In warfare on the plains, bravery was not measured simply by the number of enemy killed or wounded. Plains Indians had a custom known as “counting coup” in which the object was simply to touch an enemy in battle without hurting him. A special coup stick was sometimes used for this purpose, although a war club or lance or bow or even the hand itself would do. An eagle feather was awarded to the warrior for each coup. If after counting coup on an armed enemy, he managed to kill him, then scalp him, a warrior received three coup feathers. Capturing an enemy’s possessions, especially eagle feathers, brought great honor.
