The US Army forces tried to dislodge the Modoc from the natural fortress, now called Captain Jack's Stronghold, in the lava beds along the south shore of Tule Lake in northeastern California.

They had illegally left the Klamath Reservation in Oregon, to which they had been relocated from their territory in order to enable European Americans to settle in the area.

Factors aiding the Modoc included their excellent defensive position, steady patience, and a thick fog that obscured portions of the battlefield.

There they joined a Modoc band led by Shacknasty Jim from Hot Creek, who had not been involved in the Lost River action.

The Modoc were encamped at a natural fortress of caves and trenches 300 yards (270 m) wide and 2 miles (3.2 km) long in the lava beds, which they had improved to make more defensible.

The Army moved units from across the Department of the Columbia to the south end of Tule Lake, where the units established two encampments, the larger at Van Brimmer's Ranch, about 10 miles west of the Stronghold, and a smaller force at Louis Land's Ranch, 12 miles (19 km) to the east.

The west force, under Major Green, consisted of the 21st Infantry under Major Edwin Mason; two companies of the Oregon militia under General John E. Ross; 1st Cavalry, Troop F, under Captain David Perry; a company of California volunteers under Captain John O. Fairchild, and one section of two 12-pounder (5 kg) mountain howitzers under 2nd Lieutenant W. H. Miller.

The two forces were to spread out and meet in the middle of the lava fields, south of the Stronghold, trapping the Modoc against Tule Lake.

At about this time the western force first began taking fire from the Modoc, who had left the Stronghold to attack the Army in the lava beds.

The Modoc, concealed by the fog and hiding in the rock formations, shot any target presented to them as they slowly gave ground, causing many casualties among the Army.

With the exception of the Oregon militia, who claimed to be stopped by a ravine, Green's force began to move to the north along the shore.

Major Green was wounded when he stood up and urged his men forward, an act for which he later received the Medal of Honor.

At 5 pm, Colonel Wheaton realized he had failed to capture the Stronghold, and signaled Green and Bernard to retreat.

It recruited additional scouts from the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, while the Oregon militia and California volunteers left the field.