NationStates Jolt Archive

The dance was finished, (http://www.theworldwidegourmet.com/travel/usa/dakota/north-powwow.jpg) and the Cheifs were now assembled around a great fire. All the tribes were there, from the largest to the most minor, and all were equal around the fire. A pipe full of the finest tobacco had just finished being passed around, all the Cheifs enjoying it. Just beyond the tents all the warbands were present, thier commander comparing tactics.

The Sequoya Wide Powwow was always a big event, and every tribe looked forward to it. It was fair, wargame, political rally, and religious festival all in one. The Cheifs spoke among themselves, discussing important issues.

"The blacks continue to try to flee into our lands."
"What can we do? We own no slaves, and we have a hard enough time discouraging whites from settling here. We have to return them, lest the Confederacy try to push slavery on us."
"Speaking of pushing, have we decided on a representitive for the Confederate congress yet?" They all gave a big laugh. The seat had been absent since Sequoya had been a state.
"But what of the Northern whites lately?"

The cheifs fell silent, a seething hatred boiling underneath thier skin. Often times the only thing they liked about being part of the Confederacy was they could keep away from the federal government. Wooden forts stretched across the entire border with the Americans, and each was staffed with the most rabid warriors, always peering across the border. Often they yipped and whooped at any settler that passed by. They were just waiting for a war.

While the cheifs discussed politics, the warbands spoke of tactics.
"Lets run over this again. These holes in the dirt are key?"
"Yes. We cannot win a defensive war, as we don't have enough people. What I'm saying is we must use the tactics of our ancestors to out manouver our opponents."
"I see. But large battles seem to work well for the europeans, and how can artillery be used in the ways of our ancestors?"
"The artillery must be fired indirectly, like so." The commander drew in the sand with a stick. "They must be kept hidden and safe. If we could fire them en masse at our opponents, we could break thier lines, along for infantry to move in."
"What of Calavry then?"
"Calvary remain important, not for strength, but for speed. Calvary should become an adaptable force capable from moving from one flank to another, rather then running through opponents."
"Ahhhh."

New rifles were being tried out, and some troops were even comparing war paint. Farther on, a group of commanders was having another interesting discussion.
"Uniforms help to create unity!"
"Nonsense! Uniforms seperate soldier from citizen, something we don't want. If we ever become invaded, our soldiers will appear as regular civillians. Imagine the streets coming alive with gunfire!" They nodded in agreement. From this point forward, militia units would no longer wear uniforms. Historic indeed.

As troops fired on dummys, a casual observer may have become a bit worried, as the dummys were not only dressed in federal uniforms...but confederate one's as well.

Captain Raymond Toller sat on his horse as it grazed on a hill just north of the Texas border. The rest of his platoon, the 7th Texas Cavalry, was armed the same way he was, with a heavy saber and either a revolver or one of those new .45 semi-automatic pistols. He shrugged and pulled out a packs of Raleighs, lighting one with a match and inhaling the smoke. Tobacco really was good here.
Suddenly, the sharp crack of gunfire echoed throughout the plains. Toller shrugged. In the South, you couldn't go an hour without hearing a gunshot or two. But when the shots echoed again and again, Raymond became suspicious. "Let's ride!" he yelled, and the platoon, fifty men and horses strong, began to gallop towards the shots.

OOC: The Confederates and the Indians normally have a very good relationship.

A war whoop rang out, and the horsemen were seen. Soldiers waved to the calvary, knowing from thier direction they were Texans. Of all Confederate states Texas was liked the best by Sequoya. They were independent, freedom minded, and had a proud history. The cheifs stood up and prepared to greet the white men.

A few bussiness minded men rushed with thier tobbacco and Peyote to the incoming Texans, knowing they would buy such things.

OOC: what's Peyote?

OOC: Peyote (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peyote)

OOC: I think that's more in Arizona and New Mexico than Oklahoma..

OOC: Peyote is central to the Native American Church, and since Sequoya has the largest concentration of Native Americans in the world, I would assume they would bring the plant they believe is the embodiment of god with them.

OOC: I'll take your word for it.

IC: "Howdy," Toller said to the cheifs as he dismounted, and shook each of their hands in turn. The rest of the cavalry platoon was doing the same, greeting the Sequoyans and inspecting their products. They paid a few Stonewalls (a gold coin worth five Confederate dollars) between them for the tobacco, but were hesitant to Peyote. For many of them, it was the first time meeting the tribes, and had no idea what exactly the wierd-looking cactus was for.

After the initial friendlies were over the Cheifs got right down to the point.
"Tell us brother...what is a Texan Calvary unit doing in Sequoya?" The Cheifs hid thier suspicsion behind big smiles. This was THIER land...and what were Texan military units doing in the middle of the state?

Behind them warriors quickly hid the confederate uniforms, and made sure to holster thier weapons. Hostilities in the west could start at the drop of a hat, and Sequoya intended to keep the peace.

"Usual patrols. You ARE part of the CSA, you know."

"Yes of course...but..." The cheifs were unable to form into words just why they were to be left alone, and gave up on it. The various warriors around the Texans dissapated and went about thier war games, however the Cheifs remained.

"Tell us, whats news from the outside. We don't get out much." They chuckled.