St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-12-05

During the early part OF the flight
every plecautiom is adopted to prevent
leaving il heavy trail, or one easily to
/ hc followed tn this end. instead al
moving. IL i customary. III single file.
/ thereby leaving Il clearly defined path.
each warrior moves independently of
his fellows, until all danger from pun
suit is safely passed. when the party
falls into single file. am,l. with the chief
ut the head. moves along i'll almost I'M
broken silence. If during an attack
upon the frontier settlements the indi-
ans should encounter unexpected and
successful IcSi>tancc, neCe>Sltatlng Il
premature Withdrawal and flight on
their part, they still resort to ~tratagcm
i'll order t" >cCulc their safety. In ac-
corlance with plan previously formed
and understood 10y each member at the
party. and specially provided for an
emergency, the war party finding them
selves about to encounter successful re-
>iStance on the part of the fromtiersmen
beat Il ha>tN retreat but instead of
taking their flight i'll single direction
and iii one party, thereby leaving an
Unm>takahle clue for their purSucIS.
the entire party breaks up int" numcr-
"us smaller bands, each apparently flee
in" i'll an independent direction. Il few
OF the best mounted usually falling be
hind to attract the attention of the pur-
sUcI> and rive time To those OF the par
t. who are burdrned with prisoners and
captured stock to make good their eS-
cape. In such an cmel @ancy is this, Il
Rendezvous for the entire party has been
previously fixed upon. It's location is
usually upon on near some watcr-coursc
o. prominent landmark, distant perhaps
thirty OF forty miles thithcI all small
cr parties direct their course, each 10y Il
separate and usually circuitou> course.
should either of these smaller parties
find themselves closely pursued, OF their
trail being followed and all efforts to
throw the pulSucrs of prove unavail-
ing, they relinqui>h the plan of uniting
with the others at the established rem
dczVuu>. as that would impcril the safe
ty of their comrades. and select Il new
route leading neither in the direction of
the rendezvous nor of the village. in or
der not only to elude but to mislcad
their purSucIS. Then cnsucS IL long and
! tiresomc flight, until, having worn ont
or outwittcd their puIsuers, of whose
movements they keep themselves tho
roughly informed. they make their way
III safety To the village. At the latter.
/ l"okOuts are constantly kept on some
prominent hill to watch the coming of
the absent warriors and give notice of
their approach. y wal party returning
from Il successful raid into the settle
memtS. and bringing with them prison
ers and captured stock, is an event of
the greatest importance to every occu-
pant of the village. Having arrived
within Il few miles of the village, and
feeling safe from all danger from pur-
suit. the chief in command of the war
party causes Il signal smoke To he sent
up from some high point along the line
of march. we'll knowing that watchtul
eyes near the village are on the alert
and will not fail to observe the signal
and understand its meaning. General
Custer, IN GaidJy tor December.