“Robe Signal”

The war chiefs signaled their men in several ways. Some methods were used in close-quarters while others were designed for greater distances. The robe signal used in combination with a moving horse was visible over a long distance and could convey a variety of messages, such as, alarm, anger, a request to come, warnings of danger, defiance, a call to halt, directions, peace, friendship, a question such as “Who are you?” submission, surrender, buffalo discovered, the success of a war party, a campsite, and the implementation of a military drill. The Sioux warrior in “Robe Signal” is the head whip as denoted by his notched riding quirt and is signaling the commencement of a military maneuver.