Mexico weekly ledger., 1876-12-14
General Sherman's Annual Report.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. %. Gen. Sher.
War, says: By the assignment Of Major General.
Schofeld to the superintendent of the Military
Academy, that institution is made to equal that.
of a division command, and West Point should
rightfully constitute a military department, so.
that its superintendent, as the Commanding
powers and functions of such commander, espe-
cially to order General Courts, or disapprovs
their findings; and to execute all sentences not
specially reserved by the Articles Of War to the
President and Secretary of War. The Military
Academy, in addition to its well established
should form the model for an army, and the hab,
it's of youth trained therein should be in exact
accordance with " hat experience has demon
strated to be necessary for the efficient govern
ment of an army in the field. General Sherman,
says that the Roadway made under General Scho-
fields administration will enable it to take rank.
among the first educational establishments of the
world.
H AGGREGATE FORCE
of the army now consists of D ,33l men, all Of
whom are as actively employed as though war
existed. By the subdivision of territory every
foot of the country is under the supervision of a
general onicer near at hand, with a part of the
army proportional to the supposed necessity to,
maintain order and peace, whereby the settle
ment of the country may progress, and civil
officers be enabled to enforce the laws OF the
United States. On the
MILITARY DIVISION OF THE
there are no hostile Indians, but troops have
been actively employed aiding United States,
Marshals in enforcing the revenue laws. and in
protecting the weak against the prejudices of
the strong. In the frequent cases of civil cleo
tions these duties call for the highest qualities of
havior Of troops In every instance has command
ed the respect of all men. The care and preser-
yation Of public property. and Of seacoast forts.
events of the year have transpired in the
MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI,
where a state ef actual war has existed for many
years, and still continues. am not yet in pos
session OF Gen. Sberidan's report. but, in antici-
patton of its receipt, will e%n,.eavor to give a con-
else account of some of the chief events as gath
ere1 from reports and letters received during
their progress. In the
DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
the troops under Gen. Augur have been shifted
from place to place, in aid of the civil authOri-
ties. under the same state of facts as in the De-
partment of the South, with similar results,
and have always used their power with consum-
mate discretion and good Judgment.
ON THE TEXAS FRONTIER
especially the Mexican border-has long existed
an unsatisfactory condition of affairs. Civil war
has existed in the border Mexican States. and
each faction has at times sought an asylum on
this side of the Rio Grande; but, from
General Ord's letters and reports, there
: seems to be an organized system of robbery by
small bands of Mexicans and Indians, who
cross to the Texas side, commit murder, steal
horses, cattle, ETC.. and escape back with their
stolen property to the other side, where they are
comparatively free from punishment and pur-
suit from our troops, who rarely hear OF the
no one supposes the authorities of the National
Government of Mexico can be privy to this ne
farious business, and it is probably carried on
in spite of the better people on both sides
of the border. There are now in Texas two reg
iments of cavalry-the Sth and l0th-which will
be filled up as rapidly IS possible to the maxi
mum standard; also three reg Iments of infantry
the 10th, cath and 25th-which are necessarily
very small under the existing laws. Still |
hope, with increased activity, these troops will
suffice to protect the border from incurslons
which discourage settlement and are otherwise
very irritating and demOraliZing. In the
;, DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI
the Indians of New Mexico have been remarka-
bly, good. and the kiowas. Comanches, Chey-
ennes and Arapahoes, located on the reservation
at and near Fort Sill, have been exceptionally
= quiet. this summer, though requiring, for rea-
sOnable security to the Kansas frontier, pretty
? strong garrisons at Forts Sill, Elliott. Dodge and
Supply, and small garrisons along the Arkansas
River and Kansas Pacific Railroad.
THE WAR WITH THE SIOUX.
] The chief events to which Gen. Sherman refers
are those relating to the war with the Sioux; and,
L after giving a detailed history concerning late
= expeditions against them, and the death of Gen.
/, Custer with his command, ETC., Gen. Sherman
1 says: Col. Hazen of the 9Th Infantry, command
, ing Fort Buford, has started up the Missouri
: River for Fort Peck. with four companies of his
regiment 18th Infantry to head off Sitting Bull,
who is reported by the surrendered chiefs to have
| slipped out with 80 lodges of his own special fol-
. lowers during the retreat down Bad Route
1 Creek. and to have resumed his course for Fort
Peck or the British Possessions. Col. Miller re-
ports his purpose to replenish his supplies, and
. to turn north and follow this last desperate pand
. to the death. General Crook reorganiZed a new
s column at Fort Fetterman, with which he left on
o the 9th of October for another early winter
Z campaign against that faction OF the hostile
Sioux under Crazy Horse. General Sheridan,
in his last dispatch on this subject, uses this
!, language. which | cordially indorse: eff sue
/ ~cessful, of which l do not doubt, the Sioux war
f and all other Indian wars in this country of any
q magnitude will be over forever" The
Z arrangements made for hemming in and
o capturing the remainder of the hostile Sioux
during the winter must result in comparative or
complete success. Meantime no change can be
attempted this year at the Agencies. but trust
next year all the Sioux nation will be compelled
to remove to the Missouri River, near Fort Ran
dali, where they can be guarded and fed at one
half the present cost. and where, if there be any
= chance to civilize them, the opportunity viii be
l far better than in their present scattered Agen-
= piac