The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-07-10
The Indian Massacre.
Gen. Sheridau,s Opinion

WASHINGTON, July S.-The following was re-
ceived here this morning:
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, July Z.
To Gen. w. I. Sherman
Your despatch is received. / thick it prema-
ture to think of asking for volunteer cavalry
with attendant expenses If six companies Of
the 22d infantry are given Terry, he will have
about 1000 men. Crook in few days will
have 1900 men and 1 send him Merrll's compa-
MES of the 9TH cavalry 400 strong. We are al
right. Give us little time
L deeply deplore the loss of Cnster, his officers
and men. fear it was an unnecessary sacri-
flee due to Misrepresentation and superabund-
apce.of courage-the latter being extraordnar-
lily developed in Custer.
will keep in constant communication and
If should see the slightest necessity for addi-
tional mounted men, which unfortunately can
not be furnished from my meagre command l
will not hesitate to ask for them and if Con-
gress will give the 100000 which have asked
for the past two years for the establishing
posts and the Tongue river and at the mouth
of the Big Horn it will be well in the interest
of economy and will settle the Sioux question.
1t should be remembered that the loss of
Custer and the men with him must have been
attended by at least corresponding loss on
P. H. SHERIDAN,
Lieutenant General.
Another despatch from Gen. Sheridan to
Gen. Sherman says he notified Gen. Terry that
SlA COmpdufeS VI Vic jill lulduITy uuucr ooU
Miles will Immediately join him, and also that
he has requested General Sherman to send
from Lake Station six companies of the 22d In
fantry to join them. Gen. Sheridan further
says:
/ have also notified General Crook of the
fact and that if he required any additional
force than the five companies already sent him
| can order the eight companies of infantry I'M
der General Merritt to join him. There is
nothing to be regretted but poor Clusters death
md ba off nd man with
umn was sufficiently strong to have handled
the Indians if Custer had waited for the juno
ton. There is no cause for uneasineSs, and we
will soon give the Indians another turn. will
be in Chicago by the first train.
General Sherman does not think the Indians
can number more than $500 or 5000 men, and
must be greatly embarrassed by their wound
ed.
Gen. Crooks Whereabouts.
OMAHA, July s.-Capt. McKerson, aid de
camp to Gen. Crooks staff, who went out with
the expedition, returned to Omaha yesterday.
He left Gen. Crook at one of the small forks of
the Tongue river at the base Of the Big Horn
Mountains, 1856 miles from the railroad The
command was awaiting the arrival of supplies
and renforcements. The latter, consisting of
five companies, left Fort Fetterman July 4th,
and are expected to reach Crook about the 18th.
he will also be joined about Monday by $50
Snake Indians. and these with the troops, will
increase the men in the expedition to about
1400.
Capt. McKerson has not apprehended any
danger to the expedition, and neither does
Crook. The attack of few weeks ago is not
looked upon as defeat, and all are confident
that Crook can whip the Sioux IS soon as rein
forcements arrive.
General Crooks location is not more than
150 miles from the scene of the Custer massa-
ere.
Troops Ordered to the Scene.
CHICAGO, July 8.-Four companies at De-
troit and on the lakes were last night ordered
to the front Immediately. Orders are also sent
to the 9th cavalry to concentrate at Red Cloud
and Spotted Tail agencies. Dispatches from
the frontier and the plains show desperate
feeling of indignation against the Indians.
Adjutant General Drum said last evening,
II do not think there is the slightest proba-
bility of any change being made in command
ers. ReInfOrcements are being as rapidly
pushed forward as circumstances will admit
and we have reason to think our time will soon
come"
LEAvENwoRTH, Jelly Seen. Pope has is
sued orders directing Gen. Miles with six COM
panies at the 9th infantry to report at once to
the scene OF the Sioux war. The companies so
ordered are stationed one at Fort Gibson, one
at Fort Hayes, one at Fort Riley, and three at
Fort LeavenwOrth.
Gen. Miles has the reputation of being one
of the best Indian fighters in the army.
Gen. Terry's Report.
PHILADELPHIA, July Seen, Terry's report,
dated June q, which had been delayed on the
Montana telegraph lines, was received by Gen.
Sheridan last night. 1t fully confirms all
which has been already published, but contains
very few new points of interest.