The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-30
The Winter Campaign Against the
Tndlnus.


Indians.
! THR chances of the success Of the projected
winter campaign against the Indians are greatly
increased by the fact that the scene of hostili-
ties has been transferred to comparatively
southern latitude, and It will be practicable to
wage war south Of the Arkansas at seasons
when it would bs madness TO attempt to
assume the offensive at any point north of the
Platte. The Powder river road having been
abandoned, and treaty of peace concluded
with the most aggressive bands of Sioux, the
contest is narrowed down to fight with the
tribes whose hunting grounds are located
south OF the Platte. The Arrapahoes AMI
Cheyepnes, whose old home Was between the
Platte and the Arkansas, committed the out
RACES which General Sheridan is endeavoriug
to punish and avenge. Their numbers are SO
Insignificant that they could make but afeeble
stand against determined attack, if they
were not. aided by the Kiowas and Camanchss,
whose usual resorts are south of the Arkansas
rlver.
A considerable portion of the Camapches
live near the northern frontiers of Texas, and
it is scarcely probable that the southern bands
of that tribe will engage in the present war;
go that we presume the conflict will be mar
rowed down to fight between a few regiments
of regular troops, reinforced by fifteen hun
dred Kansas volunteers, on the one hand, and
the Cheyennes, Arrapahoes, and northern
bands of Camanches and Kiowas, on the
other. The latter would be but contemplate
foes if they had not been supplied with arms
and ammunition by the Peace Commissioners,
traders and Indian agents. The Government
has again been viotimzed by the folly or
cupidity displayed by its appointees in arm
ing dangerous enemies. While the fancy Of
the Indian may be tickled with trinkets,
and while he may deem blankets de-
sirable, he clamors most loudly for
war paint, fire. arms, and ire-water. He is
ready to make any professions of friendship,
or to exchange any superfuous commodity, for
rifles aud revolvers; and the hostile tribes
have so well improved their various opportu-
mites 10 humbug commissioners and to corrupt
agents and traders, that they are as well
aimed as the United States troops, and gene
rally more skilful in the use OF their weapons.
Fer practical purposes they are also better
mounted, for their war ponies are familarized
with forced marches and hard fare on the
plains. An ordinary cavalry regiment, COM
posed of soldiers and steeds accustomed to the
enjoyment of regular rations, and always
mindful of the necessity of maintaining a close
connection with the base of supplies, cuts
sorry figure when it attempts to pursue
the wild rOvers who are equally at
home in any portion of a trackless
waste, and who can scatter to the
four winds or unite in a compact body with
as much facility as pack of wolves. Many
fuitless summer campaigns having given but
new illustrations of these difficulties, the ex-
pertinent of winter expedition against their
villages is now about to be tried under auspi
cous circumstances. As their dwellings con
sist wholly of movable tents, which can be
transported from place to place with as much
eaSe as the ordinary camp equpage, they have
no fixed habitations, but they cannot be per-
petually on the march in an inclement season,
and they are compelled to go, in some sort of
Indian fashion, into winter quarters. The sue
cess of Sheridan will largely depend upon the
unsolved problem whether the Indian women
and children will be obliged to remain station
ary, and thus become liable to attack at any
time when the white troops can assume the
aggressive. He can hardly fail, how.
eyer, to compel the Indians who
have been most troublesome, the
Arrapahoes and Cheyennes, to retres,
south of the Arkansas, and, once there, he
will probably be able to compel them to re-
main in that comparatively southern latitude
This is, after all, the real purpose of the cam
paigD, and if it is accomplished the present
war will render useful service to the nation.
If the Union Pacific and Smoky Hill Railroads
are relieved from the proximity of their most
dangerous and determined antagonists, an
object of primary Importance will be obtained.
1t has recently been proven by the hi9hes
authority that the Indians who are being as
sailed wantonly committed terrible outrages,
and that they have been guilty of fragrant
breaches of their treaty stipulations. They
have no just claim to the pity OF Eastern
philanthropsts, and their only possible
chance Of future safety is based on their
speedy submission to the demands of the Gov
ernment for their removal southwark and
location on reservations, which they are fool
ishly and deRantly treating with contempt.
THE FINE ARTS.