Watson was able to revive his horse up again, but the two men were unable to keep up with their company, which was in a battalion under the command of Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer.
They returned to the bluffs and joined the remaining elements of the regiment under Maj. Marcus Reno.
Watson survived the battle and later spoke with members of his company about his adventures with Thompson at the Little Bighorn while separated from the regiment.
He returned to the Midwest by train with a private from another company, William Slaper, who later recalled that Watson was intending to go to Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The Indian Wars historian Walter Mason Camp, investigating Thompson's curious account, attempted to locate Watson, without success.