Well, I think you have a pretty romanticized view of the noble savage, whose savagery was well documented. I do not excuse slaughter of non-combatants, but I don't imply it was one-sided either.

Man to man the Indians got waxed pretty bad at St. Francis by Robt Rogers. I will grant you that the soldiers generally outnumbered the Indians 2:1, and the Indians did inflict greater casualties at Tippecanoe and Fallen Timbers, both of which were arguably "Phyrric victories" for the Army. Horseshoe Bend was a much more lopsided victory for the Army. But the Army's performance out by Ft. Tejon in Calif, Sand Creek and Wounded Knee, among others you could probably come up with, were barbarism worthy of the Indians themselves. As "civilzed" people, the Army should've held itself to a higher standard.

Dee Brown wrote an excellent book on the Grierson Raid. Ever read it? YOu might like it.