The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-11
WASHINCTO
General Sherman on the Texan
Border Troubles.
NO WAR WITH MEXICO INTENDED
Great Frauds on the Customs Revenue
Discovered in New York.
WASHINGTON, April 10, 1873.

WASHINGTON April 10, 1873.
General Sherman On the Rio Grandc
Troubles and the Modoc DimcuIty.
General Sherman In the happiest hunor to-
day when your correspondent saluted him with q.
.'good morning" and was requested to take seat
near the Generals desk. There had been one OF
those periodical whfs OF warlike preparations
"away down In Texas" ana 1t was to ascertain the
purpose OF concentrating troops in the Lone Star
state that had furnished sufficient courage t0
tackle the head OF the army.
.What troops are stationed in Texas at presentr1
asked your correspondent.
General sherman, without reference to records
promptly answered. ''The Fourth, Ninth and Tenth
regiments OF cavalry, and the Tenth, Eleventh,
Twenty-fourth and Twenty-nfth regiments OF in
fantry."
"Why, then, there is nearly one-htth OF the army
In Texas alone"
"Yes, SIR fully one-nfth, and not half enough for
the duty to be performed You cannot patrol two
thousand miles OF frontier and prevent depreda-
tions with few thousand men. But the Depart
ment is doing its best with the force at its dis
posal."
"Ihcn the presence Of seven regiments in that
| State is not unusual ~
mot at all, not at ALL was the Generals prompt
reply. "A portion OF the Ninth cavalry, which, bN
| the way, is q colored regiment, was stationed at
Fort Clark, and under recent orders the companieS
| have gone to Fort Concho the companies Of the
Fourth cavalry having been ordered to Fort Clark.
| This gives Colonel Mckenzie "a dashing cavalry
| oflcer) an opportunity to manGuvre his regiment
to the best advantage on the frontier. The Ninth
cavalry is not quite so efficient for scouting pur-
| poses as the Fourth which explains the recent
| change.n
| "Then the War Department is not concentrating
| the Army in Texasr
"By no MEANS" promptly replied the General
"The report OF the Border Commission" he contn-
ued "merey revealed the state of affairs along
the Border, though lull information had long been
| In possession OF the State Department. Much
! respondence had preceded the labors OF the COM
| mission without effect 1t was said that Immediate
protection was absolutely necessary along the Rio
| Grande ana recommendation was made that "a
| volunteer mounted lorce commanded by regular
officers, be raised for Border duty. The Secretary
| OF War thought this would be toe expensive; be-
sides 1t might lead to further complications the
| government would he unwilling TO assume. The
most that can be done, as l said before, IS
being done with the available force. Texas,
you know, has only recently been added
to Sherdan's division. and this for the purpose OF
unity of command and movement along the whole
border. His Inspector General was sent out to in
spect the regiments and posts added to his COM
mana, ana GencTal SnefluaH Hlilsell ID HOW lOuoW-
ing his report up by personal visit to see what
better disposition can be made OF the troops sta
toned IN this part of the country, to prevent de-
predations by Indians ana Mexicans On the Texas
stock raisers. You can form some idea OF the task
| when belt of country extending from here to
! Chicago has to be guarded by few regiments"
"rhere is no Immediate danger, then, OF warlike
| movements toward Mexicog'i asked your cor
| respondent
mo Sir,' said General sherman, with sharp EN-.
phasis; "this Is an administration OF peace, and
Will continue so as long as President Grant lives
in the White House. You correspondents are
always on the Qut UiUe for exciting topics, but
you can't make war on Mexico with three regi-
ments ofcavalry and four OF Infantry"
There was frankness in General Sherman's
manner which put to rest any doubt concerning
the movement OF either General Sheridan the
Secretary of War. 1t is even intimated that the
State Department took grave exceptions to the
superficial work of the border Commission. and
that its members have recently been instructed to
pay more attention to the object Tor which 1T was
organized, anu less 70 provoking the III VIII
OF the mexican government General Sherman
commended the enterprise OF the HERALD in send
ing a commissioner among tile Modocs, and said
the dispatches had been true In every particular.
In reply to the question what was going 10 be done,
he said
General Canby has been gradually drawing a
Gordon about Captain jacks cncampment. and the
Modocs must be pretty well starved, their
Lenten diet, and may be ready next week to ac-
cept the proposition OF the government to retire,
to the reservation selected Tor them.o
New York Importers Defra uding the Cows
eminent.
The Special Agent OF the Treasury Department.
has discovered open door tc fraud in New York,
and investigation is now going on to ascertain to
what extent importers have defrauded the gov
eminent of customs revenue. The recent case, ir
is said bears comparison to the practices which
may have gone on unchecked Tor some time among
some Of the largest mercantile firms In New York.