The attempt at arrest was made by a man who had contempt for Indians as fighters, and knew nothing of the characteristics of the race. Every effort seemed to have been made by the chief of the Brules to effect a peaceful settlement of the affair. He offered a mule to Grattan, as a recompense for the loss of the cow, but Grattan effected to think that it was offered to him personally as a bribe.

Man-afraid-of-his-horse, the chief of the Ogallala band, was earnest in his efforts to settle the matter peacefully.

The Indians were strung out along the banks of the Platte for a distance of six miles from Fort Laramie, awaiting the arrival of the Indian agent for the distribution of government annuities, stored at Chouteau's American Fur Company's store. The band of Ogallalas were nearest the fort and the Brules were just beyond. One letter ventures to give the number of lodges in the camp at 600, which I think is too high. A Mormon emigrant train passed the camp headed for the fort. A Mormon brought up the rear driving a lame cow. The Mormon, terribly afraid of the Indians, headed for the fort, when the cow, frightened, ran toward the Indian camp. He reported himself fired upon and the cow captured.

A Minneconjou, "shooters of the mist," a stranger camped among the Brules, killed the cow, and it was eaten.

On the 19th, Grattan with his twenty-nine men and an interpreter, (a hanger on around forts and camps, a hard drinker, and very boastful) with two cannon, a twelve pound howitzer, and a mountain howitzer, arrived aboul three I'. M. to arrest the Minneconjou. Grattan took a position in the Brule camp about CO yards from the lodge of the Minneconjou, and demanded his surrender.