Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-12-04
GEN. GRANTS ANNUAL REPORT
WASHINGTON, November 20.


WASHINGTON. November 90
The following is the report in full o
the General of the Army for the preseu
year:
"HEApouAnrEns AMY OF THE U. s., !
"WAsnISaroN, d. o., Nov, 1868. /
"76 Gen. y. N. iSehefeld, Ssersfayy Of War
"SIR: / hlvsthe honor TO submit III,
report Of Division. District and Depart.
ment Commanders for the past year
These reports give full account OF the
operations aud services of the army fol
the year. refer TO them for details.
III would earnestly renew my recon.
mendatiou of last year. that the control
OF the Indians be transferred to the War
Department. call special attention to the
recommendation Of Gen. sherman on this
subject. Il has my earnest approval. II
is unnecessary that the argument in favor
of the transfer should be restated; the ne.
cessi,y for itbccomes stronger and more
evident every day.
awhile the Indian war continues, do
not deem any general legislation for the
reduction Of the army advisable. The
troops on the Plains are all needed,
troops are still needed in the South
ern States, aud further reduction can
DO made in the way already used and
now iu operation whore Il is safe; namely,
by allowing rompanies to diminish by d.
discharges without being strengthened
by recruits. or BY stopping appoint
ments ct Second Lieutenants. IL II
should DO deemed advisable, the Veto.
ran Reserve Regiment might be discon.
tinucd by absorption aud retirement ofthe
officers, and the discharge Of the men,
without detriment to the service. ssi.t b
"Vsry respectfully, your obedient servant,
[signed] ~. 8. GRANT. General"
Gen, Grants Opinion.
In connection with the re ,om mendstion
Of Generals Grant sherman and Sheridan
Cor the transfer Of the Indian Bureau 10
the War Department, IL may properly be
mentioned that General Grant, Ia private
conversation, expresses himself very
strongly on the subject. He says that, 10
bis opinion, We shall have ne permanent
peace OF security on the Plains ill this
transfer IL made. lie regards the whole
syltem Of furnishing supplies to Indians
as vicious, and needing reformation from
the bottom. The Indians are ostensibiy
supplied with scores OF things for which
they have no use whatever, aud are swim.
died both In quantity aud quality even OF
these goods. Guns aud ammunition arc
constantly sold to them, In violation Of
Law, by agents or their associates. Agents
generally care moro for making money
than for anything else. There Is no way
for Furnishing them through the courts;
there is not aud cannot DO under the pres-
ent system any security 10 the government
for the appropriation made 10 behalf Of
the Indians. The General says II tho
Bureau we're transferred, Indian supplies
would then belfurnished, and tho whole
work could be done at from one-quarter
to one-half ofits present cost. The army
now gels all the kicks and cuffs on &C
count Of the Indian troubles, aud can have
no voice In Indian management. He
thinks ihe Indians should bo put on res.
ssvAtien -pesceRbly if possible, foreibly
If necessary, and then induced or com
PEELED TO bekavo themselves, aud that il
would not be worry difficult TO make them
do so II the present system of agents and
traders was broken. up. Such a course he
holds would be q measure Of economy for
the government and conduce to The com
fort and we'll being, not only Of the set.
tiers, but Of the Indians themselves, and
in the end would promote the happiness
Of tho indians aud the progress Of civil.
zation.