A History of Oregon, 1792-1849: Drawn From Personal Observation and Authentic InformationGray, W. H. (William Henry)
History
A History of Oregon, 1792-1849: Drawn From Personal Observation and Authentic Information
Gray, W. H. (William Henry)
Frontier and pioneer life -- Oregon; Oregon Territory -- History
Our sketches perhaps would not lose in interest by giving a short
account of a fight which our Flathead Indians had at this place with a
war party of the Blackfeet. It occurred near the present location of
Helena, in Montana. As was the custom with the Flathead Indians in
traveling in the buffalo country, their hunters and warriors were in
advance of the main camp. A party of twenty-five Blackfeet warriors was
discovered by some twelve of our Flatheads. To see each other was to
fight, especially parties prowling about in this manner, and at it they
went. The first fire of the Flatheads brought five of the Blackfeet to
the ground and wounded some five more. This was more than they expected,
and the Blackfeet made but little effort to recover their dead, which
were duly scalped, and the bodies left for food for the wolves, and the
scalps borne in triumph into the camp. There were but two of the
Flatheads wounded: one had a flesh-wound in the thigh, and the other had
his right arm broken by a Blackfoot ball.
The victory was complete, and the rejoicing in camp corresponded to the
number of scalps taken. Five days and nights the usual scalp-dance was
performed. At the appointed time the big war-drum was sounded, when the
warriors and braves made their appearance at the appointed place in the
open air, painted as warriors. Those who had taken the scalps from the
heads of their enemies bore them in their hands upon the ramrods of
their guns.
They entered the circle, and the war-song, drums, rattles, and noises
all commenced. The scalp-bearers stood for a moment (as if to catch the
time), and then commenced hopping, jumping, and yelling in concert with
the music. This continued for a time, when some old painted women took
the scalps and continued the dance. The performance was gone through
with as many nights as there were scalps taken.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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