The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-14 00:00:00

SHERMAN ON THE INDIAN WAR.

General SHERMAN'S Report, dated St. Louis, Nov.
1, 1868, tells the story of the Indian War. It is a
plain, unvarnished document, evidently within the
truth, relating only facts officially ascertained, and
the General's opinion thereon. SHERMAN not only
commands the military department embracing the
country west of the Mississippi River extending
from the northernmost boundary of Dacotah to the
south of New Mexico, but he is President of the
Peace Commission, to the counsels and determina-
tions of which he was directed to subordinate all
military measures. Two great routes run west
from the Missouri River to the Rocky Mountains—
the one through Kansas, the other through Nebraska.
Over both roads, broadly speaking, railways have
been constructed, for we are far from asserting they
follow the identical paths ; but between them is the
finest buffalo country in America, the Southern or
Smoky Hill route, penetrating right through it.
The Commission held to the necessity of removing
the Indians from this loc ility if peace was to be
preserved, or indeed if the Red men were to be
saved from extermination. Accordingly treaties
were concluded with the Cheyennes, Arapahoes,
Kiowas, Comanches, Navajoes, and Crows, the
vital part being two reservations for these tribes,
the one north of the State of Nebraska and west of
the Missouri River, and the other south of the State
of Kansas and west of Arkansas. To get the tribes
from the country of the railways running up to the
Rocky Mountains was, as might be expected, the
great object of the Commission, the General recog-
nizing that justice dictated compensation for depriv-
ing the savages of lands whose wild game had
hitherto fed, clothed, and sheltered them, as well
as the necessity, if possible, of procuring their con-
sent
to the transfer. During the period of discus-
sion, the tribes urged on the Commissioners the
advisablity of withdrawing the military posts on
the Powder River road, which had been built in
violation of an old treaty guaranteeing that country
to them for ever, as the construction of the Union
Pacific Railway had rendered this road compa-
ratively valueless, the Commissioners made the
concession, and by order of General GRANT, Forts
Reno, Philip Kearney, and C. F. Smith being dis-
mantled, their stores were withdrawn. Congress
adjourned without taking action on the treaty
which guaranteed the reserves to the Indians,
who, construing the withdrawal from the Powder
River route as a sign of fear, became excited, being
stimulated by emissaries who from Fort Larned to
the line of thePaci fie Road agitated for the abandon-
mentas well of the Smoky Hill route, the essential
point, as the surrender of that country was tanta-
mount to the interruption of the Union Pacific
Railway. It is dangerous to concede to savages—
a fact never appreciated by the philanthropists of
'Exeter-hall and Boston, who mean well, but with
great good often do much harm. We in possession
of the broad facts, who know Uncle SAM'S power,
his desire to be just and generous, the necessity
of holding free from interruption the country
in dispute, may find some difficulty in believing
the ignorance on those points of the Cheyennes
and other hostile tribes. '1 hey see a few strag-
gling settlements invading their country, they see
teams and waggons here and there passing over
their plains, and they are often engaged in raids on
the settlers or in defending themselves from scout-
ing parties. Their notion of the white man's
strength is derived from this experience, and they
neither know nor believe in the immense power
away towards the rising sun, of which, it is true, they
may have heard dim rumours, which they receive as
fairy tales. The tribes count their white scalps
and laugh derisively, while here in England people
are lost in amazement that there should be men who
have lived all their lives in the United States of
America who know no more of a might which over-
shadows the world, than any African on the banks
of Lake Nyanza knows of the military power of
NAPOLEON. The reason is, that few Britishers who
haye been little beyond their island can form a con-
ception without an effort of imagination (which they
will not make) of what the North American Conti-
nent is. It is easy to generalize, but it is not easy
to create in the mind of another the features of a
country differing altogether from that in which
he had been born and bred. Ten thousand men
might be located on a tract, build towns, cultivate
land in the Territory for generations, without any
one in the United States outside their community
knowing of the fact. Where the villages are of
these tribes only the best-infortned scouts can learn;
the Red men doubtless thought that looking for
them was like looking for a needle in a bundle of
hay. Impressed, then, with the idea that the
earnest desire of the pale faces for peace was dic-
tated by fear, and that the withdrawal from the
Powder River road would be followed, on more
decided measures being taken, by the abandon-
ment also of the Smoky Hill route, they threw their
treaties to the wind, and on the 3d or 4th August
a party of 224 took the war-path nominally
against the Pawnees, who, as we described some
time ago, were trespassing on their hunting grounds,
but in reality against the Kansas settlers.
On the 10th of August they appeared on the
Saline River north of Fort Harker, and, as usual,
entered the houses, insolently demanding what the
settlers could give in the way of food, with which
they found fault. Professing to be offended that
the coffee was offered in tin cups they threw it in
the faces of the women—a sure sign to those well
acquainted with them that they had come on an errand
of murder and outrage. They burnt the houses,
slaughtered the men, and conducted themselves
with the greatest brutality, till troops arrived from
Fort Harker, who drove them away, although being
mounted on fast ponies, and knowing the country
well, they retreated with little loss from the scene
of their devastations. The General declares
it to be proved beyond dispute that up to
that moment, so far from having given cause
for offence, the Peace Commissioners and all their
agents had treated them with the greatest kindness,
as also had the soldiers and frontier people. The
•military dislike an Indian war, which involves
terrible hardships, the danger of death by tor-
ture, without glory, distinction, promotion, or
plunder, and they desired the success of the Com-
mission, which would end trouble by withdraw-
ing the savages. Complying with the terms of
the treaty the Cheyennes and the Arapahoes
had thus grossly violated, General SIIERIDAN de-
manded, through Colonel WYNCOOP, agent of the
Cheyennes and Arapahoes, the surrender of the
perpetrators of these outrages. In this he utterly
failed ; indeed the Cheyennes commenced a general
war along the Smoky Hill and Arkansas roads, at-
tacking every party unprepared for this sudden out-
break, and therefore unprovided fully with the means
of defence. In August and September 79 persons
were Murdered. Denver was surrounded by hostile
Indians, who occupied the country to within 12
miles of the city, and in one day killed nine whites.
A train was attacked and captured at Pawnee Fork,
and 16 men slain, scalped, and burned. Another
was captured at Cimarron Crossing, the drivers
escaping after a severe fight on some of the cattle,
and similar attacks were reported almost daily. Un-
til winter set in the Indians had the best of it, as all
will readily believe who know anything of military
matters, for they then offered no objective points,
while the settlers had trains and teams to guard,
farms and villages, flocks and herds. The warriors
therefore at first had rather a fine time, and doubt-
less greatly enjoyed the licence of rapine and mur-
der, while they rested in the fancied security which
their profound ignorance of their enemy gave.
Winter drew on, and snow began to cover the
plains; the reports weeks back announced it to
be two or three feet deep, and before that white
mantle, the Indians withdrew to their villages,
where, whatever supplies the squaws had provided,
were stored. It did not occur to them that this
was the time for which SHERIDAN was preparing,
as it enabled him exactly to turn the tables on
them, for they then gave what civilized war
demands, points of attack, when left them the alter-
native to fight for their supplies or starve. Hence
the late actions reported, and the terrible punish-
ment which has overtaken the wretched Indians.
The war will probably teach them how powerless
they in truth are to stand in the way of a United
States object, and doubtless their crippled tribes
next Bummer will be grouped on the reserves al-

lotted to them by Congress, where they will be fed,
while learning how to cultivate the earth and to
rear tame stock. Finding all war outside the re-
serve—not war bythem against the scattered settlers,
but against their own villages, which wonderftilly
changes the aspect, whether they view it with horror
or as a pastime—and all peace within, the tendency
will, it is thought, be towards those reserves as the
only means of escape from utter annihilation.
General SHERIDAN fears that the Indians will even-
tually fall on the hands of the Government, a
mere mass of helpless paupers. He states, that at its
Chicago session the Peace Commission was forced
to the conclusion that the management of Indian
affairs should be transferred to the War Depart-
ment, as the only one enabled to use force
promptly, and to act with sufficient vigour to give
hopes that the plans and purposes of the Com-
mission will be carried out. The Indians and the
settlers cannot occupy this country together, which
differs from lowa and Missouri, being only fit for
grazing, and not susceptible as they are of close
settlement. Therefore the scattered whites will
always offer tempting opportunities of attack to
starving Indians, who, when hungry, will not be
restrained by any consideration front stealing
flocks and murdering if necessary. In such case
Indian wars would never cease ; hence the neces-
sity of the removal of the tribes. General SHER-
MAN has fully proves his case, and we doubt not that
the Government will act on his recommendations.
—Anglo-American Times.

RUSSIAN OPPOSITION TO UNCLE SAM•

A book now exciting much interest maintains
that the Union Pacific Railway will not prove the
true route to Europe for the more valuable articles
of Chinese commerce, asserting that they would go
by rail direct through Central Asia. This opinion
of one who has travelled to San Francisco, and
afterwards made a tour through Asia, seems to have
been arrived at also by the Emperor of RUSSIA, as
he has sent two civil engineers to examine the ope-
rations of the Union Pacific and other great rail-
ways in the United States, in contemplation of lay-
ing down an iron road from China across Asia to
Moscow. The EMPEROR evidently fears the trans-
fer East instead of West of this trade. Against the
long sea route open to the world there was no use
contending, but the case differs widely as against
the United States, who desire to form an especial
route, which will divert trade from Russian chan-
nels, and once established would act injuriously on
the future Russia hopes and expects. Americana
have always supposed they could never come into
contact with the colossus of the East, but they may
find themselves in Japan and China face to face
with the Moscovite, and here is the first sign of the
great opposition. It matters little to Western
Europe who the carriers are, beyond the fact that,
if limited to one line, the English would infinitely
prefer the road to be in the hands of their kindred.
The policy of an EMPEROR must be uncertain, for if it
does not change in himself it changes with himself,
involving the double insecurity of personal instability
of character, and instability of tenure ; whereas a
Democratic Republic may be relied on not to run
counter to the interests of the mass, and therefore
not to permit the interruption of the road for 01
purpose short of some great national object. The
security then is with the Republic as against the
EMPEROR, and on purely selfish grounds England
should desire the firm establishment of the lin°
through the States. The point favourable to the
EMPEROR'S road is the non-shipment of goods
If the line reached a central point iu China silk
and tea would be hurried to Europe without break-
ing bulk, whereas by the other way they would hale
to be shipped at a China seaport, transferred to ran
at San Francisco, and reshipped at New York. This
is the disadvantage, but the Asiatic road has yet
to be built! and there is some curious country,
between Peking and Moscow. Before the first sou
is turned of the Moscovite line, the American
channel will have worn off obstructions to the
smooth flow of the traffic, and every one knows
how persistently produce will follow the accus-
tomed course unless diverted by overwhelming
advantages. We do not think, therefore, that the
EmeEnon will be able to pull up lee-way, and
the fact of the Union Pacific line being already in
operation will tell heavily against him in the
money market, when funds are asked for to
carry out the scheme, so we doubt if it will assure°
another form than that of a paper project during tb°
existence of the present generation. The fi.3.1"
rEnoit's agents are to spend a couple of winter
months in New England, to learn how railway
tracks are there kept clear of snow, and they may
learn enough to show that a railway through Cen-
tral Asia, where the cold is more severe and en'.
during than in any part of. the United States, is f°c
the present at least, impracticable. It is amusing
to see Russia going to the United Stites to learn
how she may be best able to run an oppositi°:
against Uncle SAM, but JONATHAN is SO lvippl
the conceit that he can beat creation that he receive
her emissaries hospitably, and furnishes all the
formation asked.—Anglo- American Times.

An American Philological Society is nov7 the
course of formation by the professors of languages of t
different colleges of the country. Letters from enlizies
linguists approving of the movement have been recei`le,i
and a convention of literary men has been called to rnteil,
next summer. An organized society, having in view.
interests of philology, already exists, and it is anticiP4iS
that a combination of the two societies would res'l be
giving afresh impetus to the study and comparison 0, "
different languages in use throughout the world. te t
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Births. dor
BOODLE—On the 12th inst., at Mayfield,labl° ofcommon, the wife of Henry Trelawuey Boodle, BSci"
a daughter.
t 13'16'
WYATT—On the 10th inst., at 4, Torrington-stree'
sell-square, the wife of Thomas Henry Wyatt,
of a son.

Marriages. tbOli?
GEAILY —PALMER—On the 3d inst., at St. Mary's Co
Church, Chelsea Xaverius, second son of the 19'1 job-
Henry Geary, IL., to Martha eldest daughter
W. Palmer, Esq., J.P., of Hanham, Gloucestershltseuror
MERRICK —JOHNSTONE—On the Bth inst., atWestottiy
Mare, Major T. C. Merrick, Bengal S.C., to Enrusioll°
youngest daughter of the late Spearman Jon
Esq., of Dringliouses, Yorkshire.
Deaths. lar°

I3AILLIE —On the eth mat., at Hastings, Ja OS
Baillie, Esq., late of the 78th Highlanders. Coed
'
PETRE—On the 11th inst., at Oscott, Birmingb3l'll' CO'
Francis, second son of the Hon. Arthur and L3'l
therino Petro. d'vl'l,ll'
Ph
Pmurs On the Bth inst., at Hollow Combo, SS on of -
suddenly, Henry Wyndham Phillips, second 5011
Phillips, Esq., RA., aged 48. I.‘
• Ai 0'
MANSELL—On the 12th inst , at Upper Norwooo7 --
ward Mansell, aged 69.
_------

•
London : Printed and Piblished by WELLIAN ,Dloo "'
,/
of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tan SUN 010,
Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the CI
Middlesex.—Monday, December 14, 1868.