The Indians had scattered all over the country, and had killed every white person they ran across for two days and then fled to the lava beds.  This put an end to the horse trading.  Mr. Nurse said that some one would have to go to Jacksonville and report at once, for they were not strong enough there to protect themselves against the Modocs, but no one seemed willing to tackle the trip, and I told them that if no one else would go, I would go myself.  It was now near sundown, and it was called one hundred miles to Jacksonville from there.  I started at once, going part of the way over the wagon road and the remainder of the way on the trail.

I arrived at Jacksonville the next morning before sun-up.  The first man I met was the sheriff of the county, who was just coming out to feed his horses.  I related my story to him in as few words as I could, and told him to raise all the men he could.  I had my horse taken care of and went to bed, for I was very tired; with directions to wake me up in time to eat a bite before starting.  At four o’clock that afternoon they woke me, they having sixty men then ready to start and one hundred ready to follow the next morning.

Among the balance who were ready to start was Mr. Miller.  When I led my horse out he asked if that was the horse I had ridden over from Linkville.  I told him I had nothing else to ride.  He went to the stable and got another horse and insisted on my changing my saddle, but I told him I would ride my horse to the foot of the mountains and then change, which I did.

We reached Linkville the next morning at nine o’clock, and Mr. Nurse gave us breakfast.  That afternoon we went down to Tule Lake and buried three dead bodies, being of the Brotherton family, the father and two sons, and the next day we buried four more, after which I left this squad and returned to my ranch to get my two hired men away, which took me three days.  By the time I had got back to Linkville the news had spread all over the country of the outbreak of Captain Jack and the Modoc tribe, and Gen. Wheaton had moved his entire force down to the lava beds, where Captain Jack had his forces concentrated.

Gen. Ross and Col.  Miller had moved in, but I do not know just the exact number of men they had in their command.  After this scare I could not get any men to work on the ranch, so I abandoned it for the time being and stayed around Linkville about a week, when I received a message from Gen. Wheaton to come to his quarters immediately.  This message was carried by one of his orderlies.  I complied, the orderly returning with me.  I was not acquainted with Gen. Wheaton, nor had I ever seen him before.  When I was introduced to him he asked me if I knew Captain Jack, chief of the Modoc tribe.  I told him that I was well acquainted with him and all of his men.  “Now,” said he, “I’ll tell you what I wish to see you about.  Col.  Miller recommends you very highly as a scout, and how would it suit you to take charge of the entire scouting force, and organize them to suit yourself and start in at once?”