Group of five (5) 1873 albumen cartes-de-visite portraits of Modoc prisoners of war taken by Louis Heller (1839-1928) and published by Carleton Watkins (1829-1916) in his San Francisco gallery.

Each presented on cardstock mount with printed title identification of each subject followed by a testimony of General Jefferson C. Davis. Photographer's copyright statement to recto. Each published by Carleton Watkins, with an extensive advertisement for Watkins' Yosemite Art Gallery printed to the mount versos. Views include: 

1.  Captain Jack. Vignetted studio bust portrait. 

Kintpuash (ca. 1837-1873), known to the Americans as "Captain Jack," led his people in resisting the forced relocation, which resulted in the Modoc War (1872-1873). Expertly using the rugged terrain of the lava fields in California, he successfully resisted the US Army with a small band of warriors for several months. He remains the only Native American leader to be charged with war crimes. He, Boston Charley, and Schonchin John, whose portraits are also included here, were executed on 3 October 1873, in front of a crowd of Modoc who were forced to watch. 

2. Scar-Faced Charley. Vignetted studio bust portrait.

Chikchikam Lupatkue-latko (ca. 1851-1896), known to the Americans as "Scarface Charley," is credited with firing the first shot at the Battle of Lost River, and led a victorious attack in April 1873 against a patrol of 63 US soldiers, killing 5 officers and 20 privates. After Kintpuash's execution, he was forcibly removed to Oklahoma, where he was appointed as chief of the Modocs.  Here, the prominent warrior is captured wearing a fur cap with ear flaps and wool coat.

3. Hooka Jim. Oval vignetted studio bust portrait.

Hooker Jim (alt. Hooka Jim, ca 1851-1879) was a respected headman of th Hot Creek Modoc. After the Battle of Lost River, American cavalry fired on unarmed Modoc prisoners. Hooker Jim fought back and escaped, and afterwards led a band of warriors in retaliation, killing American militamen who had settled on Modoc land given to them by the American government. 

4. Schonchin. Oval vignetted studio bust portrait 

Schonchin John (ca 1817-1873), was a veteran sub-chief of the Modoc and key war leader, captured here with a coat draped over his shoulders. he was executed alongside Kintpuash at Fort Klamath. 

5.  Boston Charley. Oval vignetted studio bust portrait.

Boston Charley (ca. 1854-1873) was one of the warriors involved in the massacre of 14 people at Tule Lake, and also part of the group that murdered Edward Canby. He was also sentenced to death and was executed alongside Kintpuash and Schonchin. 

Captured in the Lava Beds in June 1873 following a grueling six-month campaign, the Modoc prisoners were brought under heavy guard to Fort Klamath, Oregon. Yreka photographer Louis Heller secured exclusive access to the stockade, producing this definitive, haunting series of prisoner portraits under the official supervision of General Jefferson C. Davis. Recognizing their immense historical and commercial value, Carleton E. Watkins acquired the rights to publish and distribute Heller's negatives from his premier San Francisco gallery. Following a military tribunal at the post, both Captain Jack and Schonchin John were convicted and hanged at Fort Klamath on 3 October, 1873.

The mounts themselves tell a fascinating story of 19th-century commercial rivalry and photographic branding. To combat unauthorized pirating and establish absolute authenticity, Watkins paired the official military certifications on the recto with aggressive marketing on the verso, boldly framing his Yosemite Art Gallery imprint with the claim: "The only genuine Photographs of CAPTAIN JACK, and the Modoc Indians." Below an invitation to visit his gallery at 22 and 26 Montgomery Street, Watkins printed glowing excerpts from the London Art Journal and Springfield Republican, using international praise for his landscape mastery to endorse these stark frontier prisoner studies. 

[Modoc War, Modoc Nation, Captain Jack, Kintpuash, Schonchin John, Scar-Faced Charley, Boston Charley, Hooker Jim, Fort Klamath, Oregon, Indian Wars, US Army, General Jefferson C. Davis, Military Executions, Prisoners of War, American West, Frontier History] [Photography, Early Photography, Historic Photography, Carte-de-Visite, CDV, Albumen Photographs, Louis Heller, Carleton E. Watkins, Watkins Yosemite Art Gallery, Frontier Photographers, Native American Portraiture]

Very good condition overall, displaying warm tones, sharp definition, and strong contrast. The card mounts remain flat and intact, showing light age toning, faint corner softening, and minor handling wear consistent with age. Versos are crisp and fully legible.