from them.

The union of discipline with the individuality, self-reliance, and
rapidity of locomotion of the savage is what we should aim at. This
will be the tendency of the course indicated, and it is conceived by
the writer that an army composed of well-disciplined hunters will be
the most efficient of all others against the only enemy we have to
encounter within the limits of our vast possessions.

I find some pertinent remarks upon this subject in a very sensible
essay by "a late captain of infantry" (U.S.). He says:

"It is conceived that scattered bands of mounted hunters, with the
speed of a horse and the watchfulness of a wolf or antelope, whose
faculties are sharpened by their necessities; who, when they get short
of provisions, separate and look for something to eat, and find it in
the water, in the ground, or on the surface; whose bill of fare ranges
from grass-seed, nuts, roots, grasshoppers, lizards, and rattlesnakes
up to the antelope, deer, elk, bear, and buffalo, and who have a
continent to roam over, will be neither surprised, caught, conquered,
overawed, or reduced to famine by a rumbling, bugle-blowing,
drum-beating town passing through their country on wheels at the speed
of a loaded wagon.

"If the Indians are in the path and do not wish to be seen, they cross
a ridge, and the town moves on, ignorant whether there are fifty
Indians within a mile or no Indian within fifty miles. If the Indians
wish to see, they return to the crest of the ridge, crawl up to the
edge, pull up a bunch of grass by the roots, and look through or under
it at the procession."

Although I would always encourage men in hunting when permanently
located, yet, unless they are good woodsmen, it is not safe to permit
them to go out alone in marching through the Indian country, as, aside
from the danger of encountering Indians, they would be liable to become
bewildered and perhaps lost, and this might detain the entire party in
searching for them. The better plan upon a march is for three or four
to go out together, accompanied by a good woodsman, who will be able
with certainty to lead them back to camp.

The little group could ascertain if Indians are about, and would be
strong enough to act on the defensive against small parties of them;
and, while they are amusing themselves, they may perform an important
part as scouts and flankers.

An expedition may have been perfectly organized, and every thing
provided that the w