Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-03-01
CIcv rltss OF indians.

The Apache gives us the best example
of infantry scouting, whil" ~ tn" use .,
cavalry for this important duty W. must
look to his northern brother, the SIOUX.
Inc SIOUX. unlike the Apache. uses ms
horse for fighting as well rs COR tranSpor
t+tion. and i probably the pest type OF
mounted Indian He is always vide
awake and, in fact. may be SAID to he al
ewes and ears and yet he is 80 careful 81
his own conccaiment that he IS never
seen. One of the most remarkable cases
on record of great vigilance, ,tcconipanit;h -
by utter conccalmcnt of themsclvcs-lr
fact of ideal service Of security anG IN
formation-is given 10y the sioux cam
paign of 1876. When Gen. Crock lett fort
Fcttcrman it is positively known that
there were from 1000 to 10000 hostiies III
his front. and yet, during march OF
more than 200 miles. he did not see SIN
gle Indian, while all OF his movements
were known to the enemy.
Another incident Of the same campaign
is related. where Crook 5 command Wa3
cncamped on the Tongue river. ana IN ,
Indians crept up to the opposite bank SO
Stealthily that, although 1t was brodd
daylight their presence was not made
known to the troops until volley was
fired right into the camp. Fortunately,
the river was fordable. and the Indians
were quickly driven out. but If it had not
been the camp would soon nave become
untenable.
The Sioux scouts resemble moe nearly
n cayalry screen than an advance guard,
for they generally operate long DIS
tance sometimes as much as twenty-five
miles ami even more. in front OF the
main body. with which communication 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 usu-
allv hover about the TANKS of the enemy
raiher than in his front, for they are
inns enabled TO observe more clearly and
certainly his strength. position. lmpedi J.
ments. and other important details. In
Scouting the Sioux i never at IA loss for
a mode of concealment of himself. He
always selects the highest ground avail
able from which to make ms observa :
tons and picketS or larlats his horse IN
Ms roar. below the crest of the eminencc
an which he stations himself. In reach
inr his post of observation he throws
himself to the ground and wriSSles like a
snake to the summit, where ne conceais
himself in the shadow of a tree or rock.
ar If nothing of the kind is available, he
wiIJ cover his head and shoulders with
his blanket of cloth, according to the
color of the rock or ground upon which
10 ic living keeping only his eyes uncoV-
cred.
1 Another expedent for concealment oft
on resorted to is for the scout to blnd
hnshes about the upper part of hi body,
90 that they project above his head. and
iron to seat himself in a walow. where
ho can plainly see but where he is him
self completely concealed.
sioux scout, in leaving point Of OBJ
.,cryation always exercises the same pre-
CAUTIONS that he takes in arriving. Tor
I,housh he may have observed nothing
,.nt If is quite possible that the enemy $
scouts are watching this very point and
noeition would at once be betrayed. his
n uoint that the civilized brother to-
nftcn neglects to his peril-Chicago In
ter-Occan.