The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-06
Chaotic Condition of the City
During the Fire.
froulptness Of the Government in Supplying
Troops and RatlOns for the Citizens.
WHY He ASSUMED MILITARY CONTROL.
Service of the Regular Troops
and the Militia.
GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE

The following interesting correspondence, for.
Warded by General Sheridan 10 the Secretary of
War, In reference to the great fre In chicago has
Just been completed. This forms complete history
Of the disaster, the manner in which the govern
ment fed the citizens and the protection aiYoraed
the people while the city was under the control Of
General Sheridan:-
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF rHEl
MISSOURI, CHICAGO, ILL.,. Dec 20, 1871.
To the Hon. w. W. BELKNAp, Secretary of war
sIR-l have the honor TO submit the following re-
port for The information OF the secretary OF War;
ON sunday night October g. 1871, fire COM
mcnced III q small frame barn on DE KOven street,
In The West DIVISION Of the city VI Chicago which
spread with great rapldty in northwesterly direc
ton TO the South DIVISION 'and from thence to the
north side or the chicago River. II was blowing q
gale and no human efforts could have arrested The
progI ess OF the flames In the direction OF the
afternoon OF the 9th Inst the principal part OF the
business portion OF the city, together with nearly
all that p0rtlon situated upon the north side OF the
chicago River, was IN ashes; from Jour to four and
onc-half square niles or the most valuable and
densely populated porton OF the city was IN ruins
and Al least Que hundred thousand inhabitants lett
hOuseess ana rapid hao been the progress OF the
danes that comparatively little clothing or house,
nOo property was saved. The building IN which
che Headquarters or this military division was stu.
Ing oil the 9tn lnst consuming all our records and
OOices.
Early on Monday morning the officers connected
with my headquarters and myself, together with
some OF the clizens, did what We could 10 arrest
tile progress OF he fire where II was working against
the wind IN the south Division OF the city. On the
north side, alter the destruction OF the wafer works,
nothing could be to cheek the progress OF tue
flames, and but house was left standing be-
tween The lake and La Sale street as far north as
Fullerton avenue.
rnE CONDIriON OF TIE CITY ON MONDAY EVENING.
the 9th inst, was pitiable From two thousand
to two thousand i've hundred acres Of buildings
lay sm0uldering In their ruins ana nearly one
hundred thousand inhabitants were without foOO
shelter, the Fire department exhausted from its
incessant iabors, some OF It's engines burned and
Others disabled the police force was also very
much exhausted by labor and loss Of sleep, many
qulrng the services OF their natural projectors; the
gaslights were extingushed IN twO-thlrds OF The
CITY, owing to the destruction OIL the gas works. and
total failure " the water supplies existed, owing
TO the burning Of the water works buildings which
damaged Their engines 10 such an extent that they
MUD resembed that OF panc-stricken army, the
widest and most improbable rumors OF arson and
robbery prevailed and the greatest apprehenslons
were indulged In OF another connagratiOn together
with rotous demonstrations. Fully realizing the
condition OF the city, numbers OF the inhabitants
called on me Tor ala and protection, winch felt
Wiling to assist IN giving 30 far could with my
little force OF officers and orderies. Seeing how
ever that troops would IN all probability be needed
for lhelr good enect IN quoting The apprehepsions
OF the people. II for no other cause, and desiring
TO nave the appreciation oil the city government
before moving In the matter | called upon the
MAYOR, Hon. Il. b. Mason, and suggested that In my
opinion IL would be wise 10 nave lew soldiers IN
property until publc confidence could be again re-
slored. ms suggestion was at once approved and
the following telcgrams were sent 10 Omaha, Ne
braska, ana Fort LeavenwOrth, Kansas
CALLING FOR TROOPS TO PRESERVE ORDER, ETC.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, Oct, D, ISL.
Colonel G. ID. RUGGIEs Omaha, Nebraska
Senl without delay two companies OF infantry to
report TO me at Chicago for temporary duty. send
them from omaha Barracks II camp ana garrison
eqnipage Is not IN readiness II can be forwarded
afterwards send also rations for twenty days.
y. Ii. SHERIDAN, Lieutenant General.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THEi
MISSOURI, CHICAGO. Ill.,, Oct. 2, 1871. (
To General JOHN POPE, Command .ng Department OF
the Missouri, Headquarters Fort LcavenwortB,
Send one company OF infantry "a large one), with
camp and garrison equipage by rail, TO report To
me here as soon as possible. III they cannot bring
tneir camp ana garrison equipage WIN inem let IL
Lieutenant General commanding.
The fohOwing kilograms were sent u the United
states Quartermaster III charge OF government
stores at Jenersonviile. Ind
Captain c. II. HOYT. A. O. NJ, Jenersonville, Ind.:-
send az once to these heaJYuariers one hundred
wall tents. l.. ii. SHERIDAN,
Lieutenant General.
CHICAGO, Oct. y, 1871.
Captain c. II. hoYT, A. q. NJ. U. 5. A, Jefferson
In ADDITION to the 100 wall tents heretofore or
dered send at once another 100. ard II you have not
100 more wall tents send an equivalent IN hospital
and common tents. Snip TO Colonel d. Il. Rucker.
=. II. SHERIDAN, Lieutenant General.
] also telegraphed 10 Inc War Department as fol-
CHICAGO, Oct. 0. 1871
Hon. ". ", BELKNAP, Secretary OF war, Washing
The nre here last night and to-day mas destroyed
almost all tnat Is very valuable In the city, There
~ not business house, bank OF hotel lett. Most OF
the best part OF the city Is gone. Without exagger
alton all the valuable portion Of the city is runs.
/ think not less tnan one hundred thousand peonie
are homeless and those VINO have mad the most
wealth are now poor. 1t seems 10 Inc TO be sucn q
terrible misfortune tnat IL may win propriety be
considered national Calamity.
p. II. SHERIDAN, Lieutenant General.
APPLICATIONS FOR FOOD FOR tue PEOPLE.
In view OF the great number VI distressed and
homeless people, and the prompt action nece ssary
also sent The following telegram 10 Colonel Pen.
rose, the Purchasing Commissary at st. Louis,
CHICAGO Oct. 0, 1871
Colonel PRNRosE, Depot Commlssary, st. Louis,
Send to Colonel Macleely one hundred thousand
rations Without delay. Let the bread portlCns he
p. II. SHERIDAN. Lieutenant General.
rearing however, that me demand Tor food might
exceed the supply Tor day or two sent the Iol-
lowing addltional telegram the same evening"
CHICAGO, oct. 9, 1871.
To Captain C. B. PESRosE, c. $. i. ;. A., ST. Louis,
Send at once to Colonel Macrcely a hundred
thousand ralions In addition to tue hundred tnou.
z. IL. SHERIDAN, Lieutenant General.
During Monday night the officers aud orderlies OF
horses saddied, TO do anything that might he re.
CURED III case or inciplent 1res. III case OF
trouble arising from the acts OF dsorderly or law.
Late at night received the following telegram
from the honorable secretary OF War;
WASHINGTON, ID. c.. Oct. Q, 1871.
Lieutenant General p. Ii. SHERIDAN
The President directs that you issue such pro-
visions and clothing 10 the sufferers by the present
fire In Chicago as you may have at your disposal
there, and you are empowered 10 call upon the
military officials ut ST. LOUIS Tor further supplies
you deem II be5i-
w. w. BELKNAP, Secretary Of War.
DISTRIBUTING RATI0Ns, TENTS AND CLOTHING
On Tuesday morning supplies commenced arrv.
ing from various sources. those from st. Louis and
lOutsyiIle under charge OF the hon. II. H. BLOW, oil
ST. Louis, Mo-, and Colonel Johnson, OF Louisville,
Ky. The government supplies ordered from 1T.
Louis were also reported on the way, In charge ol
q special messenger. portion Of our pest
and most energetic citizens had already or.
qanized a relief and protection committee and
were nard at work doing their utmost to relieve
ana assist the burned out portion OF the inhabitants.
] ordcred colonel Macleey, Depot Commissary, TO
rent two large warehouses for the reception OF
government aud otner supplies which began TO pour
INTO the city nom every direction. As there seemed