We pulled out early next morning for the Beaver, and when we were approaching the stream I rode on ahead of the advance guard, in order to find a crossing.  Just as I turned a bend of the creek, “bang!” went a shot, and down went my horse—­myself with him.  I disentangled myself, and jumped behind the dead body.  Looking in the direction whence the shot had come, I saw two Indians, and at once turned my gun loose on them, but in the excitement of the moment I missed my aim.  They fired two or three more shots, and I returned the compliment, wounding one of their horses.

On the opposite side of the creek, going over the hill, I observed a few lodges moving rapidly away, and also some mounted warriors, who could see me, and who kept blazing away with their guns.  The two Indians who had fired at me and had killed my horse were retreating across the creek on a beaver dam.  I sent a few shots after them to accelerate their speed, and also fired at the ones on the other side of the stream.  I was undecided as to whether it was best to run back to the command on foot or hold my position.  I knew that within a few minutes the troops would come up, and if they heard the firing they would come rapidly.

The Indians, seeing that I was alone, turned and charged down the hill, and were about to re-cross the creek to corral me, when the advance guard of the command put in an appearance on the ridge, and dashed forward to my rescue.  The red-skins whirled and made off.

When General Carr came up, he ordered Company I to go in pursuit of the band.  I accompanied Lieutenant Brady, who commanded, and we had a running fight with the Indians, lasting several hours.  We captured several head of their horses and most of their lodges.  At night we returned to the command, which by this time had crossed the creek on the beaver dam.

We scouted for several days along the river, and had two or three lively skirmishes.  Finally our supplies began to run low, and General Carr gave orders to return to Fort Wallace, which we reached three days afterwards, and where we remained several days.

While the regiment was waiting here for orders, I spent most of the time in hunting buffaloes, and one day while I was out with a small party, we were “jumped” by about fifty Indians.  We had a severe fight of at least an hour, when we succeeded in driving the enemy.  They lost four of their warriors, and probably concluded that we were a hard crowd.  I had some excellent marksmen with me, and they did some fine work, sending the bullets thick and fast where they would do the most good.  Two or three of our horses had been hit, and one man had been wounded; we were ready and willing to stay with the red-skins as long as they wished—­but they finally gave it up however, as a bad job, and rode off.  We finished our hunt, and went back to the post loaded down with plenty of buffalo meat, and received the compliments of the General for our little fight.