In 1847 he was employed at Simeon Turley's Mill and Distillery about 12 miles (19 km) north of Taos at Arroyo Hondo.

He was one of eight to ten mountain men who defended the mill in a siege by approximately 500 Mexicans and Indians during the Taos Revolt.

The remaining mountain men held off the attack into the night, when Albert and Autobees' half brother Thomas Tate Tobin escaped separately on foot in the confusion of the fighting.

In three days, Albert walked 140 miles (230 km) to the trading post at Pueblo, through winter conditions with no coat, having escaped only with his weapons and shooting bag.

Albert survived three wives, all of whom were partially or fully Mexican and all of whom died while married to him, and fathered 21 children before his death in Montana.