, 1891-02-19
A BILLION FOR THE INDIANS.
Wars with the pedskIns That Have Bee,
Costly to Uncle Sam.

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Wars with the pedskfnA That Have Been
Costly to Uncle Sam.
Since the 4th Of July, I776, when this gov
eminent began. the Indians nave cost the
United States $1,000, 100000. When the old
Pequot chief met the Pilgrim Fathers near
Plymouth Rock and said, Welcome, En-
glishmen," he spoke for 100000 Indians.
That was the estimated number Of the red
race then living in what are now the
bounds OF the United States. And so 1t
appears that to date the act Of dispossess-
ing the aborigines has cost 1000 for every
buck, squaw and papoose living on the
soil when the white man came.
These are round figures, but they are
very close to the exact record. Three years
< Mr.. Tom Donaldson, who is now in
charge of the Indian census, made a care
full compilation. He showed that from
July 4, lT6, to June 80. 1886, the Indians
had cost the government t92e, 23e, 2s402 IL
Is safe to say that the four years added to
the record since Mr.. DonaIdson's researches
will bring the figures up close to 81 co.,
10000 This enormous amount is about
one-third of What the war OF the rebeIl-
ion cost. One-third of the 81 900, 600, 900
has been spent in pacifying and civilizing
Indians. Two-thinds Of the 81 200, 900, 900
have been absorbed in hghtng Indians.
What is known as the great Sioux war
started in 1852. The war lasted three or
four years. 1t cost the United States be-
tween SIS, 100000 and S2O,OOO,OOO.
Tn Navajo var cost the government
nearly SEC, 900, 900.
The biggest of all recent Indian wars
was the one about which least was pub
llshed. 1t began in 1862. II had its origin
IN "A comparatively insignificant matter.
A contractor for furnishing Indian supplies
sent to the Sioux agencies what was sup
posed to be prime mess pork. The consiRn-
ment was found to consist largely OF heads
of hogs. The Indians went back on such
%rations, and took the warpath instead of
the pork. Gems. Sibley and Sully con-
Quoted the campaign. They had 5000
troops under them.
In this Sioux war the Galvanized Yam
KEGS, as they were called, made their APP
p~earRnce. There were several regiments of
these Galvanized Yankees" and they did
good service against the Sioux. 1t may be
explained that Galvanized Yankees" were
Confederate prisoners who took the oath of
allegiance and enlisted in these regiments
to fight Indians in preference to remaining
In northern prisons. In answer to a reso-
luton of inquiry from the senate, 1885, the
secretary OF war stated that the total cost
of troops in the Indian country from 1876
to 1886 had been S223, Sol, 264.5O.
In 1868 and 1863 there was a lively Indian
war in what is now the Indian territory
and Oklahoma. The actual field opera
tions during the eleven months cost 81 ,O56.-
1857.
The Modoc war in the lava bed cost
the army Ill soldiers killed or ounded
The chief incident of this campaign was
the assassination OF Gen. Candy. Seven
teen citizens were killed or wounded. The
record which was sent to the senate by
the war department says, mo Indians re-
ported killed"
The Sioux war Of 1876 cost for the actual
field expenses 2,912, 591. But the cam
paign was chiefly notable for the Custer
massacre. The army loss was 283 killed
and l25 wounded. The Indian loss was
only IS. The Custer massacre was never
atoned for. The guns which the Indians
took from the soldiers are still In their
possession.
The Nez Perces war of 1877 lasted three
months and cost 1891 800. 81.
In that campaign 241 officers and soldiers
were killed and wounded. Twelve citizens
were killed. The Indian loss was 1853.
The Bannock war of 1873 was a small
affair. 1t only cost $3.50, $50. 10. When it
was ended the record showed a loss of "a
to the army, 80 citizens murdered and "a
Indians killed.
The Northern Cheyenne outbreak of 1879
entailed a loss on the army of SO killed and
wounded. No Indians were reported killed.
Since 1882 the only Indian fighting has
been with the little squads of Apaches in
Arizona and New Mexico. For every
Apache run down and killed or captured
the government is said to nave spent $780,
OoO.-St. Louis Globe-Democrat.