dknio] THE ASSINIBOIN 551 



The divining men are consulted as to the nature of their dreams 

 before they set out, and on the march, but not in regard to their 

 operations in battle. 



Battles are planned as soon as they can determine the position of 

 the enemy, which plans are changed according to circumstances 

 afterwards, but the fighting is done at random, each loading and 

 firing when he chooses, and using any measures of concealment of his 

 person. 



No general orders are conveyed or aids employed, although when- 

 ever a cluster of men occupy a position some soldier or chief being 

 there gives orders to the others, individually or collectively, as the 

 danger is apparent. The chiefs and soldiers retreating would be a 

 signal for all to run. The leader gives advice occasionally as to dis- 

 lodging the enemy, etc., but all his orders partake of the nature of 

 requests. They rally often during a retreat if the part} r be large, and 

 keep up a running fight for 10 or 15 miles. 



A favorite device to decoy enemies is to send but few to make an 

 attack on their camp and drive off the horses. The camp, following, 

 are led to where the main body lies in ambush. 



The war whoop is the signal of advance and also of encouragement 

 during the fight. It is also a cry of joy when any of the enemy 

 fall, and at all times a defiance, but never used in retreat or under 

 any humiliating circumstances. They speak to and abuse each other 

 during the fight, adding their former deeds to exasperate the enemy 

 and induce some one of them to step forth that he may be killed. 



They never quit a masked wood and take the level plain unless their 

 party is greatly superior in numbers and no danger of pursuit is 

 apprehended; but if they are few they remain in the wood until 

 burnt out, which is done by setting fire to the grass on the prairie, 

 which in a wind will communicate with the undergrowth of the 

 woods. If this can not be done by the surrounding party the be- 

 sieged party defend their position until night and then make their 

 escape under cover of the darkness. 



The Gros Ventres and Crows are the only nations who take women 

 and children prisoners and spare their lives, though they kill all 

 males able to bear arms. 



All the wounded left on the field are tortured to death in every 

 possible way, mostly by mutilation, are seldom burned, perhaps for 

 the reason that death would be too soon produced by that manner 

 of proceeding. The Assiniboin burn children prisoners. 



The Crow Indians a few years since, after killing all the men 

 and large boys of 50 lodges of the Blackfeet, took prisoners upward 

 of 200 women and children. One of our gentlemen now in charge 

 of that nation was with the Crow camp when the battle took place, 



