The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-11-21
M. GUTMAN 6 co.'s.
Report of General sherman on Affairs
in tlae military Division of the Nils

has Just been received of the War De
partment, together with those OF "on
erals Sheridan, Augur and Terry
General Sherman says that tnese 10
norris show that while the country gen-
eralIv has been at peace, the people Oh
the nlains and the troops OF MS com
mand have been constantly at war. He
go he has studied to find some lasting
oSr, for this war, but thus far with
'. onccess. Our people will settle on
~ frontiers. and travel without pre-
SnU and run after wild reports Of
Id discoveries, and thus come IN con-
tact with hostile savages. Surveys OF
nnblic lands continue to be extended,
and patents granted occupants to build
railroads and establish mail rontes, as
though all was peaceful.
Over all these matters the military
authorities have no control, yet they
are called upon for protection, and
subjected to all the kicks and cuffs,
without the privilege of advising or
being consulted. So long as these
things continue the military forces on
the frontier cannot be reduced. He
had been directed by the President to
subordinate the acts of all the troops to
whatever plan of action the late Peace
Commission might adopt. This Com
mission unanimously agreed that all
the Indians East of the Rocky Noun
tains Should, as soon as possible, he
collected on q reservation as far as pos
sible from white settlement and lines
of travel, and be maintained by the
United States till they can provide for
themselves.
Other provisions were made, all of
which were wise and judicious. Coun-
ellis had been held by the Peace Com
missioners with all or nearly all the
tribes. Formal written treaties were
I made and were nearly all confirmed by
the Senate, but for some reason Con-
gress did not take action on the chief
4 proposition of the Commission, which
related to setting apart the reserva-
lions and providing for the Indians. The
people had said that this was the cause
of the failure in securing u lasting
peace. 1t is always difficult to learn
the cause of war on the part of the In
dams, as they never give notice before
hand Of hostile intentions. The Cen
eral gives, as near as he can learn, the
reason for the war in General Sheri-
dams Department, and says the Indians
charged the Government with not keep
ing faith; that their game had been
driven away by building the Powder
River road and the Union Pacific rail-
road The Commissioners consulted
and recommended that the construction
of the former be discontinued. 1t was,
| however, August before the posts could
be with0rawu, and the Indians followed
up the parties having the stores in
rcharge and made raids upon them. They
thought the action of the Government
was inspired by fear, aud they so in
formed other tribes, urging them to
become hostile and they would drive
the troops ont of the other posts and
force the abandonment of the Smoky
Hill line, which was through the best
buffalo hunting grounds in America.
The General then procecdes TO recite
in detail the hostilities of the Indians,
which have already been published, to
show that the Government agents gave
them only the kindeSt treatment, with
one exception, that of the agent ut
Leavenworth. The soldiers, knowing
that au Indian war was all work and no
glory, submitted to many indignities,
lulu buC ClSO
would secure the withdrawal of the In
dams. General Sheridan found, on in
vestigation, that attacks on the settlers
| of the Saline, SUlUmun and Republican
l rivers, were without rrovocation; yet
= he delayed striking their camps until he
( had demanded the actual perpetrators
of The acts. This demand failed, as the
old chiefs could not give mp SO many of
| 81, lNnr than
commenced along the Smoky Hill and
Arkansas roads by the Indians attack
ing all the white people, who knew
nothing of the renewed hostilities. Gen
eral Sheridan, seeing that war with the
e CheyeuuCs was inevitable, endeavoreS
: to keep the ArapahOcs out oft, and in
council with them they agreed to keep
out OF the war ard 90 to tho reserva-.
ton. Instead, however, at the time
they agreed To move they were in the
war. The KiOwas and CamanChGs acted
in the same manner.
General Sherman gives dispatches
from territorial governors, setting forth
the hostile acts of these Indians. The
Governor of Kansas was especially res
tive under tho butCheries perpetrated
in that State and rendered volunteer
cavalry to General Sherman. General
Sheridan was doing all he possibly
could to afford protection, but with the
limited number of troops could not fol-
low the Indians to their remote retreats.
General Sherman asked General Grant
for moro cavalry and it was promptly
furnished and OH the 9th of October the
Secretary of War authorized the accept.
ance of one mounted regiment of Kan
sas volunteers for six months. General
Sheridan expects to get these in the
field in November, and also expects,
during the coming winter, to so punish
these hostile Indigus that they will not
again resort to war.
: General Sherman believes he will
: meet with all the success he expects
1t is idle for US longer TO attempt to
occupy the plains, In common with
these Indians, for the country is not
susceptible of close settlement, with
farms like Missouri and Iowa, and is
solely adapted to grazing. All of our
people there are necessarily scattered,
and have more or less cattle and horses,
which tempt the Indian, hungry, aud
he may be starving, for the want of his
accustomed game; and he will steal
| IdlucI Iltu Sl1I q, tuu W SJoai uc Will
not hesitate to kill; therefore, joint
occupation of that district of the coun-
try by these two classes eli people with
such opposing interests, is IA simple i'm
possibility, aud the Indians must yield
the Peace Commission has assigned
them reservation which, if held for
fifty years, will make their dependents
rich, and in the meantime they are
promised food whilst they are learning
to cultivate the earth and to rear tame
stock. 10 labor with their own hands,
or even To remain in one place, mill
tates with all the hereditary pride of
the Indian, and who must be used to
accomplish this result. 1t was for this
reason that the Peace Commission, at
IT'S Chicago session in October, after the
events before described had occurred
aud were known 10 them, was forced to
the conclusion that the management of
indian affairs should be transferred !
PACK To the War Department, where it
oeiohgeu prior to lS49
That Hapn,,,.