By keeping these scouts well ahead of him, he learned accurately where the war parties were.

In the attack itself he invariably used mounted riflemen, men skilled in forest warfare, who rode tough little horses, on which they galloped at speed through the forest.

Once in position they did the actual fighting on foot, sheltering themselves carefully behind the tree-trunks.

He moved with extreme rapidity and attacked with instantaneous suddenness, using ambushes and surprises wherever practicable.

His knowledge of the whereabouts and size of the hostile parties, and the speed of his own movements, generally enabled him to attack with the advantage of numbers greatly on his side.