Watching a 1950's Western on cable right now....about an army outpost that was just notified that the Civil War had commenced with the attack on Fort Sumter.
Anyway, half the soldiers were born in the South and are allowed to leave the camp with Honorable discharges.
They run into the Sioux Indian chief, Red Cloud, who attacks the convoy....to the point that now the Union soldiers left behind at the fort are needed to rescue their Southern fellow soldiers.
The Southern convoy put up a defense alongside a 100 ft wide slow moving river/stream. The Indians had to cross the water to reach the convoy wagons, etc..
They are on horses. They are in the middle of ***king nowhere.
Since your ammunition is limited....WHY NOT SHOOT THE HORSES? Then they are at a minimum slowed down where you can take longer to aim your gun at them....and furthermore....it's a helluva long walk back to your teepee back at home.
I'll be the historical record will show the horses were the first targets, but in 1950's USA...on television? No way, Jose.