The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-21


treason are poured upon the head OF the unlucKy
Ambassador. .@f.,.s
THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI.
Report Of Lieutenant General Sher,nan-Thc
Indian Troubles and How They May BE
Ended-Recommendcd Transfer Of the En-.
tire Business 20 the War Department.
WAsHlSGToN, Nov. ~, 1858.
The following report has JUST been received at the
War Department nom Lieareuans General Sher-
mani -
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION MISSOURI
Sr. LOUIS, NO.. Nov. !, lo6S.
Brevet Major General L. u. IowhsESD, Assistant
Adjutant General. Washington, d. c.
GENERAL--Tne Military Division OF the Missouri Is
still composed Of the Depai Inens vi Alssodri,
Platte and Dacotah embracing substantially tue
Mountains, including New Mexico, Utah and Mon
tana. These departments are connianded by Gen.
erals sheridan, Augur anu Terry, whose annadl re-
ports are transmitted herewith an to them refer
you for more detailed statements OF the progress
made and OF the events OF the past year. iou win
observe that while the country generally has been
at peace the people on the plans and the troops Of
my command nave been co.'s ansly at war,
with none OF its honors or rewards. in
former reports I enueagored 70 describe the
reasons and causes winch MADE . slate Of war the
normal condition OF things the pains, aud have
since studied to find some lasting remedy, but thus
lar without SUCCESS. Our people continue, a5 here.
to travel without the precaution wnicl wei known
danger would suggest, ald 10 run after every Wild
report OF the discovery of gold or otner precious
metal, thus coming INTO aaiiy contact aud necessary
conflict with disconlenteu ana aps-Ie In.iaas. Tie
Coordinate departments Oi our government likewise
continue to extend surveys of public ano west
ward aud grant patents 10 occupants 20 locate and
build railroads. to establish mall routes, with the
mat region Of country were III prolound
psacs aS a al n..s DANCE O occupation and
matters the military authorities have no control,
Yet their public naur implies public projection,
and We are daily Aud hourly called Oh Tor guards anu
escorts and are eit IN Ia breach 10 catch al the
kicks and cuffs of vi races without the privi-
ege OF advising or being consulted before land The
reports Of Generals shslaan, Angug and / rry con-
tam abundant evidence. these points; and refer
to them mere merely to deDoit 10 tne fact thai a.
long these thns.s continue, from Necessity aud
pubic policy We cannoi reduce our military forces
on the ironlier aud should 10. even allow their
strength TO TALL away by the rapid CAUSES OF death,
discharge and desertion, but SHOULD Keep the ranks
continually repienished with fresh recruits.
Al the time OF my last annual report, october 1,
1867, was u member vi the Peace Commission,
Which the Congress oi the ln.eed STAGES had de-
VOWED the whole indian question FOR pruc cAl aud
possible, peaceful solution Al toe SAME time by
an executive oruer IL Was made ~ military duty 10
subordinate the acis u ali the tfoops SUBJECT 70 nv
command to whatever pan OF action the Peace
Commission might adopt. The Commission, In Its
annual report last December 60 te President Of the
Uaited states bears fun testimony this point TO
the effect that oil the ollcers OF the army ana ali tno
troops with whom they cane IN contact had fully
and cheerfuy co-operatec with .,ea their efforts
to BRING this dinicult basiness 70 peaceful con-
clusion. need not here reef " tae deliberations
and acts Of that COMMISSION further to state
that its members were unanilno s IN The conclusion
that to maintain permanent peace with TIE Indians
east OF the Rocky Mountains ihey shod all, AZ the
earliest possible m0mea be collected on reserya-
tons a. FAR removed poss bic from The white
settlements and lines OF travel and that there they
should be maintained AZ the cost OF the United States
until they could wholly or partially provide for them
selves. The two principal reservations Indicated by
ANA west Of the Mlssourl liver. aid south OF The
State OF Kansas and west Of Arkansas. IN Sc dis
trlcts the only parts VI oar vast nalional domain
NJ ali adapted W the purpose not already appr0-
priated. The Commission .arther recomine nded that
Tor each OF these reservations sort ol gosernment
should be provided by law, looking 70 time IN The
future when all the Indians would be reduced " the
peaceful coalition elepaeroa nerlefs and farmers.
Tins genera plan was Justified Ny the tnen state OF
more recent eyents- sense OF national justice die
tates that In taktng irom thcse sasages the lands
whose Wild game has hisHSty fed, clothed and snei
tered them we should, 10 restricting them TO
shc exclusive ~ use =. ra ~, naSs them
aal II possible plocure thcir consent Influenced
by this consideration tue Peace Com lssiou, during
mer OF Lees held COUNCILS Win All. Or nearly all the
tribes aud parts " trioes essi o' tc Rocky Noun
taDs making liberal provisions .or ~ the appointed
places OF council according 10 tAc forms and
monies TO which thcy were long accustomed.
Formal written treaa:s Meso made win each
separate tribe, signed wAih q. the formal
Ivy ana transmitted 20 xc senate q the
ntei states for Iathca .on. The scaties with
toe Caeyennes, Arapanoas. Ki0was. Con,ancnes
Naval O. anu Grows wcre duly ceulrlned out those
VITA he various bards OF Sl0rA Suak :, &c, were
not confirmed, simply, At Is rcd, because they
we're complete when the senate adjourned But
for some reason Congress i.i take any action
On the chief proposos u sie Peace Lonilnl ssion,
which was embraced la thar report OF last Decem-
befyz., that which related ~ tae setting apart OF
the two reservations hegcnbeiOrC referred to and
providing governments therefor. which was designed
TO precede the confirmation v any OF tne treates
aud the only vital IRsacp.c VI them. all. felt
compelled 20 refer to this iCl because many persons
attribute TO 1t the reason why laled to secure
lasting peace, ana wig VIC are IA thiS moment en-
gagged In costly war with forr Of the principal
triDes With which we had 20 do1l-yis., the Chey-
ennes Arapahoes, Klowas aud COiaanclies. II has
always been most aiaonlt u discover the exact
truth concerning the cause VI a rupture With any
Indians. they never give nouce beforehand OF
warIike Intention, and tue lrat notice cones aner
their rides and lauces nave dou, mlch bloody work.
ALI intercourse then necessarily ceases. and the ORR
ginal cause soon becomes buried IN after events.
The present. Indian war la General sheridan de-
partment 10 no exception, and nearly ~ can
gather n the truth ~ aDouf jus
Last year, In tho several co1icils he'd at North
Plate and Fort Laramie by tue Peace Com ssion
with Iraymentary bands Of the sioux. the Indians
asserted that they were then AMI hai been always
anxious to live at peace with thor white neiglbors
provided we kept faith with hein TAey CLAIMED That
The building OF the rowaer river road aud establish
ment OF military p0ss aiong j drove away the game
FROM the only hunting grounds tney nad .eft after
our occupation OF Montana snd teb' ASIA; tnat this