By the time the volunteers, who during the skirmishing along the route had changed position with Perry's troop, reached headquarters, the regulars, who were now all in the advance, had made the connection by their left with Bernard, encountering a destructive fire as they passed between the stronghold and the lake, where was a ravine only less dangerous than that on the south side. A detachment of Burton's company of infantry and Fairchild's riflemen had pushed forward and taken position in a pile of rocks near this crossing to cover the troops as they passed. But, as Wheaton afterward expressed it, on their side there "was nothing to fire at but puffs of smoke issuing from cracks in the rocks," while every movement of a soldier was likely to be observed by the Modocs, who swarmed behind their well selected defences. The most of the troops passed by crawling over the rocks on their hands and feet, suffering terribly, but Burton's and Fairchild's companies were not able to extricate themselves until after dark. After passing the first ravine, Bernard, who could not be seen for the fog, called across a point of the lake to say that he was within four or five hundred yards of the Modoc position, and Green determined to join him if possible, and chargfe the strong-hold before dark, but after advancing^ alono; the lake shore under fire from the overhano^ino; cliffs, he found himself confronted with a deep chasm in Bernard's front so well defended that he had not been able to cross it all da}", and had also to defend himself from a flank movement by the Modocs on his left. While in this discouraging position, the fog lifted, and a signal was received from the general.
The day was now well-nigh spent, and it was by this time evident that there was nothing to be gained, even with plenty of time, by exposing the volunteers to the same ordeal through which the regulars had passed. It was plainly im]3ossible to capture the stronghold with the men and means at command. Wheaton therefore ordered the volunteers to remain
