The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-12-17
Indian cour.gs and T.sass.

There are different theories as TO In
dian courage when eontrasted with that
of the whites. 1t is a matter of doubt
whether the redskins are as brave as
Caueasians In the sense of exposing
themselves to fire on an open field; but
in the art of skirmishing they are alb
solutely unrivaled, and show a daring
which no white troop would be ashamed
of. But the masterpiece of Indian
genius is the ambuscade. In this they
excel all other races and in this they
have achieved their greatest success
over the forces of the government. In
dams Y start out upon raids in
a large body. They go by squads.
Half a dozen will ride out from the viii
lage in the direction from which they
expect the enemy, say at daybreak.
Ten minutes later, a dozen will follow,
scattering out right or left as the case
may be. Other squads follow until
hundreds have gone ont and the whole
country in front is picketed by the
acute WafrlOrS-
People in the east have a singular
idea of ''the great plains" They fancy
them unbroken and fiat as a billiard
table. This is a mistake. The s'plainsr
of Wyoming, Montana and Dakota
Territories are undulating to an extra
ordinary degree. They are more than
undulating. being chopped up into
thousands of little hills and valleys,
even far away from the mountains or
the ''butes' that universally follow the
courses of the streams. A party NOV
ing through this style of country might
be within 500 yards of a large body. of
Indians and yet never discover them,
unless they wanted to be discovered.
The inequalities of the ground would
~effectually conceal them from the hos
tile view, and their ponies rarely neigh
when with their W herd. II the hos
tile party is too strong for the redskins,
they allow it to proceed unmolested
unless it should get entangled in a bad
r~avine; but if it is a small party, COM
posed say, Of a company of cavalry or a
small party of miners, they adopt diff
ferent tactics. A few Indians will show
themselves in front and open fire. The
officer in command, or the captain Of
miners will return the compliment and
order a charge. The "reds'' who COM
menced the affair will, after exchang-
ing a few more shots, retreat with great
apparent celebrity. The troops or min
ers will, of course, pursue. Suddenly
they come upon another party of Indi-
ans. These latter makes longer stand,
but finally retreat some distance. They
are reinforced by the dusky gentlemen
coming out from the village. Then
the fight commences in earnest. Sud-
denly the white men find themselves at.
tackled from the ear Then from the
right and from the left TANKS. The
Indians concealed in the little ravines
gather all around them, and, within a
short time the unfortunate pale faces
succumb to the numbers and are duly
slaughtered and scalped. This was the
manner in which Fetterman was en
trapped at Fort Phil Kearney deeoyed
into the ravines by a small Indian band
that had attacked the wood party, and
these set upon by the main body under
Red Cloud and Sitting Bull; so, doubt
less, was Gen. Custer gradually led in
to the CHASTITY snare that covers the name
of the lesser Big Horn with charnel
memories.