102:"—touching a live enemy. Battles between Indians often consisted of opposing warriors demonstrating their bravery rather than attempting to achieve concrete military objectives. The emphasis was on ambush and hit-and-run actions rather than closing with an enemy. Success was often counted by the number of horses or property obtained in the raid. Casualties were usually light. "Indians consider it foolhardiness to make an attack where it is certain some of them will be killed." Given their smaller numbers, the loss of even a few men in battle could be catastrophic for a band, and notably at the battles of Adobe Walls in Texas in 1874 and Rosebud in Montana in 1876, the Indians broke off battle despite the fact that they were winning as the casualties were not considered worth a victory. Decisions whether to fight or not were based on a cost-benefit ratio; even the loss of one warrior was not considered to be worth taking a few scalps, but if a herd of horses could be obtained, the loss of a warrior or two was considered acceptable. Generally speaking, given the small sizes of the bands and the vast population of the United States, the Plains Indians sought to avoid casualties in battle and would avoid fighting if it meant losses.
111:
82:
rivalry among Native tribes to control trade and trade routes. Third, was the acquisition of the horse and the greater mobility it afforded the Plains
Indians. What evolved among the Plains Native Americans from the 17th to the late 19th century was warfare as both a means of livelihood and a sport. Young men gained both prestige and plunder by fighting as warriors, and this individualistic style of warfare ensured that success in individual combat and capturing trophies of war were highly esteemed
63:
418:
90:
The Plains Native
Americans raided each other, the Spanish colonies, and, increasingly, the encroaching frontier of the Anglos for horses and other property. They acquired guns and other European goods primarily by trade. Their principal trading products were buffalo hides and beaver pelts. The most
135:
from 1803 to about 1890. However, although
Indians won many battles, they could not undertake lengthy campaigns. Native American armies could only be assembled for brief periods of time as warriors also had to hunt for food for their families. The exception to that was raids into Mexico by the
81:
Three factors led to a growing importance of warfare in Plains Indian culture. First, was the
Spanish colonization of New Mexico which stimulated raids and counter-raids by Spaniards and Indians for goods and slaves. Second, was the contact of the Indians with French fur traders which increased
433:, however, firearms were in widespread use. The U.S. government through the Indian Agency would sell the Plains Indians guns for hunting, but unlicensed traders would exchange guns for buffalo hides. The braves of the First Nations Wars made use of many different types of gun, including
429:, designed for use on horseback and deadly, but only at short range. Guns were usually in short supply and ammunition scarce for Native warriors. The shortages of ammunition together with the lack of training to handle firearms meant the preferred weapon was the bow and arrow. After the
164:
noted in 2010: "They could loose a flock of arrows while hanging off the side of a galloping horse, using the animal as protection against return fire. The sight amazed and terrified their white (and Indian) adversaries." The
American historian
217:
into manhood, after which the warrior assumed a new name. Few Native
Americans received more than three eagle feathers during their lifetime due to the bird's rarity and sacred status, but exceptionally courageous and talented warriors such as
130:
Due to their mobility, endurance, horsemanship, and knowledge of the vast plains that were their domain, the Plains Native
Americans were often victors in their battles against the U.S. army in the era of American
47:
1238:
54:
onto their ancestral land by settlers from the United States. Though a diverse range of peoples inhabited the Great Plains, there were a number of commonalities among their warfare practices.
98:
Although they could be tenacious in defense, Plains Native
American warriors took the offensive mostly for material gain and individual prestige. The highest military honors were for "
551:
into battle and was awarded eagle feathers and the rank of chief by the elders of his tribe because each of the four heroic deeds he performed in Europe mirrored the traditional
209:
an enemy, capturing a horse, disarming an opponent, infiltrating the enemy's camp, taking a prisoner, or striking an opponent in battle without killing him. The
1022:
488:
51:
381:, but by the 18th century forged iron axes could be acquired through trade. Some had decorative star or heart-shaped cutouts, and the tomahawks of
237:
186:
1168:
330:
to enable a warrior to demonstrate his resistance to pain, signify allegiance to a specific tribe or marital status, and to draw favours from
74:
in Kansas and
Oklahoma lived in dispersed settlements with no defensive works. The Spanish initially had friendly contacts with the Apache (
32:
169:
called the
Comanche "the greatest light cavalry on the earth" in the 19th century whose raids in Texas terrified the American settlers.
43:
1130:
1114:
1051:
988:
946:
872:
532:
310:
as part of their initiation into manhood. In these cultures, a brave was not allowed to shave his head until he had seen battle.
484:
156:, with only a blanket for comfort. At long range, a warrior would cling to the side of his horse and use it as a shield, while
136:
Comanche and their allies in which the raiders often subsisted for months off the riches of Mexican haciendas and settlements.
1078:
917:
573:
1191:
279:. This attire served the dual purpose of terrifying their enemies, and ensuring the warrior looked his best before the
1253:
827:
755:
110:
70:
The earliest Spanish explorers in the 16th century did not find the Plains Native Americans especially warlike. The
1243:
1026:
805:
160:
with his own gun or bow and arrow. The most renowned of all the Plains Indians as warriors were the Comanche whom
409:. Heroic deeds were recorded by carving notches into the club, or less commonly, by attaching an eagle feather.
92:
453:
363:
284:
1228:
283:
if he was killed in battle. Common bead patterns, believed to protect the wearer in battle, included the
66:
This painting depicts the speed and violence of an encounter between the U.S. cavalry and Plains Indians.
1233:
816:
469:
28:
560:
335:
62:
599:
577:
449:
430:
241:
132:
963:
900:"Native American Beadwork: Wampum belts, beaded jewelry, and other Native American beading arts"
1248:
1110:
1074:
1047:
984:
942:
868:
695:
544:
394:
307:
264:
210:
1104:
1068:
1041:
862:
838:
406:
1138:
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194:
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1004:
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457:
71:
1179:
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552:
492:
445:
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315:
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295:
268:
198:
182:
123:
115:
99:
1180:
Native Americans in WWII by Thomas Morgan, Army History 35 (Fall 1995), pages 22-27
586:
540:
516:
437:
382:
280:
272:
219:
166:
149:
145:
119:
39:
95:, in 1876, was won by the Lakota (Sioux) and Cheyenne fighting on the defensive.
978:
936:
887:
849:
733:
623:
564:
has been used to refer to several peace agreements with First Nations in Canada.
536:
520:
496:
373:
At close range, Native American warriors favoured edged weapons such as knives.
248:
190:
144:
Native Americans of the Great Plains learned to ride from a young age, on small
899:
548:
461:
441:
386:
339:
231:
1201:
1067:
Crows), Plenty Coups (Chief of the; Linderman, Frank Bird (January 1, 2002).
582:
434:
398:
378:
311:
256:
244:
75:
17:
1023:"Gunstock club - A Place in History - Object 1886.1.818 Pitt Rivers Museum"
781:
643:
342:, or the serpent. Centuries before the arrival of the first pioneers, the
213:, the traditional insignia of a Native American warrior, was an important
374:
327:
323:
319:
299:
276:
223:
206:
153:
604:
512:
227:
35:
980:
Drawing with Great Needles: Ancient Tattoo Traditions of North America
91:
famous victory ever won by Plains Indians over the United States, the
504:
351:
347:
343:
288:
202:
756:"A Primer on Old Native American Tricks & Natural Horsemanship"
508:
416:
390:
331:
178:
109:
61:
918:"Native American Beadwork: a Rich History of Cultural Techniques"
1131:"Weapons of the Indian Wars - Stone Age into the Industrial Age"
938:
Inked: Tattoos and Body Art around the World [2 volumes]
421:
Painting of a Native American warrior with three eagle feathers.
260:
252:
181:
feather, Native American youths in some tribes were required to
1196:
503:
allied with the American cavalry against their old rivals the
977:
Deter-Wolf, Aaron; Diaz-Granados, Carol (November 15, 2013).
393:. Other commonly used weapons included ball-topped clubs and
425:
The basic weapon of the Indian warrior was the short, stout
177:
To qualify as a warrior, and thus earn the right to wear an
776:
774:
318:
were also in use among Southeastern tribes such as the
1009:
Tomahawk Throwing Resources - The Axe Throwers Guide
1239:
Wars between the United States and Native Americans
734:
Narrative of my captivity among the Sioux, page 148
658:
Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1975, p. 154
263:teeth to demonstrate their hunting prowess, silver
183:perform an act of courage on behalf of their tribe
533:Native Americans joined the American armed forces
230:could ultimately earn enough feathers to make a
676:
674:
672:
670:
668:
666:
664:
644:Journey of Coronado, by Najera (1904), page 112
291:in white, cyan, black, red, orange and yellow.
864:A Guide to the First Nations Wars of the West
828:Coup and Scalp, by George Bird Grinnell, 1910
8:
148:horses originally introduced by the Spanish
861:McDermott, John Dishon (January 11, 1998).
487:and trackers had served the US government
888:Journal of Ethnological Society, page 305
1106:The Myths of the North American Indians
964:"Early American Tattooing: The Natives"
754:Horseman, Eclectic (26 February 2003).
616:
519:was still in active service during the
247:with the scalps of their enemies, bone
768:Time Life Old West: The Indians (1976)
238:Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains
187:Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains
389:. Spears could be thrown, or used as
7:
839:Plenty Coups, Chief of the Crow, p31
724:New York: Anchor Books, 1975, p. 12.
118:Lawrence Hart, Darryl Flyingman and
656:Storms Brewed in Other Men's Worlds
1137:. January 13, 2015. Archived from
25:
1040:Taylor, Colin F. (July 2, 2005).
1025:. October 7, 2010. Archived from
251:as protection from cold weapons,
31:of the mid to late 19th century,
1103:Spence, Lewis (August 9, 2012).
1070:Plenty-coups, Chief of the Crows
1046:. University of Oklahoma Press.
962:Belden, Elisha (March 7, 2016).
702:. University of Nebraska Lincoln
700:Encyclopedia of the Great Plains
485:United States Army Indian Scouts
935:DeMello, Margo (May 30, 2014).
634:Time Life Old West: The Indians
1159:Time Life Old West: The Scouts
491:. During the Indian Wars, the
1:
983:. University of Texas Press.
850:The American Indian, page 324
624:The American Indian, page 324
589:(1971-80), by various authors
574:Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
48:contemporary colonial sources
211:awarding of an eagle feather
152:. These were usually ridden
287:, diamonds and crosses, or
240:frequently decorated their
42:, sometimes referred to as
1270:
361:
346:would tattoo braves using
205:this included killing and
78:) in the Texas Panhandle.
1119:– via Google Books.
1083:– via Google Books.
1056:– via Google Books.
993:– via Google Books.
951:– via Google Books.
877:– via Google Books.
682:The Plains Wars 1757-1900
294:Among tribes such as the
904:www.native-languages.org
454:Remington rolling blocks
93:Battle of Little Bighorn
1109:. Courier Corporation.
1073:. U of Nebraska Press.
1043:Native American Weapons
867:. U of Nebraska Press.
364:Native American weapons
334:spirit animals such as
1005:"History of Tomahawks"
782:"The Battle for Texas"
722:Crazy Horse and Custer
684:, London: Osprey, 2003
654:John, Elizabeth A. H.
422:
405:burned as firewood by
306:, warriors received a
275:, and elaborate glass
127:
67:
420:
397:decorated with brass
385:sometimes featured a
113:
65:
470:Winchester yellowboy
29:American Indian Wars
1141:on January 25, 2022
1029:on October 7, 2010.
561:Peace of the Braves
489:since the Civil War
480:In American service
450:Springfield muskets
369:Close-range weapons
350:spines dipped in a
1254:Combat occupations
1135:True West Magazine
806:Center of the West
720:Ambrose, Stephen
680:Robinson, Charles
600:Tracking (hunting)
431:American Civil War
423:
413:Long-range weapons
395:gunstock war clubs
133:Westward expansion
128:
114:Southern Cheyenne
68:
52:westward expansion
1244:American frontier
545:Joe Medicine Crow
407:American pioneers
379:carved from stone
16:(Redirected from
1261:
1213:
1212:
1210:
1209:
1200:. Archived from
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1182:
1177:
1171:
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959:
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924:. July 27, 2019.
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621:
466:repeating rifles
377:were originally
21:
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1093:Ambrose, p. 243
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922:www.powwows.com
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482:
474:Spencer carbine
460:taken from the
458:Sharps carbines
415:
401:taken from old
371:
366:
360:
215:rite of passage
195:Cheyenne people
175:
142:
108:
88:
60:
33:Native American
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
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788:. 17 June 2010
770:
761:
746:
744:Ambrose, p. 66
737:
726:
713:
694:Eifler, Mark.
686:
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555:requirements.
528:
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501:Tonkawa people
481:
478:
446:Colt revolvers
414:
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370:
367:
362:Main article:
359:
356:
269:Morgan Dollars
174:
171:
158:returning fire
141:
138:
107:
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87:
84:
59:
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24:
14:
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10:
9:
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1229:Plains tribes
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1204:on 2016-04-07
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1053:9780806137162
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990:9780292749122
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948:9781610690768
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786:The Economist
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553:counting coup
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498:
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493:Pawnee people
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438:horse pistols
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388:
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383:tribal chiefs
380:
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368:
365:
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349:
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329:
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316:scarification
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273:Mexican pesos
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199:Lakota people
196:
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172:
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168:
163:
162:The Economist
159:
155:
151:
150:conquistadors
147:
139:
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124:Oklahoma City
121:
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105:
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100:counting coup
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64:
57:
55:
53:
49:
45:
41:
37:
34:
30:
19:
1234:Great Plains
1206:. Retrieved
1202:the original
1195:
1186:
1175:
1164:
1155:
1145:November 10,
1143:. Retrieved
1139:the original
1134:
1125:
1105:
1098:
1089:
1069:
1062:
1042:
1035:
1027:the original
1017:
1008:
999:
979:
972:
957:
941:. ABC-CLIO.
937:
930:
921:
912:
903:
894:
883:
863:
856:
845:
834:
823:
812:
801:
790:. Retrieved
785:
764:
749:
740:
729:
721:
716:
704:. Retrieved
699:
689:
681:
655:
650:
639:
630:
619:
587:The Old West
559:
557:
541:World War II
530:
517:Kiowa people
483:
468:such as the
424:
372:
354:-based ink.
293:
281:Great Spirit
249:breastplates
236:
220:Sitting Bull
189:such as the
176:
167:S. C. Gwynne
161:
143:
140:Horsemanship
129:
120:Harvey Pratt
97:
89:
80:
69:
40:Great Plains
26:
18:Indian brave
817:Akta Lakota
537:World War I
521:World War I
497:Crow people
442:long rifles
285:thunderbird
191:Crow people
50:, resisted
27:During the
1223:Categories
1208:2021-11-10
1080:0803280181
792:2016-11-30
611:References
576:(1970) by
462:US cavalry
399:thumbtacks
340:Great Bear
267:made from
259:quills or
245:war shirts
232:war bonnet
1192:"The War"
583:Time-Life
578:Dee Brown
558:The name
435:flintlock
387:pipe bowl
375:Tomahawks
312:Tattooing
257:porcupine
106:Logistics
76:Querechos
1249:Warriors
594:See also
549:warpaint
499:and the
358:Weaponry
324:Seminole
320:Cherokee
300:Iroquois
277:beadwork
242:buckskin
224:Geronimo
207:scalping
173:Insignia
154:bareback
36:warriors
1169:I-See-O
706:19 June
696:"Trade"
605:Loafers
568:Sources
535:during
515:of the
513:I-See-O
511:. Sgt.
308:Mohican
289:zigzags
265:conchos
255:claws,
228:Cochise
86:Tactics
72:Wichita
58:History
38:of the
1113:
1077:
1050:
987:
945:
871:
527:Legacy
505:Apache
495:, the
464:, and
403:trunks
391:lances
352:carbon
348:cactus
344:shaman
338:, the
304:Mohawk
296:Pawnee
203:Apache
185:. For
146:cayuse
126:, 2008
116:Chiefs
44:braves
547:wore
531:Many
523:era.
509:Sioux
336:Raven
332:totem
328:Creek
179:eagle
1147:2021
1111:ISBN
1075:ISBN
1048:ISBN
985:ISBN
943:ISBN
869:ISBN
708:2021
539:and
507:and
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