Native American people were warriors on the battlefield. They used their intelligence, cunning, and brute strength to dominate any adversary they came across. Here are 6 interesting things about Native American warfare.
They Prized Independence on the Battlefield
The chief would usually give his soldier a blueprint of what to do on the battlefield, but it wasn’t rigid, such as a European army. This gave the warriors more leeway to do more things and be flexible.
Focus On Preserving a Warrior’s Life
They wanted to take their opponents out more efficiently. Sometimes an ambush was used to get the advantage to keep the bulk of their warriors from getting injured. While they didn’t frown upon retreating to fight another day, it was better to them than surrendering.
Believed in Total War
They were fearsome to put it simply. Even if they captured someone, the prisoner of war would be absorbed into the tribe. Or they would be scalped and burned alive. If a tribe member were caught, they would not even cry out in pain while getting tortured. They believed in showing strength right to the very end.
Psychological Warfare Was a Big Tactic
Remember the scalping? Well, these were used as trading items or rewards. Not to mention, the scalps were often hung in villages and surrounding areas as a scare tactic against any opposers. From the scalps to the war cries, they used these tactics to intimidate or throw their enemies off in the heat of battle.
Used the Battlefield to Their Advantage
Whether it was hiding in trees or giving chase in a way to open up the enemy’s flanks, they knew the lay of the land. This meant they could get between the opposing force and dominate due to exposing their weaknesses.
Knowing Their Adversaries
They were not only brute warriors but scholars of combat. They could identify flaws in their enemy’s strategy. For example, the British had a rifle called the Springfield .45. However, there was a huge flaw that made them wide open for attack. The rifled jammed after being fired a certain number of times. The braves at Little Big Horn knew about this and let the British shoot while they evaded the rifle blasts. As a result, they mounted a big attack once their guns jammed.
