocs, who attributed his immunity from harm to some charm or "medicine" contained in this glove. They also shot at Captain Applegate and his brother Ivan who accompanied him, with similar results, from which they inferred these persons had received protection from a miraculous power, and that powder and shot were wasted upon them. The recklessness of Green was remarked upon by his command as well as by the Indians.
About one o'clock the extreme right of the line, which now enveloped the stronghold on the west and south, was brought to a halt by an immensely deep
