The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-12
a urLLruN FOX me INDIANS.
Wars with the = edsfsins That Have Beer
Costly to Uncle Sam.


Since the 4th of July, 1716, when this gov
eminent began, tae Indians have cost the
United States s., COO, 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 it
appears that to date the act Of dispossess-
ing the aborigines has cost 81 600 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
ago Mr. Tom Donaldson, who is now in
charge of the Indian census, made care
full compilation. lie showed that from
July 4, ITO, to June 80, 1886, the Indians
had cost the government 1928, 239 2S4 OF. IC
is safe to say that the four years added to
the record since Mr.. Donaldson researches
will bring the figures up close to 81 CO.,
100000. This enormous amount is about
one-third of what the war of the rebell-
ion cost. One-third Of the 1000, 0OO, 600
has been spent in pacifying and civilizing
Indians Two-thirds of the 81, 000, 900, 600
have been absorbed in fighting 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 Sc, 900, 900 and S20,0OOOOO.
The Navajo war cost the government
nearly 81, 100000.
The biggest of all recent Indian wars
was the one about which least was pub
lished. 1t began in 1862. 1t had its origin
IN comparatively Insignificant matter.
A contractor Tor furnishing Indian supplies
sent to the Sioux agencies what was sup
posed to be prime mess pork. The consign-
ment was found TO consist largely of heads
of hogs. The Indians went back on such
.ations, and took the warpath instead of
the pork. Gems. Slbley and Sully con-
Quoted the campaign. They had 1900
troops under them.
In this Sioux war the Galvanized Yam
KEGS" as they were called, made their ap-
pearance. There were several regiments of
these Galvanized Yankees" and they did
good service against the Sioux It 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, 1886, the
secretary Of war stated that the total cost
of troops in the Indian country from 1873
to 1856 had been S223, S91, 2G4. 90
In lS6S and 1862 there was a lively Indian
war in what is now the Indian territory
and Oklahoma. The actual field opera
tons during the eleven months cost s., O56, =
5l5.57.
The Modoc war in the lava beds cost
the army Ill soldiers killed or wounded.
The chief incident of this campaign was
the assassination of Gen. Candy. Seven
teen citizens were killed or wounded The
record which was sent 70 the senate by
the war department says, NO Indians re-
ported killed"
The Sioux war of 1876 cost for the actual
field expenses S2,312, SOL But the cam
paign was chiefly notable for the Custer
massacre. The army loss was 2S3 killed
and l25 wounded. The Indian loss was
only So. 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 S93l, 329 81
In that campaign pa officers and soldiers
were killed and wounded. Twelve citizens
were killed. The Indian loss was is.
The Bannock war of 1875 was a small
affair. 1t only cost $50, 636.l9 When it
was ended the record showed a loss of "a
10 the army. 30 citizens murdered and a
Indians killed.
The Northern Cheyenne outbreak of 1879
entailed a loss on the army of 81 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 70 have spent $780,
dlO.-St. Louis Globe Democrat.