Battle of Sand Butte

Battle of Sand Butte
Part of Modoc War (Indian Wars)
Scarface Charley, who massacred the US troops.
Date 26 April 1873 Location South of Captain Jack's Stronghold, California Result Modoc victory
Belligerents
Modoc	United States
Commanders and leaders
Scarface Charley	Evan Thomas †
Strength
34 warriors	67-man patrol
Casualties and losses
none	23 killed, 19 wounded

The Battle of Sand Butte or the Thomas Massacre was a clash between the Modoc Indians and the United States 12th Infantry Regiment in the Modoc War. A small force of US troops were ambushed and nearly wiped out by Modoc warriors led by Scarface Charley. Ten days after the battle, the dead bodies of the soldiers were discovered by a patrol.

References

• MHQ Summer 2011: Fooled Again by Peter E. Cozzens
• Indians of the Pacific Northwest: A History by Robert H. Ruby and John A. Brown