The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1869-12-09
Gen. Sherman'S Report.

liz his report as General OF the Army, Gen. Sher-
man opposes any further reduction OF the army.
He saws the entire army il on duty, and he has con
slant calls for troops which cannot b. granted.
We calls the Presidents earnest attention 10 the
matter so that Congress may be appealG To Dot
to diminish the because OF the
,reatiextent of country the unsettled character Of
lsrpe region measured north, south. east and west
by thousands of miles: the acts of Indians who in
habit this region. and the growing necessities of al
fordinp greater protection 10 the roads that
traverse this region. and the mining and agri-
cultural Interests therein. While the nation at
large is at peace state OF quasi war continues 10
exist over one half its extent. and troops therein
are exposed TO labors, marches, fights and dangers
that amount TO war; Mlthdrawihg or Iartey
diminishin the troops in Texas the Indian country.
Arizona New Mexico Montana: Idaho or. Alaska, rs
well rs i'm some parts of the Southern States, would,
he believes, result in condition oil things amount
irp 10 anarchy He refers TO the lsbors and ex-
nosurcs of officers and men, and hopes that they
will receive the to which they are fairly
entitled, that their labors are arpreeated 9nlSsrs
have been required to perform the duties oi Indian
accents governors. sherifiS, &c. foreign 10 Their
military training and have done this duty without
a murmur and with marked lhIeui.ehCe- NeNeI'
he saws has he known the army officers so poor,
buf they hope that by the appreciation OF currency
their compensation Will soon become more satis-
factory Any diminution of their pay would result
in loss of The services of every good officer, 10
the extreme damage of the army ITSELF Gen.
sherman advises the adoption by Congress oi
the new army regulations rs prepared by the
snecisI Roard of Officers In referring TO army
consolidation he SAVE: There are 5t9 unattached
officers of whom 156 are awaiting orders; the num-
Der of retired officers is Ia. He urges that cavalry
and artillery regiments be officered alike In regl-
mental and company organization, ana asks ior an
extra lieutenant for cavalry companies. lie argues
that IL is unjust that reduction OF the army should
fall exclusively upon the infantry arm of service,
and recomme nds that. after Congress has enacted
the necessary laws the President assemble aboard
of disnerested general officers, To whom shall ne
committed the whole matter Of reduction ana re-
organization Gen. Sherman comments upon
what he calls the absurdy of the stsff OF the army
making their reports TO the Secretary Of Nar; IL
this is continued he says. we have the absurdny o
the General commanding the army, with his chiei
staff officers reporting TO somebody else. lie hopes
for legislation that viii allow officers OF the army
TO call upon the General for troops instead oi the
President He advocates an increase oi pay iof the
soldiers He recommends that forts covering the
cities of Portland Boston, New York. Philadelphia
baltimore. New Orleans. and san frnhciSeo- DC
completed a. soon a. possible. lie calls attention
m he earnest recommendation of Gen. Thomas,
that the Islands of Alaska, St Paul and ST George,
he soLi TO the highest bidder. lie l. informed that
nsrties in San Francisco are ready TO bid several
million dollars which, he says, would 60 far toward
idemnifying the Government for AN otherwise poor
and costly country.