The pioneer party left the Loup River this April 27th in 1847 and headed overland toward the Platte.

Meanwhile, Orrin Porter Rockwell and three others began tracking the two horses that had been stolen the night before. Back along the trail, the tracks led to a band of 15 well armed Pawnees.

Erastus Snow:

"THE INDIANS MADE A RUSH UPON THEM WITH A VIEW TO GET THEIR HORSES, BUT THEY LEVELED THEIR PIECE AT THEM...AND THEY BEGAN TO RETREAT."

The indians fired six shots as they retreated. Rockwell's group felt the bullets whizzing by their heads. But no one was hit and the pioneers returned to camp, giving up hope of retrieving the stolen horses.