The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-04-25

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The INDIAN War-The Necessity OF the In
crease I'm the Asrmy.
NEW Y. RK, April %. 1855
TO TIE IDrToR OF THE HERALD.
/ The erroneous statements that have from time
time been put forth to the wosA', through t.
medium Of the press, upon the suti>es OF our ne
Territories, have II h believed, had the s 'ct 70 msss
the minds Of those VINO not in poatss to ascerta
the actual state Of things upon the frontierx-
! some OF these illusions have been rea1S3 me, IN
passed by with the silent contempt which thy nerec
but must acknowledge that have seen greatly acton
isaed to see articles Of similar character attn
from men who occupy elevated positions In political as
social e and whose opportunities for
selves upon these subjects have been such as to c
rresistiby to the conclusion that the
tons pezvading their statements the res of other
| motives than those of disseminating truth
Ny associstions such cause me- 10 avoS ;
eorespondence Of this nature and had hoped aud or
pscted that other person would have taken uo
this subject and placed 1t bsforo*te public IT'S tru
light. find, however, that on,seems dspcred 70 do
this, and therefore submit the following remasts.
In illustrations OF what Ihave stated It Is only few
days since letter made its appearances In onecf the
sna
Of among the Indian tribes o. the prses that
whatever difficulties have heretofore occurred
authorities; and thst the with tEsNew MsxiceIr-
dams WAS brought sbout BY the dreacfoi misconduct
as bis .uthory tie sta asn Il several
traders aA OF whom of ntereted in prevent
pssaS to s
hostes 1t Is their policy to endeavor cproduco tho
impression that the Indians frienily netwithsaud
ing they raay be continually committing atrocities.
Among these who know this class of rsUple, their
reputation for honesty and veracity is ak best very
9uestionasle andI am inclined to believe, therefore,
that the pubic will requiSe other evidence besides
theirs, to prove that tho government has tssh hum
AsI have myself passed great portion OF She timc
for twenty two years. upon the Western frontiers have
carefully studied their dispositions and habits perhaps
my exclusions my be entitled to much coasdera-
motives than those of communicating correct fnfor
nation.
which, according to the statement of the ndivdrai be-
fore alluded TO-, has existed only FIVE ysarsit fact
well understood by those who are at a. familiar with
formerly the most prosperous circumstances hsvng
numerous herds Of animals and living terms Of peace
and frene ship with thelndisns This state Of tkihgs
however, not destined continue, and they ct
length became involved in wars, IN which Indians
gained the ascendancy, and retained 1t up to the time
the country was taken possession OF by our govern
nent.
was told by an old inhs btant, in New Mexico that
ne remembered perfectly wcii, sone fifty years since
seeing the entire face Of the country upon that
plain called the Journad. del Melrta" literally alive
with immense herds of cattle and focks Of Sheep but
since then they have almost entirely dsappeared hav
ing been swept oil BY the requsnt inroads Of those
rathless freebootes, the Apaches and Navioes They
have levied tie contributions with mercess snd
spsrng hand, and indeed masters Of the country
The Mexicans then held them In the most slavish ana
abject ave- and often eneeavored to conciae them by
making treaties Of peace, but these invariably vo
lated fy the Indians who thus showed themselves sa
tirey cevoid OF honor or good faith
when GEN KeaIney arrived there The Insiaus wsrs
then hostile and have continued up to the present
mt.
Thev ara well rn,ei and roourtsd and ,ro urdophf
eddy among the very best warriors OF the natyss sn
continent They have 'requeutIy a our
Sragery " and many ef eag gallant officers and men hAvs
I. eonseauence Of the diminutive numerical strength
army and vast extent Of territory to be defended
i has teen impossible for our government TO place
force in that ountry sufficient for its protection The
army has been subjected to great pzivaons and toa
and has been Il eecmsted by these merciless
baybarsns. II rapidly beiBg annibiiaed In detail
for other than that It's made
quate to the services required.
The troops have sbdeavored TO overcome by their
or this very great disparity in numbers and have
formed deeds of which would haye immortaliEed
servrce instead OF receiving the justly mered
appreciation and grntituce of their countrymen, oar
political dsmasogaes Who havs the audscty to
assert that this has resalted from the dreadful
5 Of the officers. that there here Is I no necessity
War; instead of requiring the regiments for tbs
suppression Of Indian tiisiss designed them fcr eps
rating in Cuba
Any one who paid the attention to the course
Of the head Of the War Department. win peroevs
at ohce that such accusations evince either gross k
Of the subject under nsderation, dc-
tAted by spirit of vndctive animosity conceived the
prolific inag ginati Of dotage.
The Secretary Of War needs champion to rspsl suoh
absurd attacks His policy has always been entirely
ton Of our military estsbishment bas devoted smssif
more to the interests Of the country and hs
efficiency OF the service than he.
His motives for recommending increase Of the
have been clearly and fully set forth in his reports aad
ere deemed abundantly conclusivs by all candid ana
ded for the protection Of citizens upon the bord
and in the Territories, and regard this act OF
ments as one Of the wisess and most messurss
consummated by that body.
poor Indians a. an injured and persscutsd rsss Who
have never met with aay other treatment from ths
whites but that Of the most unjust character and that
In every instance they have been provoked to hogttog.
Undoubtedly there now, rs there always has bsea
where the whites the agpressors; but tAs
who makes the broad assertion that this 10 sways
the fact be regarded uncer the most charitable
aspect, as speaking upon subject that he knows no
The natives OF the prairies altogether different in
their dispositions and habits from the tribes that for
msIiy occupied the Eastern m States They perform NO
and their whole lives are passed in one continued
round Of marauding. They rob, take prisoners,
are unquestonabiy faithess and trsacherous
exists upon the face Of the earth and it is only
patby that mag have before imbibed from tbs
speeches and letters Of the hero of San Jasato or tbs
great btAtesman OF MASS sour
TO satisfy any that speak sdvsedly Il win only
te necessary for to advert to few accidents that
bave ccme within the scope Of my own observations and
knowledge.
Prest ent Of the United States one Of the net ysun9
men that ever bpeahed while crossing tine plains be-
tween New Mexico and Arkansas encountered party Of
and friendly manner, (there war with thsss
indians at that time, and he did not anticipate any
trouble with then but he was wossuiy deceived, fer
instead returning his cordial greeting, they seEed
him and most bruiaiy murdered ana scalped him,
Again, in the summer OF 1851, . party Of fourteen
perops men, and childrsa in crossing The prai
between Texas and New Mexico, st.acked By
tie Comanches, and all, with the exception ozone g-l
de srssly put TO DEATH The rl was subjected TO ths
most teasty and appalling treatment; tortured
with Goals Of are and repeatedly ravhed that vAsa
Afterwards saw her, abe much scared IN dis.
figured by the Sc baIbarties TIA, her friends caA