Chasing Inkpaduta

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Chasing Inkpaduta

July 22, 1857 - - It was here that we halted, along the endless prairie, on a sun-splashed July afternoon. We had traveled about ten miles from the Yellow Medicine Agency and everyone was in need of a respite. I will admit that the group was an attractive one. One hundred and six fullblooded Dakota warriors mounted and in search of prey. They appeared almost glamorous under the bright sun, their skin glistening, their war paint intimidating, and their headdresses enchanting and prodigious. It was indeed a remarkable sight. What attracted me most was their unique military savvy. These offspring of the wilderness represented a lethal cavalcade prepared for any and all military engagements. They moved in unison across the prairie without need of orders or direction. They were trained and tested through years of self-discipline, countless conflicts, and deep personal ambition. Indians were taught to withstand all sorts of privations in order to prepare themselves to become adult warriors. They were forced to go without food or water or they would spend a night without rest. I recall when the uncle of my young friend challenged his nephew to fast with him all day simply as an exercise in self-discipline. And through all of this the boys were allowed to show no sign of weakness or cowardice. Indeed, bravery in battle was the highest honor for the Dakota man. It can be said that a young Indian warrior sought to be a brave man as much as any young white boy sought to be a great lawyer or even President of the United States. In battle it was considered a great and courageous feat to touch a living enemy. This was called counting coup and any warrior who achieved this was bestowed with a single eagle feather to be placed upright at the back of the


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