The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-24
THE PIEGANS.

Onicial Letter from General Sheridan-He
Defends Colonel Baker, and Explains the
Situation.
The following official communication from
General Sheridan was received yesterday at
the Army Headquarters
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE
Missouri, CHICAGO, March is, 1S70.-General
W. Il. Sherman, Commander United States
Army, Washington, d. C.-General:-Th
further report of Colonel Baker, in reference
to the punishment of the Piegan Indians, has
not yet been received. 1t seems strange that
there should be such q want of knowledge of
the position which army officers have to
maintain in reference to Indian affairs.
have in my command at least five thou
sand miles of frontier settlements, my chief
and only duty being to give protection to the
families residing on these long lines against
the outrages of Indians. The Government
has invited these settlers by opening the
lands to them for pre-emption and improve
ment.
The number of men, women, and children
| on this extensive frontier is very great, and
there is not day, from one years end to the
| other. that these families are exempt from the
| fearful thought Of being murdered in the
most iendish manner; the men scalped, the
women ravished, and the brains of the chill
| dren dashed out.
| When said in previous letter that 800
had met that fate since 1862, was below the
figure, and should have said 1900. Ny duties
are to protect these people. have nothing
| to do with Indians; bat, in this connection,
there is scarcely day in which do not re-
ceive the most heart-rending appeals to save
settlers from the cruel fate which may come
upon them, and am forced to the alternative
| of choosing whether / shall regard their ap-
peals, or allow them to be butchered, in order
to save myself from the hue and cry of peo-
pie who know not the Indians, and whose
families have not the fear-morning, noon,
and night-of being ravished and scalped by
them.
The wife of the man at the centre of wealth,
civilization, and refinement is not more dear
to him than is the wife of the pioneer of the
frontier. have no hesitation in making my
choice. | am going to stand by the people
over whom am placed, and give them what
protection | can. We have not the troops to
place at each mans house to defend it, and
have sometimes to take the offensive, to
punish for crimes already committed, in
order to prevent the preparation of others.
In taking the offensive, l have to select
that season when 1 can catch the fends, and
if village is attacked, and women and chill
dren killed, the responsibility is not with the
soldiers, but with the people whose crimes
necessitate the attack. During the war, did
any one hesitate to attack village or town
occupied by the enemy because women or
children were within the lines Did we
cease to throw shells into Vicksburg or At
lanta because women and children were
there
If the women and children were saved in
these places it was because they had cellars
to go into; and should any of the women aud
children of the Piegans have lost their lives
/ sincerely regret that they had not similar
places of resort, though doubt if they would
have availed themselves of them, for they
fight with more fury than the men. The SOL
diers do not want To kill Indians. After long
years of frontier service, am satisfied that
they are the only good practical friends the
Indians have.
We care not about being abused by one
side or the other. If we allow the deienseless
|, people on the frontier to he scalped and
, ravished, we are burnt in efigy aud execrated
as soulless monsters, insensible TO the suffer
ines Of humanity. If the Indian is punished,
, to give security to the people, we are the same
goulless monsters from the other side. This
: is bad predicament to be in, but, ss baV 9