G'day Simply Kate, Thank you for your question. The full quote from Colonel Chivington before he ordered a raid on a camp of Cheyenne peacefully assembled at Sand Creek in Colorado was "Kill and scalp all, big and little; nits make lice." Between 150 and 184 Cheyenne were killed, mostly women and children. The scalps and other body parts were later exhibited in Denver. The panel that looked at the incident concluded about the conduct of Colonel Chivington and his men: "As to Colonel Chivington, your committee can hardly find fitting terms to describe his conduct. Wearing the uniform of the United States, which should be the emblem of justice and humanity; holding the important position of commander of a military district, and therefore having the honor of the government to that extent in his keeping, he deliberately planned and executed a foul and dastardly massacre which would have disgraced the verist [sic] savage among those who were the victims of his cruelty. Having full knowledge of their friendly character, having himself been instrumental to some extent in placing them in their position of fancied security, he took advantage of their in-apprehension and defenceless [sic] condition to gratify the worst passions that ever cursed the heart of man." Despite this damning indictment, he did not face justice. Following this incident, many of the Cheyenne joined the Dog Soldiers fighting the settlers. I have attached sources for your reference. Regards Wikipedia Sand Creek Massacre http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_Creek_Massacre PBS Who is the savage http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/program/episodes/four/whois.htm Sand Creek Massacre site http://www.nps.gov/sand/ Documents on the Sand Creek Massacre http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/resources/archives/four/sandcrk.htm

It sounds like something that would be used to justify the killing of women and children. Little "Indians" grow into big "Indians" the same say that nits will one day hatch lice.