Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-12-10
Gen. Sheridan's Report.

The Military Division Of the Missouri now com
Prises most Of the Gulf and Western States, all
the Territories east OF Arizona, Nevada and Idaho,
including the southeastern portion OF the latter
Territory extends from British America the
north to the Gulf of Mexico and the Rio Grande
on the south, and far east as Key West, on the
Gulf, and embraces within its limits ninety nine
Indian tribes, numbering about $4,000 persons,
scattered over more than 1COO,OOo square miles of
frontier territory.
For the better protection OF this frontier with
Its vast agricultural, mining, mercantile and other
interests. and for convenience in the administra-
tion Of the affairs Of the division, II is divided into
i've departments, as follows: The Department Of
Dakota, Brig. Gen; Alfred Terry, commanding; the
Department ofthe Platte Brig. Gen. George Crook,
commanding; the Department Of the Missouri,
Brig. Gen. John Pope, commanding; the Departs
ment OF 4 exas Brig. Gen o. G. Ord commanding,
and the Department OF the Gulf, Brig. Gen. c. G.
Augur, commanding.
Within these limits We have ninety one sstab-
lished posts and camps, garrisoned by eight regi-
ments OF cavalry, six companies Of artillery,
eighteen regiments and fOur companies OF infan-
try and a small detachment Of engineer troops ag-
gregaing at the last oieial report, i4SlS commits
stoned officers and enlisted men.
In relation to the extinction Of the Indian tItle
to the Black Hills territory the General says:
j earnestly recommend some action which will
settle this Black Hills question. and relieve
from an exceedingly disagreeable and embarrass-
ing duty. feel quite satisfied that all the cou ntry
south Of the yellowstone River, from the Black
Hills OF the Cheyenne as far west as the Big Horn
Valley, and perhaps as far west as Clark,s Fork OF
the Yellowstone, IL gold bearing, but as to the
amount OF ROiu utpOElb cannot say, IL may DC
great or 1t may be small. This area Is also at
many places well timbered, has many beautiful
valleys Of rather high altitude, with good soil and
abundance OF running water Nearly the whole Of II
is well adapted to grazing purposes. The winters
are have every to believe very cold but the
temperature is uniform; the cold weather II found
to be less injurious 10 stock where there Is no
shelter than milder climate where cattle are sub
iected to the changes OF alternate freezing and
thawng, and where the rains rot the grass.
The Sioux Indians, numbering about 2o 600,
now hold this country aud. In addition, the belt
eastward from the base OF the Black Hills Of the
Cheyenne TO the Missouri River which would
make about 10000 acres Of land for the head Of
each family and perhaps much more without one
single acre being cultivated, while the maximum
amount given by the Government TO an adult
white settler s only 100 acres, on which he has 70
live build hut put up fences, till the ground and
The observation Of many years in my own com
mand and throughout most OF the Indian country
for the last twenty years has left the impression
that this system u eiyilizing the wild portion OF
our indian Inhabitants has not met with q success
which gives fair equivalent for the expense,
trouble aud blOOdshed which have attended Il. 1
believe there Is true humanity in making the res
eryations reasonably small dividing them into
tracts Tor the heads Of families making labor grad
ually compulsory, and compelling the children
10 go 10 school, To accomplish this purpose, TO
ciNillze, make self-supporting, aud save many
more OF these poor people than otherwlse will be
saVed, believe II best 70 transfer the Indian