wing letter
may be given, written by the surgeon at Fort Randall in Dacotah in 1869:

"The most extraordinary skill that is exhibited in this part of the
country, either by the white man, or red native, is in the practice of
trailing. Here it may be accounted an art as much as music, painting
or sculpture is in the East. The Indian or trapper that is a shrewd
trailer, is a man of close observation, quick perception, and prompt
action. As he goes along, nothing escapes his observation, and what he
sees and hears he accounts for immediately. Often not another step is
taken until a mystery that may present itself in this line is fairly
solved. The Indian trailer will stand still for hours in succession, to
account for certain traces or effects in tracks, and sometimes gives to
the matter unremitting attention for days and weeks.

"The trailer is not a graceful man. He carries his head much inclined,
his eye is quick and restless, always on the watch, and he is practising
his art unconsciously, hardly ever crossing the track of man or animal
without seeing it. When he enters a house, he brings the habits he
contracted in the practice of his art with him. I know a trailer as soon
he enters my room. He comes in through the door softly, and with an air
of exceeding caution. Before he is fairly in, or at least has sat down,
he has taken note of every article and person. Though there may be a
dozen vacant chairs in the room, he is not used to chairs, and, like
the Indian, prefers a more humble seat. When I was employed by General
Harney last summer to take charge temporarily of the Indians that were
gathered here to form a new reservation, one day a guide and trailer
came into the General's headquarters. I told him to be seated. He sat
down on the floor, bracing his back against the wall. The General saw
this, and in vexation cried out, 'My God, why don't you take a chair
when there are plenty here not occupied?' The man arose and seated
himself in a chair, but in so awkward and uncomfortable a manner that he
looked as if he might slip from it at any moment. But when this uncouth
person came to transact his business with the General, he turned out to
be a man of no ordinary abilities. His description of a route he took as
guide and trailer for the Ogallalas in bringing them from the Platte
to this place was minute, and to me exceedingly interesting. Every
war party that for the season had crossed his trail, he described with
mi