Supposedly my mothers great uncle George Conrad was commander of B Co, 2nd Calif Volunteer Cavalry at Dun Glen Nevada in 1866-7. A well experienced Indian fighter. He is supposed to have stated to a Humboldt Register news reporter, "We didn't defeat the Paiutes, the iron cooking kettle and the wool blanket was their Achilles heel." I guess meaning that the trade goods soon became necessities once the Indians became accustomed to them.
