of the same preconcerted signals to indicate their presence.

Very dense smokes may be raised by kindling a large fire with dry wood,
and piling upon it the green boughs of pine, balsam, or hemlock. This
throws off a heavy cloud of black smoke which can be seen very far.

This simple method of telegraphing, so useful to the savages both in
war and in peace, may, in my judgment, be used to advantage in the
movements of troops co-operating in separate columns in the Indian
country.

I shall not attempt at this time to present a matured system of
signals, but will merely give a few suggestions tending to illustrate
the advantages to be derived from the use of them.

For example, when two columns are marching through a country at such
distances apart that smokes may be seen from one to the other, their
respective positions may be made known to each other at any time by two
smokes raised simultaneously or at certain preconcerted intervals.

Should the commander of one column desire to communicate with the
other, he raises three smokes simultaneously, which, if seen by the
other party, should be responded to in the same manner. They would then
hold themselves in readiness for any other communications.

If an enemy is discovered in small numbers, a smoke raised twice at
fifteen minutes' interval would indicate it; and if in large force,
three times with the same intervals might be the signal.

Should the commander of one party desire the other to join him, this
might be telegraphed by four smokes at ten minutes' interval.

Should it become necessary to change the direction of the line of
march, the commander may transmit the order by means of two
simultaneous smokes raised a certain number of times to indicate the
particular direction; for instance, twice for north, three times for
south, four times for east, and five times for west; three smokes
raised twice for northeast, three times for northwest, etc., etc.

By multiplying the combinations of signals a great variety of messages
might be transmitted in this manner; but, to avoid mistakes, the
signals should be written down and copies furnished the commander of
each separate party, and they need not necessarily be made known to
other persons.

During the day an intelligent man should be detailed to keep a vigilant
look-out in all directions for smokes, and he should be furnished with
a watch, pencil, and paper, to make a record of the signals, with their
number,