Without specifying a region, group or tribe this question is impossible to answer in a fashion required by this subreddit. A coastal miwok, Aztec, Incan and Carib would all have different methods of fighting.

Do you have anything in mind?

Published in 1588, '89, and '90, Thomas Harriot's A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia was one of the earliest written accounts of the Carolina Algonquian Indians - and remains vital in the historiography of pre/early contact North America.

What made Harriot's work so vital is that he had spent time learning Carolina Algonquian with Wanchese and Manteo, a pair of Algonquians brought to England by Sir Walter Raleigh. Being one of the very few (if not the only) English speakers of the language, Harriot found himself in a unique position upon his return to the colony and began to document their culture.

On their style of war he had this to say:

Their maner of warres amongst themselves is either by sudden surprising one an other most commonly about the dawning of the day, or moone-light, or els by ambushes, or some subtile devises. Set battels are very rare, except if fall out where there are many trees, where either part may have some hope of defence, after the delivery of every arrow, in leaping behind some or other.

A few paragraphs earlier on he outlines their armaments, mentioning that they lack iron or edged weapons - relying on bows with reed arrows, a flat sided truncheon, small shields made of bark, and some armor made from "sticks wickered together with thread". Though he mentions that some Wiroans (Chiefs) were able to call upon as many as 700-800 warriors; the English would have no issue repulsing such attacks due to their discipline and weaponry.

All if this points to the Algonquians preferring short ambushes and rapidly leaving the area before a counterattack could be mustered - rather than protracted warfare where higher casualties were a reality.

There's always room for discussion, but perhaps the section Pre-Modern Non-Western Warfare from our FAQ will answer your inquiry.