In such cases it is quite essential that a scout should be able to use his pistol in his left hand, which had been part of their drill duties before starting out scouting.

As soon as the attack was made some of the Indians arose on their feet, and we tried to cut them down as fast as they arose, but it was so dark that it was difficult to distinguish our own men from the Indians.

The Indians fought us with their tomahawks, and it was not long until we were all mixed up together, and a person had to look close before striking, for fear of making a mistake.  After fighting some time I had two hand-to-hand encounters, but was victorious in both of them.  Just as I had finished the second one I got a tremendous blow from behind that caught me on the shoulder, and it knocked me as blind as a bat.  When I tried to rise I would stagger and fall like a drunken man.  After making the third attempt to get on my feet, and seeing it was no use and being afraid my own men might mistake me for an Indian, I laid down as still as I could until the fight was ended.

About this time my shoulder commenced to pain me fearfully, and it was a hard matter for me to lie still.  I could then see a very little, but to me everything was still.  Just then I heard George Jones’ voice.  He was asking where Will was.  I did not hear any reply, and a moment later he hallooed at the top of his voice.  It sounded to me as though he was a long ways off, but at the same time he was within four rods of me.  I made out that time to answer so he could hear me, and in a moment they were all by my side.  Some one raised me up, while another ran to the lake and got his hat full of water.  They removed my clothing sufficiently to exam me my wound, and found that my shoulder blade was broken in two places.  When I was able to talk, the boys asked what they had better do, saying they had the last Indian killed.  I said if you are sure you have them all killed, build a fire and put out guards until morning, and we will return to headquarters with the stock.

George Jones, feeling much concerned about me on account of my wound, proposed to ride to headquarters that night for the surgeon, but I told him it was not necessary, that I would be able to ride to headquarters the next day.

I took a sup of brandy, which we were never without on a trip like this, and drank a cup of coffee, after which I felt much better, but could not move my left hand or shoulder without much pain.

The next morning as soon as it was light enough to see to scalp an Indian, the boys took twenty-one scalps, and we had fifty-two horses, some of which were extraordinary good ones of that class.  That was ten horses each and two over.  After having counted them, George Jones said:  “I think Will ought to have the two extra horses, for he is the only one that got wounded in the fight.”

The boys were jubilant over their victory and the band of horses, but were very sorry to have one of their comrades so badly used up.  After they had breakfast over, the saddle horses were brought in, my horse was saddled for me and they assisted me in getting on him, or rather put me on, for I was almost as helpless as a child.