Soon, the overwhelming number of Indians began to drive the troopers back and once again they had to retreat. They fled to a stronger position about a mile away. This left McCarthy and his men to face the wrath of over 700 Indians. The Indians quickly surrounded the tiny band of men and rushed the hill. The men shot, clubbed and fought the attacking Indians bare-handed until the men disappeared from the view of their comrades on the distant hill. Suddenly, the men saw the blue blouses of the U.S. Cavalry as they saw Sgt. McCarthy again hacking his way through the sea of red bodies, trying to lead his men to safety.

A detachment was sent to help the brave group and all but two of the seven men made it to them. But the Indians surrounded this new group and closed in for the kill. The desperate men began fighting their way back to their lines.

They say Sgt. McCarthy was everywhere. He was seen fighting Indians. He was seen steadying his men. He was seen helping a dismounted soldier. His horse was shot out from under him. He mounted another and continued leading his men back to safety. Then his second horse was shot and his men saw him disappear among the mass of Indians.

Cut off from his men, McCarthy kept his head. He dashed for a small clump of bushes along the bank of a nearby creek and crawled in as far as possible. But his boots were still visible. Nearby was a slain trooper and some squaws approached the man’s body and began to mutilate it. One woman spied McCarthy’s boots and headed his way. Ever so carefully the sergeant slipped out of his boots and crawled deeper into the foliage. The woman, assuming the boots were somehow abandoned in the heat of battle, took them and returned to her grisly task.

The cavalry regained their lines and departed for their fort, leaving the gallant sergeant in the midst of the Indians, not knowing he was alive.

McCarthy waited quietly for hours until he was able to crawl along the streambed. Without boots or ammunition he began his journey back, hiding by day, traveling by night, he made his way through the tall timber until, to the surprise and delight of his fellow cavalrymen, he arrived at Fort Lapwai. Fight on!