Quotes about Indian Conflict

William Tecumseh Sherman

I will back you with my whole authority... I will say nothing and do nothing to restrain our troops from doing what they deem proper on the spot, and will allow no mere vague general charges of cruelty and inhumanity to tie their hands, but will use all the powers confided to me to the end that these Indians, the enemies of our race and of our civilization, shall not again be able to begin and... carry out their barbarous warfare.

Nicholas Biddle

This worthy President thinks that because he has scalped Indians and imprisoned judges, he is to have his own way with the Bank. He is mistaken.

Biddle was the loser in his fight with Jackson who was reelected for a 2nd term. He then withdrew federal deposits from Biddle's bank and persuaded not to renew Biddle's charter. That was the end of a single national bank in America.

Kit Carson

In camp was found a book, the first of the kind I had ever seen, in which I was made a great hero, slaying Indians by the hundreds.

William Johnson

It is evident that that Settlement forming at the Post of St. Vincent is in every respect of the most dangerous Tendency and must have the effect to keep us entangled in perpetual Dispute and Quarrel with the Indians. Therefore, it is his Majesty's Pleasure that you give Notice to the Inhabitants of that Place forthwith to retire from it.

Not all whites were allowed to usurp all Indian lands. There were many attempts to limit white settlement to avoid friction with the Indians although the overall tendency was for the whites to take over and dominate the land.

Bismarck Tribune

General George A. Custer, dressed in a dashing suit of buckskin, is prominent everywhere....The General is full of perfect readiness for a fray with the hostile red devils, and woe to the body of scalp-lifters that comes within reach of himself and his brave companions in arms.

Shortly thereafter the woe was transferred to Custer as he was wiped out at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Jacob H. Holeman

I find much excitement among the Indians in consequence of the whites settling and taking possession of their country, driving off and killing their game and in some instances driving off the Indians themselves. The greatest complaint on this score is against the Mormons. They seem not to be satisfied with taking possession of the valley of the Great Salt Lake, but are making arrangements to settle the rich valleys and best lands in the territory. This creates much dissatisfaction among the Indians and excites them to acts of revenge. They attack immigrants, plunder and commit murder whenever they find a party weak enough to enable them to do so, thereby making the innocent suffer for the injuries done by others.

The Mormons, not unlike other whites at the time, in effect invaded the Indians’ land, and took possession. At first the Mormons tried to convert the Indians and when the Indians preferred their own religion, there was constant occupation of Indian land in the Salt Lake Valley.

William Eustis

The surest means of securing good behavior from this conspicuous personage [Tecumseh, 1768-1813] and his brother [the Prophet], would be to make them prisoners, but at this time … it is desirable that peace with all the Indian tribes should be preserved …

William Henry Ashley

Having now reached a point where danger might be reasonably apprehended from strolling war parties of Indians, spies were kept in advance and strict diligence observed in the duty of sentinels.

Indian Conflict Quotes