After extensive reconnoitering, the American forces advanced on horseback and quickly surrounded the rebels’ camp. They were counting on the element of surprise as they launched a carefully conceived attack. But by the time the smoke from their heavy fusillade had cleared, all they found were a handful of unarmed Blacks; all of the others had successfully melted away well before the attack. The American army had no way of knowing it, but it had fallen victim to classic tactics from theaters of war in western Central Africa, whose armies were famous for scattering in the face of massed
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