Beadle's Dime Novels No. 119: Blackeyes — page 9: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

LIEUTENANT BENT’S IDEAS. 11 that they are inferior to the white men, in numbers, arms and discipline y therefore they must make use of all the adyan- tages that they can gain over us. It is not because they are cowards, that they will not meet us in fair fight, but because they are aware that they have no men to spare, because they know that they would be defeated in the open field, and be- Cause they can gain more by taking us at a disadvantage and fighting us in their own way,” “ According to your showing, an Indian war can be liken- ed to nothing but a campaign against wild animals. For my part, I know that I could easily brush away every swarm of these red insects, if I could but reach them, but we might. ag well attempt to exterminate the fleas in Mexico, as to conquer such a scampering set. They are every where and nowbere, and there is no vital point in which we can strike them.” “Very true, sir, They haye no towns or magazines, and no base or center of operations. They have no baggage- wagons, no commissiarat, no incumbrances of any kind, They move like the wind, and can never be overtaken by either our infantry or our cavalry. They hover about us, unseen and unheard; they strike whenever they can do so to advantage, and varie as soon as the blow has taken effect, or when for- tune turns against them. The old system is entirely Am against such an enemy.” “T suppose, Lieutenant Bent, that you consider véiersell ‘a representative of the rising generation, and of the new system. What mode of warfare do you advise, Sir Oracle, now: that the world has grown so wise that veteran commanders must learn from raw youths ?” OP Be & “ Pardon me, Major Buttress, if I say that your sarcas a, entirely uncalled for. I make no pretentions to superior wis- dom, but you gave me permission to ventilate some of: my crude ideas, and. I have done so freely. If I have een of- fense, I will say no more.” dlhuy_sapeemagier “Tam not ready to take offense where none is intende Proceed, for I wish 'to have the full beriefit of yout advic “It seems to me, sir, that infantry are almost useless in this kind of warfare, except to garrison forts and towns, We ought, I think, to organize and train a force of mounted men, irregulars, like the hunters and trappers of the plains and a Conmicloooks.com