the causes which led to the existmg hostilities, and the most effective measures for preventing their continuance. The Secretary of the Interior further gave it as his opinion in the instructions, that it was advisable to remove the Modocs to " some new reservation, presumably the Coast reservation; and directed the commissioners to endeavor to get their consent to be placed there, unless in their judgment some other place should be better adapted to accomplishing the purpose of the department to make peace. The commissioners were directed not to interfere with the military, otherwise than express a wish that no unnecessary violence should be used toward the Modocs, whose confidence the government desired to obtain, and their voluntary consent to whatever regulations might be made.
As the chairman of the commission, Meacham, had to come from Washington, some time must elapse before the object for which it was organized could be accomplished, or the business begun. This interval was not without its exciting episodes. Between the 17th of January and the 4th of February, eight Modocs had been killed, as many wounded, and nearly all their horses captured, their principal loss occurring on the 25th of January, when, emboldened by their late victory, they attacked the rear guard of Bernard's train while moving camp from the southeast corner of Tule lake to Clear lake. They captured one wagon, when Bernard returned and fought them. No losses were sustained by the troops. The capture of their horses was a serious blow to the Modocs, who were thus deprived of the means of making their predatory excursions into the surrounding country, either for purposes of attack, or to procure subsistence.
Being shorn of a part of his strength, Captain Jack resorted to his native cunning, and allowed it to be s-^id that he was tired of war. A constant communication was kept up between Jack's camp and the Ind
