to the right and left, surround the enemy and cut off their retreat. An Ojibway warrior, who had been a captive among the Dakotas, understanding these orders, quietly informed his fellows, and when the enemy's fire slackened in front, they made a silent but quick retreat.
They had arrived but a short distance from the scene of action, when they suddenly heard the firing and yelling of a fierce fight, at the spot which they had just left. The noise lasted for some minutes, and the Ojibways learnt afterwards, that their enemy, dividing into two parties, with intent to surround them, had met in the darkness and mistaking one another for Ojibways, they had fired several volleys into each other's ranks, and continued to fight till, by their manner of yelling the war-whoop, they had discovered their mistake. The Dakotas, on this occasion, suffered a severe loss, infinitely aggravated from the fact of their having inflicted a portion of it on themselves. They consequently abandoned the war party, for which they had been making preparation. The slightest rebuff of this nature, always leads to the disorganization of a war party when on the point of starting. The slightest accidents, or evil omens, will send them back even when once fairly started on their expedition.
Several warriors have arisen from the ranks of the St. Croix Ojibways who have distinguished themselves by deeds of great bravery, and whose names consequently live in the traditions and lodge stories of their people. Waub-ash-aw was the name of one, of part Dakota extraction, who flourished as a brave and successful war-leader, during the middle of the past century. He fought in many engagements, and was eventually killed at the battle of St. Croix Falls. He was one of the spiritual, or clairvoyant, leaders of the war party who fought on this occasion, and is said to have predicted his own death.
