He was a Hot Creek warrior with the hostile Modoc tribe in the war of 1872-1873 in northeastern California. He was a much loved warrior and considered one of the best, if not the best, strategist among the Modocs. He had been adopted by, and then married, an older woman named Helen which accounted for his name among the white folks. On April 11, 1873, a peace commission composed of former superintendent Alfred B. Meacham, Agent L.S. Dyar, General E.R.S. Canby, and Reverend Eleazar Thomas met with the Modocs demanding the soldiers leave and a Lost River reservation be provided. It was planned that the Modocs would attack the peace commission and the Modoc leader, Captain Jack, would kill General Canby and he did. Ellen's Man George was back-up in the plot and if Captain Jack failed He would kill Canby. He did in fact fire a bullet into Canby's body.
At the news of the betrayal, Chief of Staff Sherman ordered the Modocs exterminated. With Warm Springs Indian scouts, the army launched a two-pronged attack on April 15th. The army suffered only 3 killed and 6 wounded, but surrounded the Stronghold, cutting off access to water. Under cover of darkness, the Modocs slipped out of the Stronghold in a natural Lava trench to Schonchin Lava flow.
At noon the next day the army discovered the departure and sent patrols to locate the Modocs. With no sign of the enemy for several days, the patrol sent to the Hardin Butte vicinity sat down to have lunch. The Modocs, who'd monitored the troop movements, attacked when two soldiers, sent to scout the ridge, drew near. The ambush killed 5 officers, 20 enlisted men, and left 16 more wounded.
The increased troop movements inhibited obtaining water and food, forcing the Modocs to move south. In route to Dry Lake, they came in contact with a scouting party led by Captain H.C. Hasbrouck. The need for provisions prompted a dawn surprise attack by the Modocs on the party's camp on May 10. The attack failed. Ellen's Man George was killed and 24 pack animals with supplies were lost.
The loss of the Ellen's Man George, whose body had to be left during their hasty retreat, demoralized the Modocs. It was reported that his body was cremated by the Modocs.
At the news of the betrayal, Chief of Staff Sherman ordered the Modocs exterminated. With Warm Springs Indian scouts, the army launched a two-pronged attack on April 15th. The army suffered only 3 killed and 6 wounded, but surrounded the Stronghold, cutting off access to water. Under cover of darkness, the Modocs slipped out of the Stronghold in a natural Lava trench to Schonchin Lava flow.
At noon the next day the army discovered the departure and sent patrols to locate the Modocs. With no sign of the enemy for several days, the patrol sent to the Hardin Butte vicinity sat down to have lunch. The Modocs, who'd monitored the troop movements, attacked when two soldiers, sent to scout the ridge, drew near. The ambush killed 5 officers, 20 enlisted men, and left 16 more wounded.
The increased troop movements inhibited obtaining water and food, forcing the Modocs to move south. In route to Dry Lake, they came in contact with a scouting party led by Captain H.C. Hasbrouck. The need for provisions prompted a dawn surprise attack by the Modocs on the party's camp on May 10. The attack failed. Ellen's Man George was killed and 24 pack animals with supplies were lost.
The loss of the Ellen's Man George, whose body had to be left during their hasty retreat, demoralized the Modocs. It was reported that his body was cremated by the Modocs.
He was a Hot Creek warrior with the hostile Modoc tribe in the war of 1872-1873 in northeastern California. He was a much loved warrior and considered one of the best, if not the best, strategist among the Modocs. He had been adopted by, and then married, an older woman named Helen which accounted for his name among the white folks. On April 11, 1873, a peace commission composed of former superintendent Alfred B. Meacham, Agent L.S. Dyar, General E.R.S. Canby, and Reverend Eleazar Thomas met with the Modocs demanding the soldiers leave and a Lost River reservation be provided. It was planned that the Modocs would attack the peace commission and the Modoc leader, Captain Jack, would kill General Canby and he did. Ellen's Man George was back-up in the plot and if Captain Jack failed He would kill Canby. He did in fact fire a bullet into Canby's body.
At the news of the betrayal, Chief of Staff Sherman ordered the Modocs exterminated. With Warm Springs Indian scouts, the army launched a two-pronged attack on April 15th. The army suffered only 3 killed and 6 wounded, but surrounded the Stronghold, cutting off access to water. Under cover of darkness, the Modocs slipped out of the Stronghold in a natural Lava trench to Schonchin Lava flow.
At noon the next day the army discovered the departure and sent patrols to locate the Modocs. With no sign of the enemy for several days, the patrol sent to the Hardin Butte vicinity sat down to have lunch. The Modocs, who'd monitored the troop movements, attacked when two soldiers, sent to scout the ridge, drew near. The ambush killed 5 officers, 20 enlisted men, and left 16 more wounded.
The increased troop movements inhibited obtaining water and food, forcing the Modocs to move south. In route to Dry Lake, they came in contact with a scouting party led by Captain H.C. Hasbrouck. The need for provisions prompted a dawn surprise attack by the Modocs on the party's camp on May 10. The attack failed. Ellen's Man George was killed and 24 pack animals with supplies were lost.
The loss of the Ellen's Man George, whose body had to be left during their hasty retreat, demoralized the Modocs. It was reported that his body was cremated by the Modocs.
At the news of the betrayal, Chief of Staff Sherman ordered the Modocs exterminated. With Warm Springs Indian scouts, the army launched a two-pronged attack on April 15th. The army suffered only 3 killed and 6 wounded, but surrounded the Stronghold, cutting off access to water. Under cover of darkness, the Modocs slipped out of the Stronghold in a natural Lava trench to Schonchin Lava flow.
At noon the next day the army discovered the departure and sent patrols to locate the Modocs. With no sign of the enemy for several days, the patrol sent to the Hardin Butte vicinity sat down to have lunch. The Modocs, who'd monitored the troop movements, attacked when two soldiers, sent to scout the ridge, drew near. The ambush killed 5 officers, 20 enlisted men, and left 16 more wounded.
The increased troop movements inhibited obtaining water and food, forcing the Modocs to move south. In route to Dry Lake, they came in contact with a scouting party led by Captain H.C. Hasbrouck. The need for provisions prompted a dawn surprise attack by the Modocs on the party's camp on May 10. The attack failed. Ellen's Man George was killed and 24 pack animals with supplies were lost.
The loss of the Ellen's Man George, whose body had to be left during their hasty retreat, demoralized the Modocs. It was reported that his body was cremated by the Modocs.
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