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.

The redmen fled across the ice of the frozen river, and as soon as they thought that they could make it, the stage and wagon drivers and escort put the whip to their horses, and arrived safely within the walls of the fort.

Colonel Moonlight declared martial law in all of the North River country, (as the Indians had grown so bold) with the intention, no doubt, of augmenting his military forces with trappers and emigrants, and pressing into service such horses and equipment as they might have.

The force at Fort Laramie had been increased by the time that Spotted Tail and his warriors from south of the Platte destroyed Julesburg and attacked Mud Springs. Following this attack, Colonel Collins determined that it was time to strike a decisive blow at the savages. They were flushed with victory, and well fed with the cattle they had killed, and the provisions stolen from Fort Sedgwick. They were apparently well satisfied for the time to revel in their plunder. They were in such numbers, being several thousand, that it would be impossible for them to subsist except for such raids. This large band was made up of several tribes, but for the most part, were Sioux, Arapahoes and Ogallalas. Great quantities of supplies were being forwarded with the intention of feeding the friendly Indians, and some of these were seized by the hostiles.