The “Point of Rocks” appears to be a favorite place of resort for the Indians of the plains.  It is notorious as being one of the most dangerous places for the traveler in all the far West.  It is a series of continuous hills, which project out on the prairies in bold relief.  They end abruptly in a mass of rocks, out of which gushes a cold and refreshing spring, which is the main attraction about the place.  The road winds about near this point, and therefore it is a chosen spot for the Indians to lurk, in order to catch the unwary pilgrim.  Several encounters with the savages have taken place here, which has caused it to be pointed out as the scene of bloody tragedies, thereby making it quite historical.  The Indians themselves have made this spot the stage on which has been enacted several desperate battles.  In making the journey to Santa Fe, when these rocks are passed, the traveler counts his march as being drawn to a close.  Government troops, on the look-out for Indians on the plains, rarely fail, when they come from New Mexico, to give this place a visit.

Kit Carson had arrived at the place with his escort, and was about establishing his camp.  His men were under orders to keep a vigilant watch for Indians, while Kit Carson’s restless eye was searching the country in every direction to discover their signs.  About three hundred yards distant he discovered white men, and found there was encamped a company of United States volunteers, under the command of Lieutenant Mulony.  With this company was a large train of wagons bound for New Mexico.  Kit Carson ordered his men to go into camp.  The night passed by without any signs of the Indians; but, early in the morning of the subsequent day, as Lieutenant Mulony’s men were leading out their animals to picket them in fresh grass, the savages suddenly made their appearance and began an attack upon the picketing party, capturing all their cattle and twenty-six horses.  Mulony’s men had left their rifles in camp, and therefore, in order to escape being killed, they retreated to their wagons.  The cattle, in the confusion which ensued, turned and came towards Kit Carson’s camp.  He and his men, who were instantly on the alert, made an unexpected charge upon the Indians and recaptured the oxen.  During the skirmish which ensued, two of his men dismounted, in order to be more certain of a deliberate aim, but, in so doing, they accidentally let their own horses go loose, and lost them, as they ran away with those that were being stampeded by the red men.

In this affair three of the volunteers were wounded.  With the two horses lost by Kit Carson’s men, twenty-eight riding animals, belonging to the United States government, were stolen by this band of Camanches.  But, had it not been for Kit Carson and his men, Lieutenant Mulony would have lost his cattle likewise.