The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-03-27
The Indian war Dispssitie. OF tie {
b. kosees.
by Telegraph 10 the Tribuns)

WASHINGTON, March Fl.
Lieut. Cen. Sherman has addressed let
ter 70 the headquarters Of the army. dated
| ST. Louis March IL, 1867. in which he says
all the troops in the Departments Of Dskota,
Platte, and Missouri, embracing the Indian
country, have been and are nov beng placed
in position 10 afford the bes, protection to
the telegraph and mail routes scrcss the
plains, as we'll rs to protect the four princi-
pal roads by which the emigrants travel, or
merchants send their goods destined 20 the
mountain territories. These troops will oo-
cupy posts ready built, but designed for de-
fepse by traction Of the garrison, while the
remainder can operate as scouts, or expedi-
tons between the posts. Commanding off
GERS of these posts or stations - i'll act against
ell people who violate the laws of Congress-
or who eiidanger the lives or property of our
people, be they white, black. or copper col
ored. When there are no courts or civil su
ihorites to hold or punish such malefsctors,
We m ust, he says, of necessity, use the mus
ket pretty freely, the only weapon With which
the soldies ought TO deal. Peaceful people,
whites, blacks, or Indians, viii be left TO be
dealt with BY the civil authorities and agents.
Gen. Hancock, in the Department Of the
Mississippi. has organized = special force Of
about ,5''0 men, with which be will proceed
in person 10 the country of the Chsyennes
and kiovsys, below the Arkansas, and will
there confer with them, TO ascertain If they
want 10 fight, in which case he viii iHduiee
them. H. however, they viii assure him that
they will remain at peace, subject 10 their
treaties ard agents, he will not disturb them,
but impress on them the imprudence Of as.
stunning al insolent manner and tone when
they visit our posts and be will impress on
them that 1t is to their interest to keep their
hunting parties and their yoveg wasriers olf
our main hnes> of travel, where their pres.
eRee eixes1he occasion for the many minors
which so disturb our people. After be has
done this be will distribute this force 40 a. to
be again easily assembled the occasion
calls for is
In like manner, Gen. Augar, in the De-
partment OF the Platte, has prepared force
of about 600 men, TO be sent under com
petent commander, Gen. Gibbon, 10 the re-
gion of country on the head Of Powder and
yellow Stone Rivers, to punish the bands of
hostile Sioux who have infested that road
for the past year. have killed many people.
and are al open war. No mercy should be
shown to these Indians, for they grant no
quarter nor ask for it. Gen. Ausur was in.
structed, if possible. by means OF runners, 10
notify oil Sioux who wished 70 avoid the fate
of their hostile fellows 10 come in to some
one Of ous military posts on the Platte,
where We would feed them temporarily and
turn them over 20 the care OF then proper
agents. But, inasmuch m Congress has late
ly provided for Commission 10 visit these
Indians, and as these Commissioners have
reached Omaha. the headquarters Of Geo.
Augur, Gen. Sherman has instructed him 10
delay hoehiities until these Commissioners
have exha s,ed their efforts and reported 10
him their inability to influence the conduct
of the hostile Sioax by pacific measures. In
reference - shese two expeditions Gen
Sherman sass defensive measures will not
answer sgI INST Indians. We are tied down
to long rot Is and our detaehments sre ne
cessarily g. VI, hardly enough to build shsl>
tiers and g,,her hre~ood, the materials for
which have be hsuled 200 and 400 miles,
while the lnaisus move hundreds and thou.
sands of N les, taking along With them their
ponies, loo es, wives and children. They
are thus enA Died at one time to attack or moles,
our roads al one point, and in month or so
make their appearance at another, hundreds
OF miles distant. Our troops must get among
them and kali enosgh of them to inspire fear,
and then must conduct the rem ainder to
places where Indian agents can and will re-
side among them, and be held responsible for
their condu Ct.