The Indians started to rush him then, and he fired his cannon and muskets in a volley. The Bear and a few Indians fell, the Bear mortally wounded.

Grattan and five men were killed around the cannon, and the rest were all cut down within a mile of camp. One soldier, terribly wounded, was picked up by one of the sub-chiefs and kept in his lodge over night, and the next day taken to Bordeaux's trading store and later to the fort, where he died in three or four days.

The Indians then looted Bordeaux's store, and went to Choteau, Jr.'s American Fur Company's store and took the annuity goods. Then they threatened to attack the fort. Soldiers were rushed to reinforce Fort Laramie.

For the rash lieutenant the affair was at an end, but for the unfortunate Brules it had just commenced.

Mato-i-o-way signifies, "Bear who hunts alone," according to some authorities. He was at the time recognized by the government, as the head of the Brules. Father DeSmet knew him well, and spoke of him as a man of intelligence and courage.

After the looting of Bordeaux and Chouteau trading posts, the Indians took the body of their dead chief, and went over on the Niobrara, where he was wrapped in rich robes and put in a burial tree.

Activities of Spotted Tail .and Little Thunder, after the Grattan Massacre, brought General Harney to Fort Laramie with re-inforcements from Fort Kearney.

Little Thunder became the nominal chief after the death of Mato-i-o-way, with Spotted Tail second in command. Harney heard that the Indians under Little Thunder were committing depreciations along the river, and while there was some foundation for the reports, it was also an opportunity for him to distinguish