What did the Crow Indian warriors were in battle?

Answer 1

they were very religeous

Answer: It would take a whole book to explain in detail all the religious beliefs of the Absaalooke or Crow people. In Robert H. Lowie's book "The Crow Indians", he explains just a few beliefs by quoting several Crow stories about vision-quests, gifts and powers supplied by supernatural beings; and shamanistic healing of sick and wounded tribes-people.

The Crows recognised a wide range of spirit-beings who could either help people or not (depending on circumstances), including the Sun, Morning Star, High Thunder, the Thunderbird, the Seven Stars, dwarf spirits, buffalo, snake and chicken-hawk spirits, Eagle and Old Man Coyote. Of the these, the Sun was perhaps a supreme "god", but another spirit was considered to be the creator of all things: Akba'tat-di'a (the Maker of Everything) - in that sense he was equivalent to the Christian God.

Anyone could attempt to seek a vision of one or more spirits, usually by going to some remote, high mountain and neither eating or drinking until a vision came. This might include a warning about the future, or reveal magical items that would protect the person from harm (a special song, a dance, war-paint, the feathers or skin of a particular bird or animal, and so on).

Spirits could appear in any form they chose, so (for example) Old Man Coyote might appear in the form of an eagle, a bear or wolf who could speak to a person and give advice.

There is much more, but this should give you a taste of Crow beliefs.

Answer 2

Just like the other tribes of the Great Plains, the Crows could choose to wear almost nothing, or dress in their finest clothes.

Chief Plenty Coups (Many War Achievements) recalled an occasion when a war party of Lakotas and a war party of Crows faced each other across a wide river that was too deep and swollen to cross - the leading warriors of both sides simply galloped along opposite banks, stripped to moccasins and breeclouts with their warbonnet trailers flying behind them looking as fierce and wild as they could. No casualties were inflicted on either side.

A Crow warrior would always dismount before a fight, if there was time, in order to apply his paint, paint his horse and tie up its tail, sing his war song and pray to his personal "medicine" for protection. The warpaint of the Crows was often simply white clay applied in large patches on the body, then the fingernails were scraped through these patches to create stripes - face paint was more complex. Another important preparation for battle was to remove the protective cover from the buffalo-hide shield (if it had one) - revealing the sacred designs and protective amulets.

Both in battle and when hunting buffalo, most warriors stripped off their shirts and leggings in order to have better freedom of movement - and in a hand-to-hand fight the enemy would have nothing to hold on to.

In winter, Crow warriors and hunters were fond of coats made from white trade blankets.

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