It
was, no doubt, owing to this arrangement that the Crows and Umbiquas
showed themselves so hardy; but the prompt and successful retaliation of
the Shoshones cooled a little the war spirit which was fomenting around
us. However, the Arrapahoes having consented to join the league, the
united confederates at once opened the campaign, and broke upon our
country in every direction.
We were taken by surprise; for the first three weeks they carried
everything before them, for the majority of our warriors were still
hunting. But having been apprised of the danger, they returned in
haste, and the aspect of affairs soon changed. The lost ground was
regained inch by inch. The Arrapahoes having suffered a great deal,
retired from the league, and having now nothing to fear from the south,
we turned against our assailants on our northern boundaries.
Notwithstanding the desertion of the Arrapahoes, the united tribes were
still three times our number, but they wanted union, and did not act in
concert. They mustered about fifteen thousand warriors, from the
Umbiquas, Callapoos, Cayuses, Nez-perces, Bonnaxes, Flat-heads, and some
of the Crows, who had not yet gained prudence from their last
"brushing." The superiority of our arms, our tactics, discipline, and
art of intrenchment, together with the good service of two clumsy old
Spanish four-pounders, enabled us not only in a short time to destroy
the league, but also to crush and annihilate for ever some of our
treacherous neighbours.
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