Background
Immediately after the inconclusive November 27, 1872 Battle of Lost River in Oregon, the Modocs involved escaped to the lava beds in what is now Lava Beds National Monument, California, where they joined with an additional band of Modoc Indians under the leadership of Shacknasty Jim from Hot Creek, who had not been involved in the Lost River action. The Modocs were encamped at a natural fortress of caves and trenches 300 yards (300 m) wide and 2 miles (3 km) long in the lava beds, now known as "Captain Jack's Stronghold", which they had improved to make more defensible. The Modoc had also captured about 100 head of cattle that they were using as a food supply.
The Army moved units from all across the Department of the Columbia to the south end of Tule Lake, where the units established two encampments, the larger at Van Brimmer's Ranch, about 10 miles west of the Stronghold, and a smaller force at Louis Land's Ranch, 12 miles (19 km) to the east.
Read more about this topic: First Battle Of The Stronghold
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