Fifty men from the 1st Nevada Volunteer Cavalry Battalion under Captain Almond D. Wells rode out towards Pyramid Lake in response to cattle theft in the area.

Michno writes that upon arrival the troopers were informed by Chief Winnemucca that a band of Smoke Creek Paiutes were the likely thieves.

[1][3] However, Sarah Winnemucca, whose sister was the sole survivor of the attack, transcribed the story from the perspective of the Kuyuidika-a Paiute;[6] "The soldiers rode up to their encampment and fired into it, and killed almost all the people that were there.

[7] Major Charles McDermit and Nevada's first governor Henry Blasdel met with Paiute leaders at Fort Churchill.

[8] Numaga stated that Winnemucca had just lost his wives and newborn son, and that if only asked they would have given up any cattle thieves before this blood was spilled.

[9]) Though war is not started, it is this event which causes Chief Winnemucca to swear to never return to the Pyramid Lake Paiute reservation, a vow which he held to for the rest of his life.

[8]: Appendix B  Wheeler notes that in the aftermath, "the Black Rock Desert region became the principal battleground for a conflict which, in respect to its ferocity, probably had no equal in Nevada history.

"[8] Most of the local newspaper coverage applauded Wells for his actions, reflecting the savage attitude of the men of the Comstock Lode.

[12][13] However, while the Virginia Daily Union initially called to "let loose the dogs of war, and cry havoc" the paper later questioned how Wells's company survived such a fight with only one wounded returning volunteer, and why no weapons had been confiscated from the enemy.