The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-10
BEYOND THE MISSISSIPPI.
What om Troops are Doing and Intend TO DO

What OWr Troops are Doing and Intend TO DO.
The army and Macy Journal has full and in
tcresting intelligence of the condition of our
troops on the Plains and on the Pacific coast
The completion of the Pacific Railroad (says the
JOundD has brought the troops stationed along
the great desert into relations with civili
Zation, and has served to materially mitigate the
hardships of their lot. They form a chain of
hardy and sunbrowned little communities de-
priyed, OF course, of many of the comforts and
elegancies of civilized life: but they are Injured
to their condition, and know how useless it
would be to complain of it.
MaiOr-General Thomas has cone to Alaska
with the fixed purpose of abOlishing the depart
mental command in that Arctic region, and re-
ducing it to n tWO-COmpany post, at st
Paul S and st. Georges Islands. This, with a
cutter, will be entirely adequate for the protec-
ten of the seal fisheries which are the only
rdtSOH d etre Tor the presence of troops there at
all The Department of Alaska, of which Gene
raj Jett. {. Davis is now in command, costs a
large amount OF money, and produces little or
no result except chronic rheumatism, which
spolls in single year two-thirds of the troops
unfortunate enough to be stationed in that land
of fOgs and chills. General Thomas has COM
municated his design to General Sherman,
ana the latter is disposed to entirely agree with
him and to cooperate in carrying it into effect.
General Ord, in command of the Department
OF California, is administering the affairs of his
wide department with skill and assiduity: and
IRON the fact that he is an old "FOrty-niner"
and member of the Pioneers, he enjoys the
general esteem of San Franciscans.
General StOneman, who has been in command
at the Preside COR old military presidency near
the city,, and who is also an old-time CalifOr-
man, was on the point of leaving that post to
assume command of Drum Barracks, near San
Diego He will be in command of all the troops
in Arizona, where the Indians have been so ac-
lively and successfully pursued this summer, and
where they have created Il good deal of trouble.
He will make it his duty to clean out the red
skins.
Colonel Morrow Oate of President Johnson's
staff, of the Paymaser-Geneml's Department,
was about starting on a tour through Arizona to
pay OIL the troops at the different posts and
stations in that territory In two months
Colonel Samuel Dana will follow on the same
service.
Breyet Colonel Taylor has Just been removed
from Angel Island San Francisco harbor, and
transferred to Cheyenne, the capital of Wyo-
ming lie was replaced by Breyet Major
General o. B. Wilcox.
Colonel John Taylor, of the staff of General
Ialleck, was on the point of leaving for Louis
Vine: Or: Letterman, well known as the efficient
Medical Director of the Army of the Potomac
uhGer different commanders, is now in civil life,
ana is coroner of San Francisco. Commander
Pranklln, OF the Mohican, was Just about sailing,
carrying with him two astronomers, to observe
the eclipse in kamschatka, on the Asiatic coast,
at winch point the eclipse will be total The
eApedltion cannot fail of producing the most
interesting results.
In fine, the report FROM the Pacific coast is
altogether satisfactory-officers and men are in
good condition, except in Alaska; but we shall
probably soon be able to record that there the
number of military exiles is reduced to the
minimum necessary, and the rheumatics are
returned to kindlier stations,