The Wasp — 1877 — page 356: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is the cover and opening cartoon of *The Wasp*, a San Francisco satirical magazine. The main image is captioned "A New Method of Fighting the Indians (Invented by Gen. Boward)." The cartoon depicts a grotesquely caricatured military officer being attacked or tormented by multiple figures in what appears to be a tent. The exaggerated facial features and the overall composition suggest mockery of a specific general's military tactics or strategy regarding Native Americans. The reference to "Gen. Boward" (likely General Oliver O. Howard) connects to 1870s Indian Wars conflicts. The satire appears to critique either the general's ineffective military approach or the absurdity of his methods, presenting his strategy as literally backfiring—showing him victimized rather than victorious. The cartoon reflects period tensions over Western expansion and Native American conflicts.