Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-12-08
WORK OF INDIAN SCOUTS.
Apaches Best In the Infantry and Sioux Ia
Cavalry


The Apache gives us the best exam
pie Of infantry scouting, while in the
use Of cavalry for this important duty
we must look to his northern brother,
the Sioux.
The Sioux, unlike the Apache, uses
his horse for fighting as well as for
transportation, and is probably the
best type Of mounted Indian. He Is al
ways wide awake, and in fact, may
be said to be all eyes and ears, and yet
he is so careful Of his own concealment
that he is never seen. One Of the most
remarkable cases on record Of great
vigilance, accompanied by utter con-
cealment Of themselves-in fact, OF
ideal service of security and informa-
tion-is given by the Sioux campaign
Of 1876. When General Crook left Fort
Fetterman it is positively known that
there were from 1000 to 10000 hostiles
in his front, and yet, during his march
of more than 200 miles, he did not see
a single Indian, while all Of his move
ments were known to the enemy.
Another incident Of the same cam
paign is related, where Crooks COM
mand was encamped on the Tongue
river, and the Indians crept up to the
opposite bank so stealthily that, al
though 1t was broad daylight that
their presence was not made known to
the troops until a volley was fired right
into the camp. Fortunately the river
was fordable and the Indians were
quickly driven out, but If 1t had not
been the camp would soon have become
untenable.
The Sioux troops resemble more near
ly a cavalry screen than an advance
guard, for they generally operate a
long distance, sometimes as much as
rs miles, and even more, In front OF the
main body, with which communtca-
ton is maintained by means Of signals
In which the Sioux are very expert
On account Of their faculty for con-
cealing themselves, the Sioux scouts
usually hover about the flanks Of the
enemy rather than in his front, for they
are thus enabled to observe more clear
ly and certainly his strength, position,
impediments and other important de-
tails. In scouting the Sioux is never at
a loss for a mode Of concealment for
himself. He always selects the high
est ground available from which to
make his observations, and pickets or
lariats his horse in his rear, below the
crest Of the eminence on which he sta
tions himself. In reaching his post OF
observation he throws himself on the
ground and wriggles like a snake TO
the summit where he conceals himself
In the shadow Of a tree or rock, or II
nothing Of the kind Is available, he
will cover his head and shoulders with
his blanket or cloth, according to the
color of the rock or ground upon which
he is lying, keeping only his eyes un-
covered.
Another expedient for concealment
often resorted to is for the scout to
bind bushes about the upper part OF MS
body, so that they project above MS
head. and then to seat himself IN
wallow, where he can plainly see, out
he is himself completely concealed.
A Sioux scout in leaving point OF
observation, always exercises the same
precautions that he takes in arriving
for although he may have observed
nothing, yet it is quite possible that the
enemy's scouts are watching this very
point, and If he should rise and walk
to the rear his position would at once
be betrayed. This is point the civil
lied brother too often neglects to his
peril.-Chicago Inter-Ocean.