New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-11-21
GEN. SHERMAN'S REPORT.

ST, LOUIS, Mo-. Nov. !, 1868. !
Beret MqtOreGen E. d. TOWNSEND Assistant L. g. Wash
faOt0n, D. o.
GENERAL, The Military Division of the Mis-
Platte and Dakotah embracing subsiantaliy the coun
Try west Of the Mississippi River the Rocky Mountains
partments are commanded 10y Gems. Sheridan, Augur,
and Terry whose annual reports transmitted here
Wlth and TO them refer you for detailed state
mens OF the progress made and OF the events Of the past
mas Deen 81 peace, the people on the Plans ana the
Sr0ops OF my command have been constantly at war; en-
during all the dangers ana hRrdhps, with none OF lts
In former reports endeavored to describe the
ton Of things Plains and have since studied TO
nnd some lasting remedy but thus far without success
posed points Of the frontier travel without the precau
tiOn which welknOwn danger would suggest, and TO
run after every Wild report Of the discovery OF gold
other precious metal thus coming into daily cOntact with
discontinued and hostile indians The coordinate
departments OF Governments likewise con-
tnue TO extend the surveys OF public
ioCSto and build railroads to establish mail routes with
the necessary stations and relays OF horses as Though
danger Of occupation and transit had passed away over
troll yet their public nature implies public protection,
and daily and hourly called on for guards ana
escorts and left in the breach 10 catch all the KICKS
and cuffs Of OF races without the privilege Of ad-
vising or being constituted beforehand -
The reports Of Gems sheridan Augur and Terry CON
tain abundant evidence these points; and refer to
them here merely to demonstrate the fact that as long
ms these things continue from necessity and public policy,
cannot reduce our military forces on the frontier ana
should not even ALLOW e sd 70 br sSon MD
Keep the ranks continually repenshed with fresh re-
cruits At the time OF my last annual report, oct l,
1901 / was a member OF the Peace Commission. on
which the Congress Of the United States had devOlved
the whole Indian question for practical and II pos
Bble peaceful solution At the same time, by an Execu-
tive order IL made my military duty TO subordinate
the acts Of oil the troops subject to my command to what
plan OF action the Peace Commission might adopt
The Peace Comssion IN It's annual report last Decem-
per 70 the president OF the United States bears full est
oy On the point TO the effect that all the officers OF the
sH t aSu eheerfny eOoperated wlth them IN their
EFFORTS 10 prlbR this difficult business TO peaceful
cuslOn need not here refer to the deliberations and
hOts VI commission further than 70 state that
It's memOeIs were unanimous in the conclusion
east Of the Rocky heuuasa peace sb %9 the Indians ans
earliest possible moment be collected reservations as
lines OF travel and that they should be
or partially provide for themseSes The two Dr mcE
reservations indicated by the Commission were north of
l9S south Of the state Of KSa al ' %es % ks
These districts the only parts Of vast national
SSpropraed The Commission fSfthe no' reSo
mended that for each Of these, reservations sort
Of government should be provided by law, looking
20 time in future when all the Indians would be
61SS to the sE w as M hsseG
OF facts and its wisdom has been demonstrated by
more recent Of national justice dictates
that in taking from these savages the lands whose wild
games has hitherto fed clothed and sheltered tbem
make them compensation OF sort for the remain
DER and II possible procure their consent.
SO Simmer ~ sss held councils with ali or nearly al
the tribes aud parts Of tribes east OF the Rocky Noun
tsins making liberal provisions for oil the appointed
places Of council according to the forms aud ceremonies
70 which they long accustomed. Formal written
All the formally and transmitted 10 the senate Of the
United States for ratification. The treaties with
the CheyenDes ArrapahOes Kiowas, Comanches,
shoss With the various bands Of Soul Snakes &c. were
not confirmed simply, 1t is inferred. because they
reason the Congress did take any action the chief
proposition OF the Peace Commission, which was en-
braCed IN their report OF last Overwhelmingly that
which related the setting apart OF the
tiOns hereinbefOre referred TO- aud providing govern
ments therefor which was designed to precede the con
hrmaton Of any Of the treaties and was the only vital
principle OF them all felt compelled 70 refer to this
faot because many persons attribute TO II the rea,
son why we failed 10 secure a lasting peace and
why are at this moment engaged IN costly with
four Of the principal tribes with which had to deal viz
the Cleyennes, ArrapahOes. hOWas, and Communicable
concerning Of rupture with the Indians They
never give notice beforehand OF waTke Intention and
done much bloody work All intercourse then Decessar
ceases and the original cause soon becomes buried
dams department is no exception and rs near as can
Last year in the several held North Platte
and Fort Laramie by the Peace Commission with frag
entary bands Of the Sioux the Indians asserted that
they then and had been always anxious TO live at
peace with their white neghbors provided VIC kept faith
with them They claimed that the building OF the Pow
der River Road and the establishment OF military posts
along IT, drove sTa the game from t9e o1
and Nebraska that this road had been butt IN the face
which guaranteed them that country forever That
road and the military posts along IT had been con,
Montana but had almost ceased 10 be OF any practical
them by Of the building OF the Union Pacific
N easier Tor the wagons travel by older and better
road west OF the montana For tins reason and De,
Of the further extension OF the railroad under fa
progress would each year make the Powder River road
used the Commission yielded 70 the earnest
entreaty Of the Sioux and recommended the abandon
ent for the time Of tins road on the second Gay OF at
March Cen Grant the necessary orders Tor breaking
up the posts OF Forts Reno. Phillip Kearny, aud G. r.
snifb but II was well towards August before
the and material could all DC hauled away AS We
had reason 10 apprehend OF the Sioux, atfDunR
action TO fear followed up our WthdraWal Dy ialas
20 the line OF the Pacific road and 20 the south OF u into
Colorado Others doubtless reached the camps OF
che Arspahoes Pawnee Pork; near Fort Larned ana
IOld what had occurred and made them DeueFe ny
don the Smoky H line, which passes through the very
heart OF the buffalo region the best hunting GROUNDS OF
America About TINS tme VIZ aug OK - par I'D ID
% Sioux are known 10 have started from their camp on
PsvDee Fork on war expedition nomlaany 70 nsns o
Pawnees. On the 10Th they appeared on tne Sane no
Of Fort HaTker, where the settlers received them ED1
They food and coffee but pretending 70 oe Of
Tended because 1t was IN TIN cups they threw ~ ~
tho faces OF the women and began az once 10 DeAA UP
furniture and set fire 10 the houses They seized t1e T9
men and rayshed them, perpetratihg htIycios m i
could only have been the result OF premedthteu cIo
Hero they killed two men, thence they crossed over =,
the settlements on the 6OomoD, where they "
destroy the houses and property 70 raYlsh az Iem@Ss'
and hlled - men. Gong 70 10, d ,he n
other similar brutal atrOclty AZ soon as inte
Of this could DO carried 70 Fort Harker troops were
rescung captive children, and Killing put Few IN
ciAns By VI their fast PONIES and familiarity Win
recits these facts with precision because they
are proven beyond dispute. and up 10 the very moment
OF their departure FROM Pawnee Fork no Indian alleges
any but the kndest treatment the part OF the agents
OF he General Government OF cur soldlers OF on to
frontier people. with exception agent
tbs soldiers, not only from natural aversion
70 AZ Indian war which is all work and no glory buNun
OF insults and proVocation IN hopes that very soon the
Peace Commission would eliminate IN the an
and settlements, and thereby end all further trouble