The foregoing pages describe in simple language what I saw of the Modoc war.  Several so-called histories have been written purporting to be true histories.  One by A. B. Meacham in his “Wigwam and Warpath.”  Meacham wrote with the view of justifying all that Meacham did and said.  It was, in fact, written in self defense.  Another, by one “Captain Drehan,” who claimed to have been “Chief of Scouts.”  The gallant Captain was simply a monumental romancer.  No such man served at any time during the war.  Donald McKay was chief of scouts, and the exploits of Drehan existed only in his own imagination.  I was personally acquainted with all the officers and know that no such man was there.  For the truth of all I have said I simply refer the Doubting Thomases to the official reports on file at Washington.

Chapter XV.

The Great Bannock War.

The last Indian war worthy of mention broke out in the spring of 1877.  It was preceded by none of the acts of outlawry which usually are a prelude to savage outbreaks.  There were none of the rumblings of the coming storm which are almost invariable accompaniments of these upheavals.  Indeed, it came with the suddenness of a great conflagration, and before the scattered settlers of western Idaho and eastern Oregon were aware of danger, from a thousand to twelve hundred plumed and mounted warriors were sweeping the country with the fierceness of a cyclone.

As a rule the young and impatient warriors, thirsting for blood, fame and the property of the white man, to say nothing of scalps, begin to commit acts of outlawry before the plans of older heads are ripe for execution.  These acts consist of petty depredations, the stealing of horses, killing of stock, and occasional murder of white men for arms and ammunition.  But in the case of the great Shoshone, or Bannock, outbreak, there were none of these signs of the coming storm.  Settlers were therefore taken completely by surprise.  Many were murdered, their property stolen or destroyed, while others escaped as best they could.

From observation and experience I make the assertion that nine of every ten Indian outbreaks are fomented by the “Medicine” men.  These men are at the same time both priest and doctor.  They not only ward off the “bad spirits,” and cure the sick, but they forecast events.  They deal out “good medicine,” to ward off the bullets of the white man, and by jugglery and by working upon the superstitions of their followers, impress them with the belief that they possess supernatural powers.