They pursued the Indians for two days and on the night of the second day camped near Dead Man's Gulch, which is now in the vicinity of Broadwater, it being the ravine where George Hacksby now lives (1919). At that time there was a bend in the river with steep banks on three sides and the camp was at the outer neck of the Horseshoe, with horses in the rich grass of the peninsula. Contrary to the advice of many of the old timers, Colonel Moonlight considered the horses safe without hobbles.

During the night -- at about ten o'clock -- the Indians swam the river, and got upon the peninsula. Indians to the number of 200 engaged the soldiers from the front, while others ran amid the thoroughly frightened horses, yelling, shooting, and swinging their blankets.

The horses stampeded straight through the camp and out toward the battling Indians, who, for a moment, seemed to think the soldiers were charging, but discovering their mistake, they opened up and closed in behind the stampeding steeds and ran them off into the hills.

After losing the horses there was nothing to do but to destroy the saddles and other heavy materials and walk back to Fort Laramie. The distance was 120 miles and the way was not pleasant, especially with cavalry boots, and it was this walk as the culminating event, that

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

caused Colonel Moonlight to retire from military service. An investigation by General Connor found much to blame in Moonlight, but for the most part it was his stubbornness that caused what General Dodge succinctly described as follows : "His administration was a series of blunders."