The Indian History of the Modoc War

by Jeff C. Davis Riddle

Jefferson C. Davis Riddle (1863-1941) was the son of Frank and Tobey Riddle, both of whom played prominent roles in the Modoc War. After the war, his parents renamed him for the Army colonel who ended the war and toured the East Coast, lecturing on the conflict. Riddle's book vividly chronicles this episode of Western history. Only ten years old, the author, then known by the Modoc name "Charka," experienced the conflict firsthand. The account was written "to give both sides of the troubles of the Modoc Indians and the whites."

Author Biography: Peter Cozzens is a Foreign Service officer with the U.S. Department of State and the author of several acclaimed books on the Civil War and Western history, including the trilogy The Civil War in the West (025202236X) and General John Pope: A Life for the Nation (0252023633).

Genres: History, American History

295 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1974

Reviews

[Frode · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was honest as it explored the faults on both sides, white and Indian. The biographies at the end were interesting. Having wandered about Capt. Jack's stronghold myself previously, this book makes me want to go back and see things I doubtless missed 25 years ago. The writing is acceptable for a fellow who claims little schooling. Perhaps one of the more impressive things about the book is the industriousness and adventuresome character of many of the early settlers. Of course, some were ruthless and conniving as well. It is a good and illustrative history about a small war most people have not heard of.

[Corinne · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This country is big but it is small for the white people" 136

Testimony of the defense
Captain Jack
July, 1873
"Now for the last time. I say again, I am ashamed of my coming death, but not afraid. What our White Father says is right. I must die, so this is all. I have no more to say. I see in your faces you are tired of listening to me. Perhaps some of you think I am lying, but my friends, I tell the truth. I still feel for the welfare of my young boys and girls. I hope the white people will not ill treat them on my account, for they cannot help what wrongs I did. That is the one matter and the only matter that bothers me is my young people. I hope the White Father in Washington will give them a good home and start them in life...." 188

"To the Honorable C Delano, Secretary of the Interior, Washington D.C., Headquarters Lava Beds
Let's have both sides of the question. Let us have the sworn statements of the Indians, which will be corroborated by the testimony of responsible white men. If you have any authority to order it, direct that the testimony of all those who are likely to be conflicted and executed be taken. I regret that I have to say it, but I believe that there never was a time since the organization of our government that there was so much corruption and swindling, not only of the government and the people, but of the Indians, as it is today being practiced on Indian reservations on this Coast.
Very Respectfully Yours,
O. K. Luttrell, Member of the Third Congressional District" 290

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first third or so of this book in 2016, I believe, at the Lava Beds National Monument visitor center, and thought of it again recently and decided to order a used copy online. Modoc County is a striking place, and the book tells a striking story. It's made up of a direct narrative account of the Modoc War and its context from the author-- whose parents were directly involved in the events described and present at many of the key moments-- and then a variety of court transcripts, obituaries, and brief biographical excerpts. As a result, several contradictions pop up, and you have to read between the lines a fair amount to get a clear picture of what was going on. I think I'd struggle to resonate with it very much if I hadn't visited the place where it all happened, but it's a story that's lodged itself quite tightly in my brain for almost a decade and I really appreciated the roughness and straightforwardness of this account.

[Gwen Chavarria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting account of the Modoc War by someone who was a child witness to certain episodes and became acquainted with several central players. Despite its title, it actually recounts both sides of the conflict and includes written statements of several of the white men who figured prominently--and survived. Riddle's writing, which he himself describes as uneducated, is not so colloquial as to be off-putting.

[Jason Freeze · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is easy to view history, especially polarizing events and actions, in purely black and white, right or wrong terms. Mr. Riddle's recollections of the Modoc War bring back in the very human aspect of tragic events and shows that even in these most trying times there are shades to be considered. Thankfully, as a piece written shortly after the events of the book through the eyes of a witness, revisionism and politics play no major role. For those who look to view the history through the lens of modern ethics and morals, this is not a book for you. However, if you want to have the chance to see at least one perspective that allows for both sides of conflict to be right and wrong at the same time, I would encourage you to partake in this tale.

[Thelastsnowflake · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my relatives actually wrote this book based on the events that he, his mother (who was a renowned figure), and his father, personally experienced during that time period. Because of this some events find real truth and some are I believe skewed by personal opinion/emotion. He is a very just writer, giving credit and denoting terrors committed on both sides. This is a very complete history that incoorporates events that built up to the war itself. I'm still reading it and it tends to be very dry at times. It reads in his personal voice which is very simple and with grammatical errors. It includes lots of photographs disbursed throughout the book that I found very interesting.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Half white and half Modoc, the author was a boy at the time of the Modoc War and attempts to present both sides of the conflict through his recollections. He spent most of his youth with the Modoc and married a Modoc woman. The war started when whites chasing murders from a different tribe killed some Modoc. The Modoc held up in the Lava Beds and killed the only general killed during the Indians wars. Custer doesn't count as he was only a Lt. Colonel at the time of his death.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A distant relative. So interesting