THE SUEPEISE PAETY. 83 



ment being due to that tribe as treaty allies of the 

 Delawares. 



In three days Captain Connor took the field with some- 

 thing over two hundred men, the pick and flower of Delaware 

 and Pottowattomie chivalry. This number did not repre- 

 sent the effective 'aggressive strength of those two nations. 

 They are estimated to be capable of putting, if considered 

 necessary, a united force of from one thousand to twelve 

 hundred thoroughly armed and efficient horsemen in the 

 field; but the old chief was confident that, considering the 

 material at his command, and the plan of campaign he had 

 determined upon, two hundred men were enough ; and his 

 greatest difficulty was in keeping his party from being larger 

 than he wished, so eager were the braves of the tribes to be 

 led to what they considered certain victory. 



Connor's intentions were, as soon as he should arrive 

 where there was danger of any hostile Indians perceiving 

 the expeditionary party, to travel entirely by night, lying 

 in the daytime in the closest cover he could find, keep 

 a few of his most experienced men scattered as scouts well 

 in advance, but in continual communication with him, .and 

 use eveiy Indian dodge and wile to prevent the enemy from 

 discovering he was " out." In short, the expedition was 

 to be a surprise party. This was Captain Connor's chief 

 reason for limiting his force ; and indeed it would have 

 severely taxed a less able Indian leader to take so large a 

 hostile party as he started with into the heart of the 

 prairies, unsuspected by the Indians wandering over them. 

 But he knew the twists and winds of every stream, hollow, 

 and valley of the ground he was going to operate on ; 



