Newcomers do not understand our reasons for fighting wars. They are not fought, as I am told are wars in Europe, for territorial gain or religious differences. Your chief Champlain has often condemned us for not maintaining a long siege on Iroquois villages. For us fighting is a summer activity and must stop when it is time for fall hunting.

Our attacks are most often against the Iroquois and the Seneca. Chiefs who have proved themselves in battle will recruit a war party from a number of villages. These chiefs control the raid and decide on strategy and the fate of prisoners.

We make war in the summer when the leaves are on the trees and provide cover. Several hundred warriors form a large party and raid in Iroquois territory. They will move slowly toward enemy territory, stopping to hunt and fish along the way. As they come near to the target Iroquois village, the canoes are hidden in the forest and warriors move the rest of the way on foot. We will lay siege to the Iroquois village for as about a week or longer. The enemy are taunted and invited to come out and fight. The palisades guarding the villages will often be set on fire to force them to come out. Battles are fought with our Huron warriors facing the Iroquois warriors until one of the sides charges the enemy. The fighting lasts until a few deaths or injuries lead the enemy to retreat into their village. Prisoners are taken by both sides and guarded on the return to the home village. The wounded are bound tightly and carried home in baskets on the backs of young warriors. Sometimes we will call on Algonkian, Montagnais, or Susquehanna allies to join us in attacks on the Iroquois villages.

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