The New York herald., 1867-07-03
The Wnr ON the Plains.

Our Indian troubles appear to drag on in
the most unsatisfactory manner. Our special
correspondent, under date of June o. from
Republican Forks, gives us an interesting
letter, in which the principal feature appears
to be that the United States regular troops are
rapidly deserving. General Custer and party
have not been killed, as reported, although
IT They are obliged to pursue Indians after the
regular army style there is no doubt we shall
soon be obliged to register their death from
fatigue and exposure. Everything now indi-
Gates that the army is gathering material for
It's yearly report upon operations in the Indian
country. Indian campaigning, they call it.
We shall have to pay an immense amount of
cash for new literary work, the principal
items of which will be-"Licutcnant Bona
parte chased Spotted Tail three hundred miles
towards Walrussia. but his horse giving out no
captures were made excepting squaw and
three sick men, "a body of 'Apaches we're
repulsed by Captain Wellington, near Bosque
Redondo. with loss OF five killed on our side.
1t is thought that the Indian loss was heavy, rs
they left number of bows and arrows on the
field, as we'll as a few muskc.s sold to them by
our Indian agents" Thus we shall deplete the
Treasury for another stercotyped campaign.
BY our news this morning General Sherman
telegraphs to General Hancock that several of
the tribes are disposed to be supported by the
government while the others are whipped into
submission. Sherman thinks, too, that il is
necessary 10 make offensive instead of defensive
warfare against the redskins. We agree with
him entirely; but with all Difference to his
great military talent we think that his
first step in the organization OF bis cam
paign is very faulty. We allude to the
volunteers. who, from the different Territories,
are to bc incorporated into the regular forces
and subject to the routine and government of
the military commanders. We are certain that
the war would he finished in sixty days if the
matter were left entirely il the hands of the
Governors of the different Territories. They
would organize their acet-footed and hardy
frontiersmcn into the best Indian fighters, and
if a scalp or two were taken with the ears on,
il would be only a just retaliation upon the
cutthroats who do not hesitate to laugh AZ a
| Quaker policy they cannot appreciate. i
| Indians are not made to feel the effect OF ouI
blows il is better not TO deal them. If there is
no other way to NEE, prairie fire except with
| fire, then let us have fire. and have it quickly
but we want ii in the sturdy, active and IRE
sstible style in which our Territories can Civ,
II. not in the interminable and snail-like metho,
Of the regular army, which, if Indian scalp
with the ears on were two hundred ihousan,
dollars each, would not earn their salt by hunt
| ing for them We have no doubt that man,
cnterprising Yankees may be found all alon,
our frontiers who will take contract to keeI
the Indians quiet for the next generation a
one-tenth the price that the COVE rnment ex
pends in its futile attempts. 1t must be con
ceded. from all past experience, that it is i'm
possible to close our Indian war in the regular
army style, unless at enormous expense
Let IL be leI to the Governors Of Territoriei
and let General Sherman issue an order, IL th
jealousies OF the regular army will permit II
| giving every volunteer battalion rowing CON
mission to fight in Indian style. The Indian
will then be promptly subjected to obedienc'