battles.  Gen. Brown had seen service during the war between the States, but he, and all were ignorant of Indian warfare.  On his arrival at Prineville Gen. Brown sent a courier to my ranch with a letter urging me to join the expedition.  My business affairs had been sadly neglected during the past three months, and I was loth to start out on an expedition, the end of which was impossible to foresee.  I however went to Prineville and had a consultation with him.  Gen. Brown was exceedingly desirous that I should go with him.  He called my attention to personal obligations of friendship due from me to him.  That settled it and I told him I would go.  He authorized me to enlist 15 men as scouts and placed me in command.  The number were readily found, they providing their own horses, arms, ammunition and blankets.  Provisions were supplied from the commissary.

In Humphrey’s company there was a character known as “Warm Spring Johnny,” whom I shall have occasion to mention further on.  He was transferred to my contingent by order of Gen. Brown, as it was believed he would be of service to me.  The start was made from Prineville the next day, our course leading toward the head of Crooked River and the South John Day.

On the evening of the second day we arrived at Watson Springs where we camped for the night.  Guards had been placed around the camp and I had laid down on my saddle blanket to rest when Warm Spring Johnny came and sat beside me.  He then told me that at this place he saw his first white man.  Going into the history of his life—­he was then a man about 38 years of age—­he told me the Snake Indians had captured him when he was a mere child—­so far back that he had no recollections of his parents or of the circumstances of his capture.  He was raised by the Snakes, and always supposed he was an Indian like the rest of them, only that his skin was white.  He did not attempt to account for this difference—­he was an Indian and that was all he knew.

In the spring of 1868, Lieut.  Watson arrived and camped at the spring which was forever to bear his name.  Here the rim rock circles around the head of the spring in the form a half wheel.  Willows had grown up along the edge of the stream that flowed out into the dun sage brush plain.  Into this trap Lieut.  Watson marched his men and camped.  Evidently he felt secure, as no Indians had been seen, besides the Warm Spring scouts were out scouring the country.  Probably not a guard or picket was placed about the camp.  They had been in camp an hour, and were busily engaged in cooking their meal when from the rim of the bluff on three sides a host of tufted warriors poured a shower of arrows and bullets upon them.  Lieut.  Watson was killed with several of his men at the first fire, while a number were wounded.  The soldiers for protection took to the willows and defended themselves as best they could.  But the Snakes had overlooked the Warm Spring scouts, who, hearing the firing, rushed to the rescue and attacking the Snakes in the rear, which was open ground, routed them with the loss of several warriors killed and half a dozen captured.