Dog Soldier Justice

During times of armed conflict it is the civilian population that is forced to endure the greatest suffering. Noncombatants, simply trying to survive and make a living, oftentimes fall victim to the brutality of war. This is the theme that Jeff Broome pursues in his study of the Indian wars on the Kansas prairie during the 1860s. He is especially interested in relating the horrific captivity of Susanna Alderdice, who was killed by her Cheyenne captors at the Battle of Summit Springs in July 1869. In addition, the author provides graphic details concerning other atrocities perpetrated upon Kansas settlers by roving bands of Indians during the period. The purpose behind these revelations is not to sensationalize the anguish of the victims, but to demonstrate that recent scholarship has diminished or discounted the degree of suffering endured by the settlers in favor of emphasizing the horror and despair experienced by the Indians. In examining the atrocities that occurred on the plains of Kansas during the Indian Wars, Broome culled the seldom used depredation claims filed by settlers victimized by Indian raids. It seems ironic that these pioneers could request compensation from the