.

For overtaking a marauding party of Indians who have advanced eight or
ten hours before the pursuing party are in readiness to take the trail,
it is not best to push forward rapidly at first, as this will weary and
break down horses. The Indians must be supposed to have at least fifty
or sixty miles the start; it will, therefore, be useless to think of
overtaking them without providing for a long chase. Scouts should
continually be kept out in front upon the trail to reconnoitre and give
preconcerted signals to the main party when the Indians are espied.

In approaching all eminences or undulations in the prairies, the
commander should be careful not to allow any considerable number of his
men to pass upon the summits until the country around has been
carefully reconnoitred by the scouts, who will cautiously raise their
eyes above the crests of the most elevated points, making a
scrutinizing examination in all directions; and, while doing this,
should an Indian be encountered who has been left behind as a sentinel,
he must, if possible, be secured or shot, to prevent his giving the
alarm to his comrades. These precautions can not be too rigidly
enforced when the trail becomes "warm;" and if there be a moon, it will
be better to lie by in the daytime and follow the trail at night, as
the great object is to come upon the Indians when they are not
anticipating an attack. Such surprises, if discreetly conducted;
generally prove successful.

As soon as the Indians are discovered in their bivouac, the pursuing
party should dismount, leave their horses under charge of a guard in
some sequestered place, and, before advancing to the attack, the men
should be instructed in signals for their different movements, such as
all will easily comprehend and remember. As, for example, a pull upon
the right arm may signify to face to the right, and a pull upon the
left arm to face to the left; a pull upon the skirt of the coat, to
halt; a gentle push on the back, to advance in ordinary time; a slap on
the back, to advance in double quick time, etc., etc.

These signals, having been previously well understood and practiced,
may be given by the commander to the man next to him, and from him
communicated in rapid succession throughout the command.

I will suppose the party formed in one rank, with the commander on the
right. He gives the signal, and the men move off cautiously in the
direction indicated. The importance of not losing s