Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-05-25
IN NEVADA.

Il
.v;dsn, that the writer in the ReUsils
doe, not altogether understand where the
real responsibility for deficient defensive
.rd retTibu,ive action rests, and should be
announced as resting. Says the Rsueius
When, therefore, the Indian commits MUIR
der and robbery, there is NO excuse for it,
and il is only done in obedience to his ruling
instincts which ever prompt him to crime.
They know no gratitude, regard no honor,
possess not one particle Of mercy, and obey
no law but fear. When they have arisen, as
they have in this State, committing murder,
robbery and arson, without solitary cause
other than their innate hendishness, justice
in every sense Of the word, demands their Sc
yerest punishment. Their punishment, and
the consequent protection Of the people from
their outrages, devolves on the United States
military forces now stationed in the State.
To furnish such protection they are most dis
gracefully and unnecessarily slow. With the
exception Of a cavalry force, under Captain
Wells, to whom be all the honor, none other
have made . move, although repeatedly call
ed upon. At this season Of the year farmers
desire to put in their crops, and miners to
open their claims or search for new ones.
incursions, entailing great loss upon the
community and ruin upon individuals. The
State is set back one year in its progress and
damaged in reputation. Instead Of this set
back, an impetus might have been given by 4
vigorous prosecution Of the war at the outset,
when the Indians were first making their
hostile demonstrations. For this delay and
injury, and many deaths, our military are
responsible. They have shown themselves
unworthy the name Of soldier, and unless
their future conduct redeemS their past, will
call upon them the universal denuneiAtions
Of the people.
We think there can be no disagreement
as to the truth Of the description Of Indian
character quoted above. And we concede
that the present, immediate conduct OF
military affairs in Nevada is disgrace-
fully and unnecessarily slow" But who
is to blamei That is the question. Ne
vada is now a separate or sub-Distriet
under General wright's command, and Is
in charge Of an officer stationed at Fort
Churchill. What has been done BY Cspt.
Wells, to whom due honor is accorded,
has been under direction from headquar-
tiers, and is to be proporuonately credited
to the General commanding, so far as it
amounts to anything. The actual want
and principal cause of insufficient military
protection Is to be found in inadequate
numerical force. Nevada has between
nine hundred and ore thousand soldiers
in seryice-six companies of cavalry and
three (nearly four) of infantry. OF the
cavalry, four companies are in Utah-at
Camp Douglas and Fort Bridger, with
the Lieutenant Colonel and Major of the
cavalry battalion stationed and command
ing there, respectively. Two companies
of cavalry are in our boundaries,-one
under Capt. Wells, in Paradise Valley,
and one at Camp Nye, under Capt. Paine.
With Capt. Wells is also one of the in
fantry companies - Captain Wallace's.
Captain Kelly's infantry company is at
Owens river; one infantry company is at
Fort Ruby, with its Captain commanding
the Post and Capt. Warmers infantry
company--nearly full--is at Fort Churchill.
1t should be mentioned that detachment
of Capt. Calder's cavalry company, under
charge of Lieutenant Edwards, is stationed
at the Provost Guard quarters, in Viz
ginia. 1t therefore appears that the troops
Of Nevada, raised under great difficulties,
are scattered widely; and certainly none
appear to be in useless place. The infantry
have no field officers. The command Of
this district is under California officer,
while not a California soldier is IN the
State. That the force is too small by one
half, will be readily perceived. And the
reason of its numerical feebleness is the
uniustifable action of the military au-
thorities at the head of this department
in stopping recruiting one year ago. Even
if our soldiers were by company able to
cope with any one of the bands of hostile
Indians engaged in making depredations,
they cannot be omnipresent nor ubiqui-
tous, and this they would have to be, if
with present strength they did furnish
"prompt protection" The fact Is. one OF
our own field officers-Liuet. Col. George
would be the man-should be placed In
command of this sub-distriet; she should
be furnished with double the force now
here. There are no better soldiers on any
field than our own States volunteers.
With twice their roll and an active, ener-
getic district commander, punishment for,
and peace from the savage, would be i'm
mediately secured. The Rsusib is right
in complaining, and we hope the remedy
will be had at once.