To show how well McKenney has researched this book look at page 331. On this page he writes:
“In June of 1873, a process was set in motion to bring Jack before a Reconstruction military tribunal and execute him for his wartime activities. The Clarksville Tobacco Leaf published a news and opinion article about Jack, who was sufficiently well known that he was identified simply as “Captain Jack.” The article read,”
“Captain Jack is said to be tried by a military commission, but the peace men propose to obtain a writ of habeas corpus. Captain Jack is a brave man, a rude, untutored, hero, a thief, and a scoundrel no doubt when viewed through the social ideas we have, but a hero nevertheless. His execution would serve no good purpose, while it would be a crowning act of infamy.”
If you look at articles from the Clarksville Tobacco Leaf of May 7 and 21, 1873 and of June 11 and 18 of 1873 you will see that Captain Jack is Captain Jack of the Modoc Indians who killed US General Canby. Also, McKenney did not do a correct quote of the June 18th article. I have left spelling and punctuation in the articles as originally printed.
CLARKSVILLE TOBACCO LEAF
Clarksville, TN
1873
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May 7
THE MODOC WAR.
The most disgraceful fight that ever occurred was that on the 20th ult., when sixty-nine U. S. soldiers were surrounded and butchered by twenty-one Modocs. It reminds one, ghastly as the terrible story is, of the Irishman who captured thirteen Indians, and when asked how he did it, said “faith I surrounded ’em.”
We take from the Courier-Journal the following account of the disaster:
ANOTHER TERRIBLE BATTLE.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 29.—A courier arrived at Yreka reports another terrible fight with the Modocs, in which nineteen of our men were killed, including Captain Thomas, Lieut. Howe, Fourth artillery, Lieut. Wright, Twelfth infantry, and twenty-three wounded, including Lieut. Harris, of the Fourth artillery. Others are missing.
HOW IT HAPPENED.
LAVA BEDS, April 26.—A reconnoisance, composed of Batteries K and A, Fourth Artillery, and Co. E, Twelfth Infantry, left camp at 7:30 this morning, and proceeded in the direction known to lead to the present Modoc stronghold, Capt. E. Thomas, Fourth Artillery being in command. A dozen or so Warm Spring Indians were expected to co-operate on Capt. Thomas left. The troops, having formed a line of skirmishers, advanced without molestation until they arrived at the foot of the bluff south of the lava beds, having meanwhile signalled the camp that no Indians could be found. On reaching the bluff the Modocs opened a severe fire, causing the troops to seek such shelter as they could find in crevices and chasms. As usual, the foe was unseen.
A TERRIBLE POSITION
The first position became untenable, owing to the fact that the Indians obtained both a cross and enfilading fire. It was so exposed a position that up to the present writing (7PM,), only two of the wounded could go to the camp. As nine wounded, including Lieu. Wright, of the Twelfth Infantry was particularly open to the Modoc fire, grave doubts exists as to their ultimate safety.
Thus a handful of Indians surround and kill or wound forty men, but few escaping, and yet the dispatches speak of great heroism and gallantry. We see nothing in it but somebody’s great blunder first and the most inexcusable cowardice afterwards. We do not suppose the troops are not brave men and their officers no doubt were equally so; but we have seen enough of panics to know that the bravest men are capable of becoming the most arrant of cowards under the influence of those unaccountable panics, which sometimes overwhelm troops.
May 21
CAPTAIN JACK’S CASUISTRY.
I’m Captain Jack of the Modoc Tribe,
It’s Government whisky I imbibe,
And I like sometimes by way of a gibe
A quiet Assassination.
But I make a treaty whenever I can,
For I’m Captain Jack and I know my plan,
I’m a CREDIT MOBILIER man,
And open to speculation.
We talk of the reservation, both,
Of course to that I’m nothing loth,
And I take my little Ingin oath,
To close the stipulation.
’Tis “reservation,” each one says,
It’s fixed as a pair of balances.
And I chuckle now, when I think of my RES.,
My mental reservation.
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After Capt. Jack and his followers have been put safely under ground, they may be called the exterminated.
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Those brave men who went out to exterminate the Modocs, have not yet reached the termination of ex-termination.
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Gen. Davis has got the Modocs just where he wants them now, as the fellow said when he got the fellow’s teeth clamped on his nose.
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The heads of John Sconchin and other Modoc braves have been forwarded. Our brave troops have at [l]east got a-head of some of the savages.
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The form of government of the Modocs, should be carefully studied by the reigning party as one they have long been unconsciously imitating. It is a pure Jackasstical Modocracy.
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We have lately looked carefully in to the manner of conducting the “War Between the States,” and we can find but one serious blunder committed by the Confederacy. It was the failure of the Confederate government to form an alliance with Capt. Jack of the Modoc braves, and give him the contract for drubbing the United States.
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It is the opinion of officers of our brave troops who are exterminating the Modocs, that those savages are entirely out of ammunition.
It is our opinion that when our troops get them out of ammunition, and guns, bayonets, tomahawks, scalping-knives, bows and arrows, spears, and war clubs, and arms and legs, those savages had better look out for their scalps.
June 11
Capt. Jack has at last been deserted by his followers and the United States by moving forward the whole army, and sending a strong force to make a reconnaisance, succeeded in driving the valliant Chief to his stronghold, where they advanced on him, and by a judicious display of force and an exercise of those high military qualities which distinguish federal officers, they finally seceeded in disposing of their forces in such a way that Jack could see at a glance that he could only whip the army by further effusion of blood, and perhaps the loss of a squaw or papoose and so he surrendered. Jack actually took compassion on the army.
June 18
Gen. Davis is said to be about to march with the cavalry and a battery of artillery through the Indian country for the purpose of intimidating the Indians.
It is our belief that the army will be very much intimidated when it gets marching orders.
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Capt. Jack is said to be tried by a military commission, but the peace men propose to obtain a writ of habeas corpus. Capt. Jack is a brave man, a rude untutored, hero, a thief, and scoundrel no doubt, when viewed through the social ideas we have, but a hero nevertheless. His execution would serve no good purpose, while it would be a crowning act of infamy.