They then went up the Lodgepole valley to the point near the present city of Chappell, "twenty-four miles from the mouth

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

of the creek," and from there crossed to Mud Springs (now Simla) which they attacked on February 4th, driving off some horses and mules and a lot of Ed Creighton's work cattle. Creighton had the cattle on what was known as "Rankin's Fork." The Indians made a rich haul, there were twenty horses, a number of mules, and several hundred cattle.

News of the attack was sent by wire to Fort Mitchell and Fort Laramie. Lieutenant Ellsworth, with re-inforcements from Fort Mitchell made a trip to the scene at a swift gallop, and the next day Colonel Caspar Collins arrived from Fort Laramie with one hundred and twenty-five men. The Indians returned the following day also, with the evident intention of taking and destroying the station, but were surprised to see the. increased numbers of soldiers about it. They contented themselves by cutting the telegraph wires. There were only about ten men at the station when it was first attacked.

Around Fort Laramie, Young-Man-Afraidof-His-Horse, had already started activities, and had opened 1865 with a bang. On January seventh he attacked a stage arriving at Fort Laramie from the east, and escaped with the loss of only one man and one horse.

The impudence of coming practically under the walls of the fort, caused decisive and prompt action on the part of the military. Captain O'Brien, with thirty-seven intrepid and mounted men, rode out and charged a very superior number of Indians. There was a frightful carnage, and hand to hand encounters. The soldiers lost half their number, and made a fighting retreat. Fourteen of the thirty-seven were killed. Exultantly, and maddened by their victory, the Indians now attempted to take the fort, but were driven back by the artillery.