The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-01
lcoMMuNIcArKD.l
MILITARY POSTS IN NEW MEXICO.
ALBUoUERoUE, (New Mexico
Nova,,nla,- OK Ie6l

the signature of eeo after speaking good deal about
frontier protection the writer OF that letter winds up by
trying to dsparage the Big imbers the Arkansas as
locality for military post, and by euogzing Pawnee
Fork. know not what motive he has for doing So or
whether he has any motive at all He says after closing
his remarks in recommendation of Pawnee Fork 'The
Big IDbrs, on The ARKANSAS, has also been suggested
bic point jer the establishment Of nsi 1ry staca Jm think
us Qpioa Is not founded upon any tey accurate knorei3s Of
localities aalghtned the rants Of The public" He
says, heweyer, in continuation, that it is pey ae there
many Of tie requyem.as al he Big Tpes for The erection
and nalasaance OF military post and u Ae protection Of he
road oee not the Object q as establishment tcoad doubtless be
a Uery suitable point do not pretend TO say that the
Big Tinbers is the best locality that could be found
for the establishment OF military post IL the mere pro-
lection or guarding the road leading from independence
to Santa Fe were the sole object take it for granted
however that that, although important object is but
among many others that the object ia establishing
military posts the plains is to subdue the Indians and
teach and compel them to behave themselves when out
of sight of military posts to hem them in circum-
scribe their range and occupy their country with troops
as to bring them under the absolute control of the govern
ment. military post on road for the purpose
oil guarding the road will protect with absolute certain
| ty nothing than the ground which the post
stands and within the range of its guns. take it for
granted that the prime object of locating military posts
among the Indians is to produce moral effect upon
them and to serve in accordance with the spirit and in
tent OF the act of Congress regulating The trade and inter
course ap The Indian tribes military police ar the
direction Of the President and hence they should be judi
cously located and sufficiently numerous and strong at
all times promptly to pursue the Indians to all their
places Of retreat, enforce the laws criminals
either white or red, and to castigate them in the
enforcement of the laws when necessary.
The security of this road that road or the other
road should be the effect of general protection resulting
from the enforcement OF the 'atercourse over all the
Indian tribes, and for this purpose there is doubt
but that post at Pawnee Fork at the crossing of the
Arkansas, the Cnaron, is very desirable, and
would be very efficient of system of forts The
writer of the letter referred to reprobates what he calls
the dpisi system and wants the troops concentrated
| and thrown in Overwhelming ma he
That would be very well if they could find the In
dams in thus to be overwhelmed Unfortunately
Indians "don't up in that way nowadays. They
commit their depredations in small bands Of from one To
100 and If pressed scatter to the four Winds to unite
at some far distant point previously agreed upon Now
TO regiment large body Of troops in hot pur
suit after Indian would certainly very mill
tary The anassng OF troops belongs another system
OF warfare We get these ideas from reading of the
plots of Napoleon in which he kept his forces massed
and threw them detached portions of the allies lin de-
tall who could not dispense readily the Indian
and get out OF his way The circumstances remar1a
bly, different Now it is fact notorious to all who
know anything of Indians that there is nothing they SO
much dread rs the establishment of military posts in their
country. 1t occupies their country; opens roads dis
covers and breaks up their retreats and hiding places
fills all the intermediate spaces with armed engaged
in transportation and suppi the posts and with peo
pie soldiers citizens escorts &c. always these roads
and in the Indians midst, and thus gradually familiar
lies them with civilized life and if officers of the army
and agents do their duty gradually away the dead
Moreover, their ruling be made dependent
on military posts for vors, presents aud, in fine for sub
sistence. They will acquire desires and wants
that they only get by behaving themselves Then
sir, approve most heartily of your correspondent pro-
posed fort Pawnee Fork. 1t is not only very desir
BILE, but very necessary and then by locating another
on the South Fork of the Platte in the newly dis
covered gold region another on the upper Arkansas mt
or near the Big Iimbels and another the Canadian
we viii have complete line of posts occupying all
the retreats of the Indians, extending right down
through the very heart of their country and the buffalo
range at convenient distances from Fort Laramie clear
down to the frontier posts of Texas, near Red
riyera easily supplied from the head of navigation on
the Missouri the Kansas the Arkansas and the Red rv
ers. The Indians will then have retreat Ii
they depredate Texas and try to retreat they will
either fall back the frontier posts OF New Mexico
Fort Davis Fort Stanton, and Fort Union or on this
line of posts extending through the heart of their whole
country and could be out of reach of some fort
This would also destroy the buffalo, and make them de-
pendent and reduce the Indians to the submissive
terms Do not weep over the annhilaon of g the
bic animal OF the plains His place would promptly be
supplied with more herds OF domestic animals
of better and more prolific This system of posts
will require no increase of the army the introduction
Of any more troops into Texas and New Mexico lie
would be the addition of -four posts only all of which
might now be supplied by the abandonment Of posts in
New Mexico, regarded as having become uscessto say
nothing about posts in Kansas and Texas perhaps equally
useless where they In case Of emergency vol
unteers, mt short notice Of most effective character
could be thrown into the heart of the Indian country
from Texas New Mexico, and Kansas, already supplied
with subsistence at these various p)ss and crush the In
dams at blow All this he done in easily as
ten years Now this Is my opinion and that Of good
many others and, If you think il worthy Of considera
ton, you will please publish this communication
Colonel Bonneville, understand is about adopting
similar policy In regard to the NavaOs that s, he in
tends putting some additional posts in their country de-
fr ing their boundary, and combining them to It, And
il he carries out his plans as have doubt he will he
will establish perpetual peace with the Navajos and
subject them most efectnay to the intercourse act
In regard TO the Big Timbers a suitable locality for
n military post, will refer to the reports of Colonel
Fremont, Colonel Emory, Lieutenant Abert--and more
especially TO the reports of Captain Gunnison and his
co-iaboTcg IT, Brewith-and The recent report of Mai
Bacchus in the last two of which reports Che Big Tim
beers are highly recommended as suitable locality for
military post not only because of the conveniences but
more especially point commanding the Indian tribes
luis post well that of Pawnce Fork protects an
important road and far that single object is CON
cerred is quite important Pawnee Fork IL is ON
the road by Bents Fort and the Raou Mountain over
which large portion of the freight trains pass to Fort
Union, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe ALSO on the road
to Fort Garland extending up the Hurfano through the
Saugu de Cisto pass and thence on TO Salt Lake and the
Pacific the main eingrant road to Fixes Peak, and
the gold regions tho South Platte The Importance of
the other posts have suggested will be readily under
stood without comment,
Now sir, when any man undertakes to doubt whether
the eliogs lqhoua any matter which they undertake
20 report of SUCH men rs Fremont Emory Albert, Gun
nson Brewith, and Major Bacchus fare founded upon
agg rcfy accurate hooige Of tocaite enlightened viecs as
He eaqis Of ne pubic, 4 use the writer's language we
may well doubt his aagaoty as to localities aud
the wants Of the public Respectfully