Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-11-19
Annual Army Reports.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 0.
GEN. SHERMAN.


GEN. SHERMAN.
zen. Sherman's annual report to the
Secretary OF War shows the total num-
Der OF enlisted men in the army on Oct. 10
to have been 26,44l. 1t estimates that
this number will probably be reduced
through natural causes by the 1st of jan
uary, 1875, to the $4,000 allowed by law.
1t deprecatcs the inadequacy of so small
an army for the demands of so large an
area OF territory as it has to be scattered
over, involving the necessity of with
drawing troops from one department
TO meet the requirements of Others
long distance away. 1t compliments
the high efficiency of Gen Sheridan and
his subordinate officers in maintaining
comparative peace in the Indian country
1t says the, reports of the commanding
officers demonstrate that the small army
OF the United States, called peace es-
Establishment, is the hardest worked BODY
OF men in this or any country. The dis
cipline and behavior of the officers and
men have been worthy of all praise; and
whether employed on the extreme and
distant frontier, or in aiding civil officers
in the execution Of civil processes, have
been a model for the imitation of all
good men.
In regard to the removal of his head
quarters to St. Louis he says: Il am
prepared to execute the duties that may
be devolved on me by proper authority.
Here | am centrally located and should
occasion arise | can personally proceed
to any point on this continent where my
services are needed"
GEN. SHERIDAN.
Lieut.-Gen. Sheridan, in his annual
report, touches slightly upon Gen. Gus
ter's Black Hills expedition, which it
pronounces successful reconnois-
sance. The country of the Black
Hills was found to be much better than
was expected, with plenty OF good tim
Der and considerable good soil at high
attitudes and an abundant supply of
good water and grass. Some gold was
found near Harney's Peak, but of its
abundance there is at present no reliable
information. Sufficient time could not
be given by an expedition such as that
of Gen. Clusters to prospect and deter
mine its quantity. Gen. Sheridan again
recommends the establishment of a large
military post in the Black Hill country
OF the Indian troubles Gen. Sheridan
says: :" respectfully differ with Gen
Pope as to the chief cause of these In
dian troubles, and attribute it to the inn
munity with which the tribes have been
treated. In all their raids into Texas fo;'
the past three years their reservations
have furnished them the supplies with
which to make the raids and sheltered
them from pursuit when they returned
with their scalps and plumber No
man of close observation, it seems to
me, can travel across the great plains
from Nebraska and Wyoming to Texas,
and see the established ranches,
with their hundreds of thousands of head
of cattle, sheep and horses, together with
the families of the owners, and reasona-
bly, think that these people, 50 much ex-
posed and having such valuable interests,
are DESTROYS of provoking Indian warss
There was a time, possibly, when the
population of the Indian frontier may
have been DESTROYS of Indian troubles but
that has passed long ago"