Modoc War Research Paper

The original home of the Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma consisted of some 5,000 square miles and an estimated 3.2 million acres along what is now the California-Oregon border. Their tribal territory took up only a small area, it was one of many views. On the west side there was the snow-capped peaks of the Cascade Mountains; On the east was a empty wasteland of alkali flats; giant forests of Ponderosa pines were on the north and the Lava Beds, which are now a National Park, was on the south. From before the time when humans wrote down history all the way to times dating back to about 10,000 years; the Modoc were culturally apart and like nobody else in the world band. Every now and then they formed war parties to get rid of unwanted visitors or surprise …show more content…
The military with small arms were supported by mountain howitzers and coehorn mortars. Captain Jack lost six men by direct combat while the U.S. Army lost about 45. E.R.S. Canby was the only general to lose his life in an Indian war. The Modoc War is guessed to have cost the United States government, about half a million dollars. Despite the small number of warriors, the Modoc war was significantly the most expensive Indian war ever fought in United States history. In comparison, the cost of land for the reservation of the Modoc on Lost River was estimated to be about $10,000. When the war had finally ended on June 1, 1873 with the surrender of Modoc, Captain Jack and five of his warriors, Schonchin John, Black Jim, Boston Charley, Barncho and Sioux, were charged with war crimes. They are the only Native Americans to be tried by a military commission on such charges. Hanging stations were built before the trial began, and it was obvious the legal punishments would be death by hanging. The date set for the execution was October 3, 1873. Captain Jack, Barncho and Sioux were convicted and sentenced to

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