The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-12-08
Indian FOrays Upon While Villages
How the Sayuges SIgual Each Other.


WIN war phEtleh EetlInllb lEunl u
foray upon tho settlements, says Gen.
Custer, tho fst object Is to place as
long distance as possible between
themselves and any party which may be
in pursuit. To accomplish this, MS
soon rs they lave completed tho de.
struction and havoc OF which tho set
tiers arc tho victims, the entire party,
usually numbering from fifty to one
hundred warriors, collect ut point
near tho settlements previously agreed
upon, and ut once begin their flight
toward their village, probably located
at least two hundred miles from the
scene OF their attack. Being mounted.
as all war parties are, upon the ileetest
Of Indian ponies with extra animals
driven along, little or no rest for either
pony or rider Is taken during the first
twenty.four hours, by which time it is
no unusual feat for o war party to
traverse a distance Of one hundred
miles.
During tho early part of the flight
every precauion is adopted to prevent
leaving heavy trail, or one easily to
be followed; to this end, intsead OF
moving, rs is customary, in single file,
thereby leaving clearly defined path,
each warrior moves independently OF
his fellows, until all danger from pur.
suit is safely passed, when the party
falls into single file, and, with q chief at
the head, moves along in almost I'M.
broken silence. II during M attack
upon the frontier settlements tho In.
dians should encounter unexpected and
successful resistance, necessitating o
premature withdrawal and flight on
their part, they still resort to stratagem
in order 70 secure their safety. In ac-
cordance with plan previously formed
and understood by each member Of the
party, and specially provided for M
emergency, the war party finding them.
selves about 10 encounter successful ro-
sistance on the part Of tho frontiersmen
beat a hasty retreat; Int instead OF
taking their fight in a single direction
and in one party, thereby leaving an
unmistakable clue for their pursuers,
tho entire party breaks up into numer-
Gus smaller bands, each apparently flee.
ing in m independent direction, few
OF the best mounted usually falling
behind to attract tho attention Of the
pursuers and give time to those OF the
purity who are burdened with prisoners
and captured stock to make good their
escape.
In such an emergency ns this, ren.
devious for tho party las been pre-
viously fixed upon. Its location is
usually upon or near some intercourse
or prominent landmark, distant per.
haps thirty or forty miles thithor all
smaller parties direct their course, each
by separate and usually a circuitous
course. Should either Of these smaller
parties find themselves closely pursued,
or their trail being followed and all eff
forts to throw the pursuers or prove
iinavailing, they relinquish the plan Of
uniting with tho others at the estab-
lished rendezvous, as that would i'm
peril the safety Of their comrades, and
select new route leading neither in
the direction OF the rendezvous nor Of
the village, in order not only to elude
but mislead their pursuers. Then en-
sues long and tircsOme flight, until,
having worn out or outwitted their pur-
suers, OF whose movements they keep
themselves thoroughly informed. they
make their way in safety to the village.
At the Inter, lookouts arc constantly
kept on some prominent hill to watch
the coming Of the absent warriors, and
give notice Of their approach. A war
party returning from successful raid
into the settlements, and bringing with
them prisoners and captured stock, Is
an event Of the greatest Importance to
every occupant Of the village. Having
arrived within n few miles Of the vii
lage, and feeling safe from NIL danger
from pursuit, the chief in command Of
tue war party causes q signal smoke to
be sent up from some high point along
the line OF march, well knowing that
watchiul eyes near the village are on the
alert and will not fail TO observe the
signal and understand Its meaning.
It is wonderful to what a state OF per.
fection the Indian has carried this sim.
pie mode OF telegaphing. Scattered
over great portion Of the plains, from
British America in the north almost to
the Mexican border on the south, are
to he found isolated hills, or, rs they
are usually termed, "butteS," which
can be seen distance Of from twenty
to more than fifty miles. These peaks
are selected rs the telegraphic stations.
By varying the number Of the columns
OF smoke different meanings arc con.
yeyed by the messages.
The most simple as we'll as most easi.
ly varied mode, and resembling some.
what tho ordinary nlphpbet employed
in the magnetic Telegraph, is arranged
by building a small fire which is not
allowed TO blaze then, by placing IN
armful Of partially green grass or weeds
over the fire, as il TO smother II, n dense
white smoke Is created, which ordina.
rily will ascend in q continuous vertical
column for hundreds of feet. This col.
umn OF smoke is to the Indian mode OF
telegraphing what tho current OF cleo
tricity Is to the system employed by
the white man the alphabet 50 for as
1t goes Is almost identical, consisting
as Il does Of long lines and short lines
or dots. But how iormed2 is perhaps
the query Of the reader. BY the sim.
plcst Of methods. Having his currents
of smoke established, the Indian oper.
ator simply takes his blanket and
by spreading II over the small pile Of
weeds or grass from which the column
of smoke takes its source, and properly
controlling the edges aud corners Of the
blanket, he confines the smoke. and Is
in this way able TO retain II for several
moments. BY rapidly displacing the