Globalization of the United States, 1789-1861

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Frost, John. Thrilling Adventures Among the Indians: Comprising The Most Remarkable Personal Narratives of Events in the Early Indian Wars, as well as of Incidents in the Recent Indian Hostilities in Mexico and Texas. Philadelphia: J.W. Bradley, 1851.

John Frost. Thrilling Adventures Among the Indians: Comprising The Most Remarkable Personal Narratives of Events in the Early Indian Wars, as well as of Incidents in the Recent Indian Hostilities in Mexico and Texas. Philadelphia: J.W. Bradley, 1851. p. [9].

In contrast to his sensationalist title, Frost chose stories that sometimes sympathized with Native Americans and sometimes criticized the “American people.”

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It is a remarkable fact that the Indians, as a mass, remain now nearly in the same state as they were found by the first discoverers of the New World. In religion, manners, and customs, they are as wild and savage as ever. The western tribes hunt with the bow and arrow; and still make war with the spear and shield. Certain tribes originally settled east of the Mississippi, have become to a certain extent Christianized and civilized. Their history and present state would form the subject of a very interesting volume by itself — a volume which is a desideratum in American literature. But the wild western Indians are still heathen and still savage. Unless an enlightened public sentiment shall be awakened, and the benevolent exertions of the American people shall be interposed to civilize and reclaim these tribes, there is every reason to fear that they will ultimately become extinct; so that a century hence not a living representative will remain of all the powerful nations which formerly possessed this country. Ignorance, superstition, and mutual dissension among the tribes are rapidly wasting them away. This result should not be permitted by the Christian nation which owes to them and their dead ancestors the noble domain which it occupies. The facts recorded in the following pages exhibit traits of character in the Indians, which command admiration and awaken sympathy, united with other traits which excite in the well regulated mind the liveliest pity for their unhappy and misguided state. They might be reclaimed, civilized, and saved. But while they are regarded as enemies, possessing desirable lands, or as mere hunters of furs for white people, subjects of conquest or speculation merely, there is little hope for the poor Indian. Here and there a voice is raised in their defence, but selfishness and prejudice are many-tongued; and the cry that the Indians cannot be reclaimed and must perish, is the prevailing one. It is to be hoped that some able and eloquent defender may yet take up their cause, and that the blessings of civilization may hereafter preserve a remnant of the once numerous and powerful aborigines of North America.