Nothing about being commander-in-chief or being the executive implies having the power to
set (as opposed to pursue) the objectives of a war. In fact, the word "executive" strongly implies that he's "executing" the policy set by someone else. When Congress declares war in the true sense of the word, and say nothing else, then they're effectively stating that the CinC's objective is the complete subjugation of the enemy, at least until Congress declares otherwise.
And military excursions against Indians have very little relation to wars against sovereign nations.
