I came across this tweet today which tells of an incident between a pupil and his teacher. The teacher in question told the Native American pupil that Indians were at fault for contracting smallpox and that no English/American people were involved in that matter. I’m writing this to be used as a reference in future incidents.
This is not a matter of opinion, this is a matter of public record. Purposeful infection of Native Americans with smallpox was one of several “necessary” means that white European settlers used in an deliberate, concerted effort to drive us to extinction.
Among the damning evidence are letters written in 1763 between officers of the British military detailing plans to send a plague among the “vermin” to eradicate them.
“The reinforcement you have ordered this way is considerable by the additional number of officers, will fully enable me to crush the little opposition they may dare to offer along the Road, and Insure that Part of the Country against all their future attacks, till you think proper to order us to act in conjunction with the rest of your forces to exterminate that Vermin from a Country they have forfeited, and with it all claim to the rights of humanity.” — Col. Henry Bouquet, 23 June, 1763
Continued, same letter as above: “I have no pretension to be a judge of Indian affairs, but I should be sorry we should ever appear to be under the best obligation to the perfidious Cherokees, and as to the Catawba, they are no more a nation. I would rather chose [sic] the liberty to kill any Savage that may come in our way, than to be perpetually doubtful whether they are friends or foes.” — Col. Henry Bouquet, 23 June, 1763
“There is no doubt but it is, & has been, in the power of the Six Nations to Interrupt the Communications at any time since the Troops were Detached from their Continent to the Highland, were they Disposed thereto; But there is as little Doubt but that such a Step would, in the End, bring Ruin on their own Heads; And therefore It is as much their own Interest as Ours to Remain Quick & Peaceable. Indeed, it is more so; for their Commencing Hostilities against Us & Persisting therein might be Attended with the Loss of Inferior Posts & a few of our People at first, but must Inevitably Occasion such measures to be taken and would Bring about the Total Extirpation of those Indian Nations.” — Gen. Jeffery Amherst, 9 July 1763
“I will try to inoculate the Indians by means of blankets that may fall in their hands, taking care however not to get the disease myself. As it is a pity to appose good men against them, I wish we could make use of the Spaniards’ method, and hunt them with English dogs, supported by Rangers and some light horse, who would, I think, effectively extirpate or remove that vermin.” — Col. Henry Bouquet, 13 July, 1763
“You will do well to try to inoculate the Indians by means of Blankets, as well as to try every other method that can serve to Extirpate this Exorable Race. I should be very glad your scheme for hunting them down by Dogs could take effect, but England is at too great a distance to think of that at present.” — Gen. Jeffery Amherst, 16 July 1763
“Sir, I am to own your Letters of the 27th July, which came to hand last night. I do not devise to enter into any Negotiations with the Tribes engaged in the present Insurrection, until they have suffered a most severe Chastisement, which must be Previous to any accommodations or they will most assuredly break it. Indeed their Total Extirpation is scarce sufficient Atonement for the Barbary and Inhuman deeds they have Committed.” — Gen. Jeffery Amherst, 7 August, 1763
“I shall only say that it behoves [sic] the whole Race of Indians to Beware, for I fear the best of them have in some measure been privy to & concerned in the Late Mischief of Carrying Matters much farther against the English, or Daring to form Conspiracys [sic], as the Consequences will most certainly occasion measures to be taken, that, in the End will put a most Effectual Stop to their very Being.” — Gen. Jeffery Amherst, 27 August, 1763
Well, there you have it. The smoking gun in the General’s own handwriting.
