Gen. Gilliam is astounded, petrified. He hesitates; he does not give the order to march; he seems bewildered. Maj. Biddle rushes down from the signal station and cries, “I saw Canby fall.” The men are frantic. They do not understand the delay. The officers swear, and threaten to move without orders.
Gen. Gilliam now awakes from his lethargy, and gives the order, “March, and deploy from the left in skirmish line!”
“Forward!” shouts Col. Miller.
“Forward!” rings out along the lines, while Maj. Riddle’s bugle sounds “Forward!” Maj. Thomas is ordered to remain with his battery and guard the camp.
Now that the order to march is given, the men go flying towards the scene of blood in skirmish line. Behind the army are the surgeons with the stretchers.
The newspaper reporters are there, also, and foremost among them “Bill Dad” of the “Sacramento Record.” While waiting for orders Bill Dad says to a citizen, “I will give you fifty dollars to carry my message to Yreka ahead of all others. Yes, seventy-five!”
“All right,” responds the man, anxious to make
money out of the occasion. Other reporters engage couriers.
Col. Miller nears the council tent, urging his men on. He is behind them, pushing them forward, expecting every moment to see a Modoc blaze of fire in front. They soon after meet Dyer, who, breathless, says, “They are all killed but me.” Soon after they discover Riddle, who cries, hurriedly, “They are all killed.” But now they meet Tobey, who sobs, “Canby, Thomas, Meacham, all ‘kill.’”
Thirty minutes have passed, and Meacham is struggling to get upon his feet. He hears a voice. “Up, on the left! Forward, my boys!” Faintly the sound reaches his ears. “Steady, right! Up! up on the left, you d——d scoundrels!” Distinctly and clearly he hears the words, “Steady, right! Guide, centre!” Then the sound of men’s feet on the rocks mingles with the words of command. The men near the centre level their guns.