utes. The troops, who were provided with three days cooked rations, overcoats, blankets, and 100 rounds of ammunition each, remained on the field without changing position.
Finding when daylight came on the 16th, that Mason's left under Thellar had possession of the mesa, with the Warm Spring scouts on his right, and the whole line unbroken, the Modocs abandoned their strong defences, and passed out by unseen trails, getting on his left and in his rear, preventing his joining Green's right, as directed by a despatch from Gillem, Subsequently he was ordered to advance his right, and join Green on the shore of the lake, which movement cut the Indians off from water. A sharp engagement took place in preventhig the Indians from getting to the lake. By ten o'clock Green's line had scaled the bluff, and reached the top of the ridge next to the stronghold, meeting but little opposition; but it was decided not to push the troops at this point, as there might be a heavy loss without any gain ; and the Avant of water would soon drive the Modocs out of their caverns and defences, while it was not likely they could find a stronger position anywhere. The work of the day consisted simply in skirmishing. No junction was effected between Mason's left and Green's right, the principal resistance being made to this movement, the object of which was apparent at a latter period of the battle.
In the evening the Modocs having a large fire in their camp Thomas dropped two shells into it which were followed by war wdioops, and also by cries of rage and pain. After this the Modocs showed themselves and challenofed the soldiers to do the same. But the soldiers were hidden behind stone breastworks in groups of five or six, with orders at no time to allow themselves to be surprised. In these little forts, built at night, they sheltered themselves, and caught a little sleep, two at a time, wdiile the others watched.
