Arizona miner. [volume] (Fort Whipple, Ariz.) 1864-1868, 1867-06-15
GENERAL GREGG's POLICY.


his superior officer We also hear unoffi-
ciaiiy, that Gen Mcdowell has disapproved
the orders Of Gen. Gregg declaring all lndi-
ans found OF Of reservations as hostile, or to
speak wcre correctly, that he has directed
that the vrders shall be so modified rs to as
SUING that the Indians west Of US mean pace,
unless detected in open hostility tribes.
We sincerely hope that this is not the case
and that the officer who has accomplished
swsre here, within the same time, than any of
bis predecessors, whose policy indicates
clear comprehension sf the Indian question,
and who is emphaticsIly the right man in the
right place, Is not TO be hndered OF weak
ened in his well iHaugurated movements.
As we understand Gen. Gregg's policy, from
conversations with that officer it is not one
OF determination, but Of underwriting pur-
suit Of the Indians, believed to be hostile,
until they are literally forced TO sue for peace,
aud TO accept such terms as may be offered
them. The original orders of Gen. Mellow
ell as Published in the MINER, certainly sug-
gcsted the most active and harras.ing move
ments upon the saysges, and the good effects
Of General Grcggs energetic and constant
occupation Of the field have already been
made apparent, and are highly satisfactory
TO the people.
One OF the orders, Of the Department com
mander, IL we remember, was to keep the La
Paz and Mohave roads open, and If Gen. Gregg
was Of the opinion, as we have long been, that
most Of the depredations upon those roads
were committedby Indians from the Colorado,
or those in the habit of taking refuge there. he
could not do less than consider them hostile,
and threaten them with punishment if caught
away from the river. lie could not hold in
dividuals responsible, but must look to the
tribes This Is the only way, and if tribe
has no intention to shield its culprits, it will
surrender them, but we do not hear Of an in
stance in which this has been done. 1t is no
torious that all the tribes TO the west of US,
pronounced hostile by Gen. Gregg, are so in
the full meaning Of the term, and were so
when he reached here. He has not, that we
can discover, and ours is certainly as good a
stand point as San Francisco, made war upon
any friendly tribes, nor waged war with
undue severity. Mercy is wasted upon saw
age, and hah way measures are Of no avail.
Tire mnst severe steps must ever prove the
most effective, ard IL Gen. Gregg could have
his whole regiment here, instead Of three com
panies, and be permitted to pursue the policy
he has laid out, for say two years, we are
confident be would rid the country of the in
fernaI red skins, and save the government all
expense in the future. His trouble is in hav-
ing to protect district as large as the State
81 New York, and to fight great numbers of
Indians with mere handful Of men. While
he is giving pursuit in one direction the saw
ages are active in another. We were inno-
cent enough 20 suppose that the brilliant
fights at Black mountains, and the unusual
energy Of the small command Of the Gener-
al, would be received at Department head
quarters with great favor, but if the Ala re
port Is true, the contrary is the case; instead
of encouragement he has met discouragemen
IL not positive disapproval. We fear SOM
"a one totally ignorant Of our Indian trouble
or interested more for himself than for tn
Territory, has been telling stories at hea
quarters, and exciting undue sympathy 70
tribes against whom Gen. Gregg has been :
successfully operating. The part taken b
these tribes In all the recent disturbance
upon the Mohave road, and particularly a
williams Fork and in the Beale Spring ighi
ought to prove conclusiyely that they ar
active, determined and uni ed in their no:
siIity. II is absurd TO say that they inca
peace, when they are unceasipg in their der
redstions, and every week adds to the cat,
iogue Of their robberies and murders. At ii
geale Spring fight some two hundred wei
preseat, and ON his scout TO Peacock Sprin
fieat. Stephenson was attacked by an equa
" Iasge number. IL is useless to talk Of a
acking the Apache country east Of thi
while the roads to the Colorado are uRsaf
and the depredations are mainly committe
~ the tribes whom General Gregg has
wisely attacked. They are those with whic
we have first TO do, and the only security f
the people is in holding to q rigid accoui
every nsomber Of those tribes away from Il
river. IL may be alleged that the COVER
ment has not yet completed its reseryatiS
arrangements, but this is no reason why Il
sayages should roam in this part of the TIE
ritory. The lands ON the river are free
them, and il they so desire, they can susta
themselves there without difficulty. 1t is
pretty sure sign when they leave the rive
with ss without passes that it is TO hunt
smaller game than mules, horses, trains ar
white citizens. OF course, II stock is readi
given up TO them they will not, in all case
demand human life, but they are ever pr
pared to take il il necessary to the success
their plundering schemes
General Gregg is on the right track, an
all the people know it, and appreciate hi