The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-12-09

Gen. Sheridan's Report.

The Military Division of the Missouri now com.
prizes 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 on the
north to the Gulf Of Mexico and the Rio Grande
on the south, and as far east as Key West, ON the
Gulf and embraces within its limits ninctr-niue
Indian tribes. numbering about 1a2 0oa persons,
scattered over more than 900 square miles oi
frontier territory.
For the better oteCton of this frontier. with
its vast agricultural, mining mercantile and other
interests. and for convenience in the admlnlsra-
tion of the affairs of the division it Is divided into
five departments, as follows: The Department OF
Dakota Brig Gen. Alfred Terry, commanding; the
Department of the Platte. Br@-Gen. George Crook,
commanding; the Department of the Missouri,
Brig. Gen. Ohm Pope. commanding; the Depart
mcnt of Texas. Brig. Gen. .. G. Ord commanding.
and the Department OF the Gulf, Brig. Gen &. e.
Augur. commanding.
lished posts and camps, garrisoned by eight legi-
ments OF cavalry, six companies OF artillery,
eighteen regiments and four companies OF infan-
try and small detachment OF engineer troops, az
sregatng at the last official report lisl3 commits
stoned officers and enlisted men.
In relation to the extinction OF the Indian title
to the Black Hill territory the General says: go
! earnestly recommend some action which VIII
settle this Black Hills question, and relieve US
from an exceedingly disa@reeable and embarrass-
in. duty. | feel quite satisfied that all the country
south Of the Yellowstone River, from the Black
Hills of the Cheyenne far west as the Big lorn
Valley and perhaps as far west as Ciarks Fork OF
amount of gold deposits cannot say; it may he
great or il may he small This area IS also al
many places well timbered has many beantlini
valleys Of rather high altitude: with good sol ana
is well adapted to grazing purposes. Inc Win'ers
are have every reason to believe, very cold but The
temperature is uniform; the cold weather Is iouna
to be less injurious to stock where there Is no
shelter than mder climate where cattle are suo.
jected to the changes OF alternate freezing ana
thawing, and where the rains rot the grass: ~ ooo
No Tpli n1u hpr
now hold this country, and, in addition; the beit
eastward from the base OF the Black lliils oil me
Cheyenne to the Missouri River, which wonld "a
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 is only 160 acres, on which he has 10
live build hut, put up fences till the ground and
pay taxes.
fhe obs ervation Of many wears in my own com
mand and throughout most Of the Indian country
for the last twenty years has left the impression
that this system Of ciyilizing the wild portion OF
our Indian inhabitants has not met with success
which gives Il fair equivalent for the expense,
trouble and boodshed which have attended H.
believe there is true humanity in making the res
ervations reasonably. small, dividing them Int into
ually compulsory and even compelling the children
to 20 to school, To accomplish this purpose, to
civlize: make sef-supporting. and save many ny
Bureau to the military and let it be taken under
the general administration OF tnc army. SoNcTheu
and controlled in responsibility Of account. in ac-
| cordance with our present system; The indians
will thus be humar;ely and honestly dealt with
| and believe If this had always been the case.
there would have been but few of the troubles and
| bloody records which have characterized the civil
ization Of the Indians in the many years gone by
| In relation to affairs along the Rio Grande Gen
| Sheridan says: &. - -
| Nearly all the troops in the Department OF Tex
as. except those along the Rio Gmnde frontier;
were engaged In this campaign. Those stationed
along the Rio Grande River. the boundary line be
| tween the United States and Mexico. have had the
| humliating duty Of attempting 10 protect our cit
izens and their property from raids BY people OF
lforeign country, who come over the boundary in
armed parties to steal cattle and do not hesitate to
attack and kill our citizens when necessary to ac-
| complish their purpose.
| The low stage Of water in the Rio Grande, and
its great length 200 or 500 miles-makes the
duty OF protecting it difficult in fact, almost i'm
possible, with the few. troops available TOR the