Captain Jack's Stronghold
Encyclopedia
Captain Jack's Stronghold, named for Modoc chief Captain Jack, is a part of Lava Beds National Monument
.
The stronghold can be accessed from the Perez turnoff, off Highway 139
between Tulelake
and Canby, California
.
During the Modoc War
, Captain Jack's band settled here following the Battle of Lost River
, and held off a United States Army
force outnumbering them by as much as 10 to 1 for several months.
The lava beds made an outstanding stronghold for the Modocs because of the rough terrain, rocks that could be used in fortification, and irregular pathways to evade pursuers.
In the First Battle of the Stronghold
, January 17, 1873, 51 Modoc warriors defeated an Army force of 225 soldiers supported by 104 Oregon and California volunteers, killing 35 and wounding several others, while suffering no casualties or serious woundings.
During the Second Battle of the Stronghold
, April 15 - 17, the reinforced Army of over six hundred men captured the Modoc spring and cut off their route to Tulelake, forcing the Modoc to flee when their water
supplies ran out.
After fleeing the Stronghold, the band of Modoc splintered, and the last group, made up of Captain Jack, John Schonchin, Black Jim, and Boston Charley were captured on June 1, 1873. All four were hanged on October 3, 1873, at Fort Klamath.
The area originally served as a hunting and gathering area.
Lava Beds National Monument
Lava Beds National Monument is located in northeastern California, in Siskiyou and Modoc Counties. The Monument lies on the northeastern flank of the Medicine Lake Volcano, with the largest total area covered by a volcano in the Cascade Range....
.
The stronghold can be accessed from the Perez turnoff, off Highway 139
California State Route 139
State Route 139 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. Running from Susanville north to Oregon Route 39, it forms part of the shortest route between Reno, Nevada and Klamath Falls, Oregon. The entire route is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System, but is a two-lane road...
between Tulelake
Tulelake, California
Tulelake is a city in Siskiyou County, California, United States. It is named after the nearby Tule Lake. The population was 1,010 at the 2010 census, down from 1,020 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Tulelake is located at ....
and Canby, California
Canby, California
Canby is a census-designated place in Modoc County, California. It is located west of Alturas, at an elevation of 4314 feet . It had a population of 315 at the 2010 census. The ZIP Code is 96015...
.
During the Modoc War
Modoc War
The Modoc War, or Modoc Campaign , was an armed conflict between the Native American Modoc tribe and the United States Army in southern Oregon and northern California from 1872–1873. The Modoc War was the last of the Indian Wars to occur in California or Oregon...
, Captain Jack's band settled here following the Battle of Lost River
Battle of Lost River
The Battle of Lost River in November 1872 was the first battle in the Modoc War in the northwestern United States. The skirmish, which was fought near the Lost River along the California-Oregon border, was the result of an attempt by the U.S. 1st Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army to force...
, and held off a United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
force outnumbering them by as much as 10 to 1 for several months.
The lava beds made an outstanding stronghold for the Modocs because of the rough terrain, rocks that could be used in fortification, and irregular pathways to evade pursuers.
In the First Battle of the Stronghold
First Battle of the Stronghold
The First Battle of the Stronghold was the second battle in the Modoc War of 1872–1873. The battle was fought between the United States Army under Lieutenant Colonel Frank Wheaton and a band of the Native American Modoc tribe from Oregon and California, led by Captain Jack...
, January 17, 1873, 51 Modoc warriors defeated an Army force of 225 soldiers supported by 104 Oregon and California volunteers, killing 35 and wounding several others, while suffering no casualties or serious woundings.
During the Second Battle of the Stronghold
Second Battle of the Stronghold
The Second Battle of the Stronghold was a battle during the Modoc War between a band of the Native American Modoc tribe and the Army of the United States, in northeastern California. The battle began on April 15, 1873, and ended on April 17, 1873...
, April 15 - 17, the reinforced Army of over six hundred men captured the Modoc spring and cut off their route to Tulelake, forcing the Modoc to flee when their water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
supplies ran out.
After fleeing the Stronghold, the band of Modoc splintered, and the last group, made up of Captain Jack, John Schonchin, Black Jim, and Boston Charley were captured on June 1, 1873. All four were hanged on October 3, 1873, at Fort Klamath.
The area originally served as a hunting and gathering area.