In this outfit there were Scarfaced Charley and Black Jim, their squaws, and two other Indians.  The moment we saw them we both drew our pistols, but concealed them from their view by hiding them under our coats.  When we approached them they all said, “Good morning.”

I did not see any guns near them nor did either of them have pistols.  Scarfaced Charley said:  “We like go reservation; too much hungry, my squaw nearly dead, ketchem some fish her, purty soon go.”

After I had informed him that I would have to take them all back to Gen. Wheaton’s quarters, Charley said:  “What for?” I said:  “Charley, I will take you all back to headquarters, give you all plenty to eat, and when we get all the Modoc Indians they will be taken to the reservation.”  “All right, me go now,” said Charley, as he started, eager to be off on the journey for headquarters.

I asked them where their guns and pistols were, and they said:  “O, me hide them in lava bed, too much heavy, no like carry.”  So George Jones took the lead, the Indians followed him, and I brought up the rear.  I could see that they were very weak from hunger, but they plodded along, encouraged by the thought of getting something to eat at Gen. Wheaton’s quarters.

We arrived there at noon, and when I turned them over to the General and told him their names, he said:  “It is with the greatest of pleasure that I receive them.  Now if I only had just one more I would be satisfied.  That one is Schonchin.  I would then have all the ring leaders.”

Up to this time I had not learned what would be the fate of those Indians directly interested in the assassination of Gen. Canby and Col.  Thomas, and I must admit that I was terribly surprised when Gen. Wheaton informed me that they would all be hanged.  From those Indians I learned that Captain Jack and his council were not on good terms, having had a falling out while in the cave, and they would not speak to each other while at Gen. Wheaton’s headquarters.  The cause of the trouble grew out of a proposition by Captain Jack to surrender, and he had been talking surrender for two weeks past, but the rest of them were in favor of fighting to the last.  Mary, the squaw, told me that they at one time came near putting Jack to death for cowardice, and that was the reason he had deserted them, knowing that his life was in danger in the cave.

From this on we captured one or two Modocs every day.  The fourth day after the last band referred to was captured, one of my scouts reported having seen Indian tracks at the head of Tule Lake, but could not make out the exact number, I had just lain down to take a nap, it being early in the morning, and I had been riding all night, but George and I saddled our horses and were off for the head of Tule Lake, Gen. Wheaton promising to send a company of soldiers after us at once.

We struck the Indian trail about twelve miles from headquarters, this being the first band that had escaped from the west side of the cave.