The New York herald., 1870-03-25

came only 70 PUNISH the Plegans-the chiefs ex.
pressed great satsacNOn; they Immediately Insisted
ON shaking hands all round once or twice more WIN
with their .HOw2" and vigorous hand snake;
tnen came back, ana seemed quite inclined 10 re-
doubt the warmth OF their friendship. 1bey sent
without remonstrance or sncn OF ine stolen Dorses
ana ordered brought In likewise an abundance OF
fresh bufiao meat; which was very acceptable since
me troops had Jared rather hardly ioI diet as wen
fine looking Indian pnyslcaIy-tall, broad ana
heavily butt aud OF an almost benevclent
himself in his best apparel; his legs and body
were enea ed IN oucksAn leggings aud shirt;
n ann o ae M asa wapeea s ~as d .oyenos
hat. or an uncommonly battered and disreputabe 9
aspect; the old chel was evidently proud Of TINS
aequsliion as q special ana honorable distinction
above all his FELLOW chiefs, and undoubtedly wore
1t only IN councll with the whites; al other times
Leaving me traalng post, a march OF three DAYS
brought The expedition IN to Fort shaw, together
with ali their captured and recovered steck, anu
more sorry and skeleton lot one probably never get
eyes on except at an Indian camp and IN the
winter. This valuable tot OF the horse species some
on to Fort Enis
have been delayed several days In writing this
letter otherwise you would nave received ~ eaa,iei.
| observe that Inc Eastern papers are constantly
commenting on the killlng IN cold blood ol the
| women and children. they ought not TO assume
such inbuman bQrbarity nos oeen perpetraleu, aB
nothing OF the kind was done. The most Vi the
women were oat OF the camp ~ the brush OF woous
cooking breakfast at the time the attack was madei
none OF these were injured, nor were any women
anu children designedly Killed; 60 lar as can learn
efforts were made 10 save !, many OF them as posi-
Indan wars have been especially So being wais oi
extermlnauon: Let any one read the uissory ana a
termination OF the wv 9 great Indian wars In the
early settlement oil New Eng and aud so on down 70
the present nme--they are All SAD commentary 70
the Christian civilization OF America.
Phil Sheridan In ibs Role Of Andrew jack
son.-"Oid Hckory'sv Treatment Of saw.
ages Revived.
The following onicial communication from General
Sheridan was received at headquarters In Washing
ton on the 23d lnst:-
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION
OF THE MISSOURI
CHICAGO H.. March is, 1870.
General w. 7. SIBERIAN, Commanding United States
Army, Washington, d. CT
GgSERAL-Fne further report OF Colonel Baker In
reference 10 the punishment Of tue PIcgan indians
mas not yet been received. 1t seems strange that
there shou'd oe such want or knowledge or
tne position which army o.ileer5 have 10 MAIN
tam tn reference TO indian AFFAIRS. l nave IN
my command al least FIVE thousand miles OF frontier
settlements, my chef and only duty belngAO give
projection 10 the families residing on these long nes
against the outrages OF Indians. The government
TO them for pie-emption aad improvement. The
number OF men, women and childIen on this extend
IRON one years end 10 the oher that these families
are exempt rom tne fearful thought Of being MUIR
dered IN the most hendisn manner, the men scalped,
the women ravlshed and the brains OF their chill
dreD dashed oas When said in previous letter
that eight hundred hau met tnat fate since 1852
was beow t6e figure aud should nave said twelve
hundred.
Ny auties are to protect these people. have
nothing to do win Indians but In TINS connection.
There Is scarcely day In which DO not receive the
most nealtrending appeals 10 save settlers from the
cruel tate wncn may come npon them ana am
snail regard their appeals or allow them TO be
butcherea N order to save myself from the nue. anI
cry OF people who know not ,be Indians, and whose
families have not the tear--lnorDing, noon and
DGht-of being ravlsDed aal scaiped by tnem. The
wife OF the man at the centre OF wealth, civilization
and refinement ls not dear to hlnl than is the
vhc OF the pioneer OF the frontier
have no hesitation IN making my choice. I am
going to stand bB TIE people 0tel 3riOnl an placed
ana gre He1a sceat protection can. We have
not the troops TO place At each mans house 70 defend
H. and have sometimes to take the offensive to
punish tor crimes already committed IN order 10
prevent the preparation of Others. In taking the
offensive have 10 se!ect that season when can
catch the iends and If village Is attacked and
women and children killed. the Responsibility Is not
with tue solder, but with the people whose crimes
During the.war. did any one hesitate to attack
village or tCwp occupied Oy the enemy, because
we cease TO throw shells INTO NtcksDurg OF Atlanta
because women aud children were Jhcref II the
women and CHI dren We're savel In those places It
was because they had cellars TO 90 inJo ana should
any OF the women ana chsircn OF the Plegans nave
lost their lives, sincerely regret fnat they mad
simIiarS places o refuge, though doubt n they
would have awaited tbeIn5eives OF thcm, Tor they
fight with more Jury than the men.
Tue soldiers do not want to Kill the Indians After
long years OF Indian frontier service am satisfied
that they are the only good practical friends the In
dians have
We cannot avoid being abused by one side or the
other. If we allow tue deienceess people on tue
frontier to be scaped and ravlened we are burnt III
etfigy and execra.ed az soues3 monsters lDsenSioe
10 tile suferiDgs OF humanity. II the Indian Is pun
shed give security 10 THESE people, we are he same
soress monsters IRON the otNer eide. THIS Is bad
predlcament to be IN, but, as ! have SAID, Ibare
n.dde nty' choice and an going TO stand on The
people icons TIE government has placed me here 10
protect. The reservation Ii the last ditch OF the
wild indian, but 10 get hlm there he must be forced
on by the troops. 1losae who think he can be In
auced to go there by other means are mistaken.
When on the reservation he wtl have to be kept
there by the presence Of troops and thus become
tangible Tor the good work OF CIVILIZATION, and lie
only be protected IN his rights while there oy
the troops keeping OF the eIni2rants who encroacn
on his land
All these points are practically exhibited each
year. The Caeyenn 30, Arapatoes C0manches, klo-
was ana Apacnes have Just been forced Oh by the
troops During the last year, as soon as withdrew
the troops ron the sac and Fox Reservation, the
emigrants took possession. A food OF emigration
almost ten thousand strong moved In solid mass
and occupied the Usage Reservation. because there
were noiroop5 there 70 keep them or All the other
reservations on winch the Indian may ye; BE- placed
Will be lost IN the same manner unless guarueo by
tue military. Yours truly,
P. II. SHERIDAN, Lieutenant General