Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-08-30
that Is as far as have the right 10 go.
NJ uu,lhut Some arc In gorrison

that Is as far as have the right TO 60.
Mr.. Hurlbut. Some arc in garrison
along the seaport forts2 A. Yes, thcrc
arc some 400 in tho forts and at For
trcss Monroe which is school for ar
tiIlcry and has nothing moro TO do
with the South than with Maine
There arc five companies there and;
l50 extra recruits and extra officers
for instruction ii the science Of nrtil-
lery. They aro not subject to tho
commanding General Of tho depart
ment, but to my orders.
Mr.. MacDougall. Is thcre surplus
of officers in the army2 A. There is
not, but a great scarcity, especially Of
JUNIOR officers. There are plenty Of
high officers, but scarcity of young
captains and lieutonants.
Mr.. Reilly. There arc 46l men in
Mississippi A. There are only six com
panies there Some men were sent up
from Holly Springs to escape yellow
fever in Louisiana. They are merely
cantoncd there. Every time that we
propose to withdraw troops there is an
effort made by the Governors and
members OF Congress to keep them
there. do not believe there are moro
than 200 men stationed in Mississippi.
] suppose there is no concealment OF
the fact that the negroes down there
are uneasy and restless. They claim
assistance and protection from the
Government of the United States, and
the orders are TO afford il to them; not
10 interfere with the State authorities
by any means, but to afford protection
to any human being that applies for il
at garrison.
Mr.. Cook. | do not think that the
troops have been called on in ten years.
A. | do not know that they have, but
the people of Georgia are very glad TO
have n garrison al Atlanta.
The Chairman. The object of my
inquiry was to ascertain whether troops
could be spared from the South to re-
inforce the army in the Indian country.
A. am compelled to answer that they
cannot be spared, because those who
are entrusted with power judge their
presence there necessary. That decis-
ion is TO me sacred and final, and gov.
crns me.
Mr.. Terry. You do not, however,
say that it is your judgment? A. 1t
is hardly right to ask a soldier for an
opinion behind his duty. We ought
not to form an opinion.
The Chairman. Your advice would
be against reducing the present term
of enlistment? A. Yes, ! would pre-
fer to enlist them under existing laws.
The Chairman. If the term of en-
listment was made shorter do you not
think you could get these recruits into
service earlier? A. No. If a man
makes. up his mind to enlist he does
not stop to inquire as 10 the term. We
can get as many recruits for five years
MS we can Tor three years or for one
year. The Indian Department now
is in iull active cooperation with US,
and we are acting in perfect harmony.
Crook and Terry have received at this
time all the renforcements that they
have asked for or that we expect to
give at this moment. We are now
looking to the question Of our rear
The Indian Department is in full sym
patby with our army.
The Chairman. What is tho strength
of Crooks and Terry's commands ? A.
think they amount to $500 men each.
Mr.. Williams. Are you not Impressed
with the idea that the Indians are
breaking up? A. think they are
scattering now. Crook and Terry are
both extremely careful, prudent, eau
tious men, and will not attack these
Indians in position until they can give
them tremendous whipping.
MIR. Terry. What proportion of the
troops is infantry A. Crook must
have got 2s companies of cavalry that
would average about6O men. Hemust
have 800 cavalry and about 1000 in
fantry. Terry must have 1900 infant
ry and about 500 or GOO cavalry. lie
has the whole OF the Seventh Cavalry
(Which VIC have reinforced as much as
possible) and four companies OF the
Second.
The Chairman asked the Secretary
of War whether he desired TO make
any statement to the committee, but
the Secretary merely said that he con-
Cured entirely in all that General Shcr-