The fate of General Custer and the famous Seventh cavalry was still fresh in the minds of General Larrabee and his soldiers. It was late in the fall of that year, 1878, when the scouts reported that a band of Indians were in camp at the head of Chadron creek. A detachment of soldiers were sent out to inquire their purpose and destination. It was soon learned that they belonged to a band of Cheyennes that had been sent back to the Indian Territory only a short time before. The Indians were persuaded to peaceably accompany the soldiers over to White River, where they camped for the night. The next morning, when the start was made in the direction of Fort Robinson, the Indians rebelled and flatly refused to go any farther.

At first the Indians believed they were being returned to the Pine Ridge agency, but when they found this was not the intention of the soldiers, they refused to go. They remained there that day, and when night came on a messenger was sent to the fort for reinforcements and some large guns. When day dawned the next morning the Indians, who had camped on a lower piece of ground than the soldiers, looked up into the mouth of several pieces of field artdlery. Under this persuasive argument the Indians peaceably accompanied the soldiers to the Fort.

Once here, they were confined in the old barracks, which were later replaced by new ones for the soldiers. Here they were kept from September until the following January. They would not return to their southern reservation, and all overtures in this direction availed nothing.