Gillem's Camp was the U.S. Army headquarters during the later Modoc War, set at the base of Gillem Bluff near the lakeshore. It was established in April 1873 to move troops closer to the Modoc in the stronghold.
Details
- Type
- Historic Site
- Accessibility
- Limited accessibility
The Army's base
The camp took its name from Colonel Alvan Gillem, who commanded forces in the field. Soldiers moved here, along with the outpost at Hospital Rock, to press nearer the Modoc fighting from the lava fortress to the east. A military cemetery and the outlines of camp features remain on the ground.
In the war
The shift of these camps toward the Modoc raised tensions in the spring of 1873. On April 11, the peace talks between the two sides collapsed in violence, and renewed fighting followed across the lava beds. The war ended with the Modoc defeat that summer.