New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-11-17

Traits Of Indian Character.
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sent, while operating III meAaeo' ~ 'He 'p"S9 y
twelve months o. oe i, ,,,ris,o
70 equip and mount himself for an expedition. me
offiesr second ia command always places himself at
fbe head of the coumn-the superior officer is in the
extreme rear s1perintends movements, reetiiies err
rors and is presumed to be in position TO nave
everything under bis immediate inspection. front
0nard usually precedes the main body from quarter
81 mile to two miles in advance. They keep
strict l0ok-olt-ride to the top Of eminences-scan
tie surrounding country in every direction. When
an enemy is supposed to be near, they approach the
apex Of a hill with very great caution. They will
ground carrying before their faces bunch Of green
branches grass to prevent suspicion, If discovered
Unless to one well acquainted with Indian c0ntrivan
ces, the disappearance or moving Of bunch Of
leaves would be attributed to the agency Of the wind
Discoveries made by the vanguard are speedily
communicated to the officer in command. There is
rear guard, whose duty it is to prevent surprise in
that direction. Fankers are often thrown out When
large body is moving upon approxmating polnt
of danger, pckets are sent out in every direction,
which operate on more extended scale than the
aforementioned guards,
There is place of rendezvous appointed, at winch
everything in relation to the expedition Is concluded
upon. For instance, If tOray upon tne country
adjacent TO Laredo, is contemplated, time, manner
and second place of rendezvous are arranged. For
merry they used to make the Races the point where
they formed their camp preparatory 10 actFe opera
tions From here they would send cut scouts, 10
Of troops upon the information thus acquired
they would act. Sometimes they would move down
In body fall upon the ranches boldly IN the DAY
time kill plumber, and carry OIL women and children
prisoners at Others, when secure from danger they
would divide into two squads, and make simuta-
neOus descent upon different ranches. After having
made prisoners collected horses and other booty
they would, ii unpursued, move for the Races, and
remain in camp several days, recruiting animals
Tasting and preparing for quick march to their
own camp. If another party should be still behind,
they leave signs designating all they wish them to
know.
A small branch supported by little heap Of rocks
is inclined to the direction they viii move. The grass
is removed from the EARTH line drawn, number OF
marks made on each side to represent the number OF
men and horses in the party They have species OF
Intercollegiate and symbolic characters they use 10 con-
yeying ideas. When they wish to inform their friends
Of the death OF warrior it is done by drawing an
Indian without head if wounded only, the figure
il complete with streak of red at the part wounded
Upon tree on the Nueces some thirty or forty miles
above the Laredo and San Antonio crossing, at
place known as the GOmanche crossing, are a num-
her Of these symboIieal representations. One Of
them is descriptive of combat between Gomanche
with a lance and Mexican with sword. The sword
is mseTably deficient ia length. The rough painting
conveys rather ludierous idea Of the matter, evnc-
ing very clearly the contempt in which the Indians
hold Mexican proves, and the almost inevitable con-
clusion that the fight resulted in the Don overthrow
and death.
looked for. The rays of this luminary afford them
the means of discovering animals, and Of travelling
during the night. In the event of being pursued,
Immediately after the perpetraton Of depredations,
the Comanches move day and night, very often not
breaking gallDp, except to change horses, which
they do several times, and to water the cabaGdo I'M
til they deem themselves safe. Under these cFcum-
stances they will travel at least seventy miles per day
which is a long distance, with the encumbrance OF
loose animals
a party of warriors dressed in their trappings-
embelshed shields fancy moccasns-long pigtais
bedeeked with sver-shoulder belts worked with
beads and adorned with shells-fne leggings-
mented cases for bows and atroWs-mounted upon
spirited horses-singing war song. and sweeping
over prairie is beautiful spectacle to man with
plenty of brave fellows to back him. Their motions
are EASY and graceful They sit on horse adnra
bly and manage one with master hand. Charge
them and they will retreat from you with double
your numbers; but beware, keep your men together
well in hand--wth at least half their arms loaded,
or else you will find when it is too late, flying Co.
mauche well knows the nick of time to turn upon
and charge his paTsuer to the very teeth. Conan
che can draw bow when on horseback standing or
running - with remarkable strength or accuracy.
They have been known to kill horses when at full
speed, over a hundred yards.
Ia the commencement OF fight the yell is borne to
you long, loud and startling. The war-whoop has no
romance in it, 1t thrills even stout heart with an
indescribable sensation. The excitement of battle is
quite as evident among these people as Others. Let
the tide turn against then-send leaden messengers
through some OF their warriors and then the mourn
full wall is heardts lugubrous tones are borne back
TO YOU with Hneouth CadenGes, betokenng sorrow,
anger, and determination to revenge.
Never ride upon bOwman's left--if you do ten to
one he will pop an arrow through you. When
mounted an Indian cannot use his bow against an
object hehindand to hisright.
The dead are usually borne from the field. Nothing
but the most imminent danger prevents them from
performing the incumbent duty of not leaving the
hp1 nf ia in fnh hmm pf
a fallen chief they will make desperate stand Their
caution seems to be merged in the determination to
risk everything to bear him from the field. They will
fight furiously, braVey and even hopeessy TO attain
this object. Ii they abandon him it is in despair.
Flight is longer methodical and menaeing to the
purHuer. Retreat degenerates into rout After this,
they have seldom ii ever, been known to resume the
offensive. They will hide themselves in the first
chappare atording security against discovery remain
during the day. visit the dead at night and it not
able to remove them, will spread Blankets or some
covering over them
The bow is placed diagonally in shooting a mum.
Der of arrows are held in the right hand the bow
operates as rest to the arrows The distance Of the
curve the missile has to describe in reaching the OBJ
iect and in fact everything connected with theirarCh-
cry, is determined by the eye without taking aim.
Arrows sped after each other in rapid succession
At the distance Of sixty yards and over they can be
lodged if but one Indian shoots at you at the
moment under forty the sixshooer has little advan-
tage over the bow. At long distances the angle OF
elevation is considerable. It requires quick eye to
see the arrow and judge the whereabouts of its de-
scent; good dodger TO move out of the way, and a
good rider withal to keep the saddle. A man is re-
quired to keep both eyes engaged in an Indian fight
Prisoners are treated with extreme cruelty by the
Gomalehes. They are beaten, made slaves of, and
subjected to many torturng indignitiea This rigol
is relaxed, when man or youth eylnces desire tt
become one of the tribe. The man is suffered tG
marry and the boy is educated to become an Indian
| in habits. An adrot rogue is held in great esteem