The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-02-05
THE INDIAN WAR.
|Sheridan's OperntiOns--An Inves.
tigatiOn Demanded.

etrtfat Ni - Sr& So a4a3A +.
Sheridan's Operati0ns--An Inves..
tigatiOn Demanded.
(From the st. Louis Republican. ~
Our Indian affairs are rapidly Assu-
ming a shape which nearly couccrnssi
the honor Of the American people.--sf
We allude particularly to tile recent
battles in which the Chief Black Kettle,
his village, and large portion OF his
warriors were destroyed by the milita-''
ry force under command of Gems. Sheri-
dan aud Custar. 1t would certainly
seem as If one fact ought to be, and
could be effectually settled beyond any
doubt or cavil That factis whether or
not Black Kettle and his tribe were
friendly or hostile fwhcther the slaugh-
ter was imperatively demanded by tho
public good, or whether IL was wautof
and useless butchery? Con. Sheridan
in his report Of January i, claims that
he simply did his duty in the premises,
and that there are no mitigating circufh-
stances which should inspire us with
any emotions of pity for the unfortu-
nate beings who were sent to o swift
and bloody doom. On the other hand,
Gems. Palmer, Parker, Col. Wyncoop.
and perhaps others, declare boldly that
Custar attacked and massacred Black
Kettle and his band because the Fcder-
al soldiers had marched long distance
and could not go back without fight;
and that the Indians were, to oil intents
and purposes, friendly. Without adopt
ing wholly either theory, we are forced
to say that it must be apparent to the pre-
judiced mind, that there is very wide
difference in them. On one theory Sheri-
dan merits the thanks Of the country
for having effectually performed very
disagreeable service. On the other, no
deserves to be stripped of his epauettes
and cashiered the army. Great and
brilliant as is the reputation of this dis
tinguised soldier, the reputation OF the
Republic is greater and more brilliant
still. Both alike demand to be cleared
from even the shadow of,a staip.--
Neither Sheridan nor the nation whose
servant he is, can afford to have q ru-
NOR go forth to the country and the
world that we arc amusing ourselves
with wholesale murder. That such q
rumor does prevail to a considerable
extent the most casual reading of tho
public prints will abundantly prove
1t is full time it had its quietus, and
that quietus, in order to be lasting,
must come from the very highest aud
most impartial source. We do not
want the Indian agents to sit in judg-
ment upon Gen. Sheridan, nor Gen.
Sheridan to sit in judgment upon the
, Indians and their agents. Let Congress
appoint special committee OF investi-
, CATION let them, if necessary, go to the
f ground in person and thoroughly sift
, the facts IN the case from beginning to
end, and then let them make a formal
. report. We trust human life has not
| yet reached such ali awful discount in
/ this country as not to be worth tho
, trouble of examining whether it was
rightfully taken or barbarously stolen.
The victims in the present instance were
only Indians, of course, but as no negro
in the South can have his shins struck
without the blow reverbcrating through
the halls of Congress-, we trust that
these slain children OF the forest. NAV.
!, if deserving, receive the same jealous
championship as their darker brethren.
: "Darnel Webster"
"DARNEL WEBsTER,'-r old
Col. Gumpey as he trimmed quid Of
! niggerhead and fastened it securely be-
f tween two decayed teeth in the left side
of his mouth, "Darnel Webster was y
: great man. There was nothing mean
about him. I've hearn him talk. but
: 'twa'nt his talk so much S his gineros-
ity that tuck me. He had kinder care.
less way like. that kept him from get
i, tim rich. He never seemed to think
q what things cost. was acomin, up the
Hudson river along with him once, and
in the mornin' Darncl Webster and ma
> was washin' our faces and slickin' our
q har in the cabin, and he took out his
= toothbrush and brushed his teeth.
4 didn't see no other toothbrush around
i so borrowed his'n. And after used
/. it l handed it back to him, and what dc
you think? Why, Darnel Webster JUS
q flung that toothbrush right inter thu
. river. And spOse next day he wen
: and bought him new one. That's al
= he cared about money! There amt nc
" such men rs Darnel Webster living
. now," continued the Colonel. medita
v " lively, as he spirited a stream of tobacc,
3 juice into the fireplace at the other enc
i of the room.
DO,