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.

There was an insufficient force defending Fort Laramie, so that an impression of numbers was made by the women dressing in men's clothing and appearing upon the wall of the fort, and in the morning it was found that the Indians had retired. They had lost over seventy killed.

On February second following, there was a sudden and successful attack upon the stage station below the fort (the ruins of which are near the present Burns school house) and the station was burned to the ground. Captain O'Brien and an escort were bringing the stage from the east, when they discovered the Indians and the smoking ruins of the station.

There were four men and one woman in the stage and five of the escort, and they had just overtaken two teamsters. The small cavalcade made a show of bravery, and moved steadily along. Captain O'Brien rode to an eminence, gave signals, which the Indians quite likely understood was for some invisible and stronger party.