The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-11-21
WASHINGTON.
WAsHINaroN, Nov. %.

from command of the receiving ship
1ndependence at Ware Island Navy
Yard California, and Commander Paul
Shirley is ordered to relieve him.
General Sherman's report OF affairs
in the Military Division of the Missouri
has Just been received at the War De
partment, together with those of Gen
erals Sheridan Augur and. Terry.
General Sherman says that these re-
ports show that, while the country
generally has been at peace, the people
on the Plains and the troops of his
command have been constantly at war.
He says he had studied TO hnd some
lasting remedy for this war, but thus
far without success. Our people will
settle on the frontiers and trayel with
out precnution, and run after wild re-
ports of gold discoveries. and thus
come an contact with hostile savages.
SURVEYS of public lands continue to be
extended, and patents granted occu-
pants to build railroads and establish
mail routes as though all was peaceful.
Over all these matters the military
authorities have no control, yet they Al g
called upon for protection, and subject
edto all the kicks and cuffs without the
privilege of addressing or being con-
suited. So long as these things con-
tinues the military forces on the from
tisr cannot be reduced. He had b cen
directed by the President to subordi.
nate the acts of all the troops to what
ever plan of action the late
Peaee Convention might adopt.
This Convention unanimously agreed
that all the Indians east of
the Rocky Mountains should, as soon
possibIe, be collected on reservation
as far as possible from the white settle
ments and lines of travel, and be main
tanned by the United States till they can
provide for themselves. Other provi-
sions were made,s all of which were
wise. J1dioious councils had been
held by tue Peace ,Commissionersw with
all or nearly all-the tribes; formal writ
ten treaties were made, and nearly all
confirmed by the Senate; but for some
reason Congress did not take action on
tue chief proposition OF the Commits
sIoners, which related to setting apart
the reservationN and providing for the
Indians. The people had said this was
the cause of the failure in securing a
lasting peace. Il ia.always difhcult to
learn the cause of war on the part OF
the Indianss as they never give notice
beforehand of their hostile intentions.
The General gives as near as he can
learn the reason for the war-in General
Sheridanis department. The Indians
charged the Government with not
keeping faith, that their game had
been driven away by building the Pow
der River road and the Union Pacific
Railroad. The Commissioners consent
ed and recommended that the con-
struction of the former be bediscontinusd.
twas, however, August before theposts
could be Withdrawn, and the Indians fol-
lowed mp the parties having the stores In
charge and made raids uponthem. They
thought the action of the government
was inspired by, fear, and they so in
formed the other tribes, urging them
to become hostile, and they would drive
the troops out of the other posts, and
force the abandonment of the Smoky
Hill line, which runs through the best
buffalo hunting grounds in Americas--
The General then proceeds TO rectte in
detail, the hostilities OF the Indians,
which have already been published, to
only the kindest treatment, with one
exception, that OF the agent at Leaven-
worth. The soldiers, knowing an In
dian var was all work and no glory,
submitted to many indignides, hoping
that the Peace Commissioners would
secure the withdrawal of the Indians.
Gen. Sheridan found ON Investigation,
shat the attacks on the settlers OF the
Saline, Solomon and Republican set
Elements were without -provocodon;
vet he delayed striking their camps
until he had demanded the actual per-
petrators OF the acts. This demand
failed of success, as the old chiefs could
not give up so many of their young
warriors. War was then commenced
along the Smoky Hill and Arkansas
roads, by the Indians zRttRcking
all the white people, who knew
nothing OF the renewed ahestilites.
General Sheridaus seeing war with
the Cheyennes inevitable, endeav0red
to keep the Arapahoes out of IL, In a
council with them they agreed to keep
out of the war and go to the
Instead, however, at the time they
agreed to move, they were in the war.
The KiorTRs and Camanches acted In
the same way.
General Sherman gives dispatches
from Territorial Governors setting forth
the hostile acts of these Indians. The
Governor of Kansas was. especially
restlve under the butcheries peEpetrst-
ed in that State, and rendered volun-
teer cavalry to Gen. Sheridan. Gen'l
Sheridan was doing all he possibly
could to aford projections but with ne
limited number OF troops could not fol-
low the Indians to theirremote retreats.
General Sherman asked General Grant
for more cavalry and II was promptly
furnished, and on the Gth OF October
the Secretary of War authorized The nc,
ceptauce of one mounted regiment OF
Kansas volunteers for ak months.
General Sheridan expects 10 get these
in the field in November, and also eek
poets during the coming winter TO 80
punish these hostile Indians that they
will not again resort TO war. General
Sherman believes he Will meet With all
the success he expects. II IS Idle fol
us longer to attempt TO soccupy the
plains IN common with these Indians,
for the country is not susceptible oi
close settlement with farms like MIS-.
souri, aud Iowa, and is solely adapted
its grazing. All of our people there are
necessarily scattered, and have
more or less cattle and horses, which
ltempt the Indian hnngrys and 1t may
be, starving for the want of his accus
l!tome game; and he will steal rather
than ,BtAIVe, and to steal he Will no
/ hesitate 10 kill; therefore, a joint occu-
patton of that district of the country by
those two clauses ofpeople, with suct
:, opposing interests, Is simple impossi'
! hility, and the Indians must yield. Tit
j Peace Commission has assigned then
q reservation which, II held for hftJ
] years, will make their dependents rich
4 and In the meantime they are promiset
i food whilst they are learning to cult
1 vate the earth andto rear tame stock
4 To labor with their own hands, or evel
| to remain In one place. initiates viii
! all the hereditary pride or the Indian
j and who must be used to accomplish
! this result. It-Was for this reason tina
1 the Peace Commission, at It's Chicag
j session in October. after the events be
4 fore described, had occurred and wer
known TO them, was forced 70 the cor
clusiong that the management Of In
dian affairs should be transferred bac
:, 10 the War Department. Where IL bt
Il l5nReti pfior 10 1919. That departmen
OF our Government is,the only ydone tha
can use force without the cifcpmioeu
il ton now necessarys and no other de
partment of the Government can az
j with promplness and Vigor enough I