Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-11-19
DvERrisING RATE,
Gen. Shermah's Annual Report.

General Sherman's annual report To
the Secretary of War show the total
number of enlisted men in the army,
on October 14th to have been 26, AL. 1t
estimates that this number will pruba-
bly, be reduced to natural causes by the
first OF January, 1875, to the $1,000, al
lowed by law. 1t deprecates the inad-
equacy Of SO small an army for the de-
mands of so large an area of territory
as 1t has to be scattered over, involving
the necessity of Withdrawing troops
from one department to meet the re-
lqulrementS of some other a long dis
tance away. 1t compliments highly the
ehciency of General Sheridan and his
subordinate officers in maintaining
comparative peace in the Indian eoun-
try. 1t says the reports of command
Ing officers demonstrate that the small
army OF the United States called Il
peace establishment, is the hardest
worked body of men in this or anv
country. The discipline and behavior
OF 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
at civil processes, have beea a model
for the Imitation of all good men. In
regard to the removal of bis headquar-
ters to ST. Louis, he says: 81 am pre-
pared to execute the duties that NAV
be devolved on me by proper authority
here. am centrally located, Snd.
should occasion arise, L Can personally
proceed to any point on this continent
where my services are needed"
GENERAL sHERIDAN's REPORT.
Lieutenant General Sheridan. in his
annual report, touches slightly upon
General Clusters Black Hills expedi-
tlOn, which it pronounces successful
reconnaissance. The country of the
Black Hills was found to be much bet
ter than was expected, with plenty Of
good timber and considerable good soil
at high attitudes, and an abundant sup
Fly OF good water and grass. Some
gold was found near Harney's peak,
but oil its abundance there is at present
no reliable information. Sufficient
time could not be given by an expedi-
ton such as that of Gen. Clusters to
prospect and determine its quality.
General Sheridan again recommends
the establishment of a. large military
post in the Black Hills country. OF
the Indian troubles General Sheridan
says: 'i-i.- .li-
II respectfully differ with General
Pope as to the chief causes of these In
dian troubles, and attribute it to the
Immunity with which the tribes have
been treated in all their raids into Tex
as for. the past three years. Their dep
relations have furnished them supplies
with which TO make raids, and shelter
ed them from pursuit when they re-
turned with their sealps and pIunder.
No man of close observation, it seems
to me, can travel across the great plains
from Nebraska and Wyoming to Tex
as, aud see the established ranches.
with their hundreds of thousands Of
head of cattle, sheep and horses, to-
gether with the families of the owners.
and reasonably think that these people.
so much exposed and having such val.
liable interests, are desirous of provok
ing Indian wars. There was a time.
possibly. when, the population of the
Indian frontier may have been desirous
OF Ind Indian troubles, but that time has