The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1876-11-30
Annual sepsrt Of the General Of The Army.

tary of War, says: "By the assignment
OF Major General Scbofield to the Sup
erintendency of the Military Academy
that institution Is made equal to that o.
a division command, and West POM
should rightfully constitute a military
department, so that its Superintendent.
as the commanding general OF the de
partment, may exercise all the powers
and functions of such commander, es
pccially TO order general courts-martial
to approve or disapprove their findings.
and to execute all sentences not especi
ally reserved by the articles of war tc
the President and Secretary of War
The Military A cademy, in addition &c
its well-established character as litera
~ and scientific school, should from the
need for an army, and the habits of the
youth trained therein be in exact accor
dance with what experience has de
monstrated to be necessary for tho eft
ficient government Of an army in the
field" General Sherman says that the
academy under General Schofeld's ad-
ministration will take rank among the
first educational establishments of the
world.
The aggregate Force Of the army now
consist of %, 33l men, all of whom are
as actively employed as though war ex-
listed, by the subdivision of territory.
Every fort of the country is now under
supervision of q general officer near at
hand, with part of the army apportioned
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. In the Mill.
tary Division of the Atlantic there are
no hostile Indians, but troops have been
actually employed in enforcing the rev.
enue laws and in protecting the weak
against the prejudices of the strong in
the freqeunt excitements of civil elect
ions. These duties call for the highest
qualities of firmness and prudence, and
| am sure the behavior of the troops 10
every instance has commanded the re-
spect of all men. The care and preser-
walton of public property and of sea
coast forts is chief duty of the troops.
The chief military events Of the year
have TRANSFERRED m the military division
of the Missouri, where state of actual
war has existed for many years and still
continues. am not yet in possession
of General Sheridan's report, but in an
ticipation of its receipt will endeavor to
give concise report of some Of the chief
points as gathered from reports and let
ters received during their progress.
In the Department Of the Gulf the
troops under General Augnr have been
shipped from place to place in aid of the
civil authorities under the same state of
facts as IN the Department of the South
with similar results, and have always
used their power with consummate dis
erection and good judgement.
On the texas frontier, especially the
Mexican border, has long existed an un-
satisfactory condition of affairs. Civil
war has existed on the border Mexican
States, and each faction has at times
sought asylum OH this side of the Rio
Grande but from General Ord's letters
aud reports, there seems to be an organ
ized system Of robblng by small bands
of Mexicans and Indians who cross TO |
the Texas side, commit murders, steal
horses, cattle, ect., and cross back with |
their stolen property to the other side,
where they are comparatively safe
from pursuit from our troops, who rare
ly hear of the raid until it is too late TO |
intercept. | believe no one supposes
the authorities of the national govern
ment of Mexico can be privy TO this
nefarious 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 regiments Of cavalry, |
The Eighth and Tenth, which will be fill |
ed up as rapidly as possible to the max
mum standard also three regiments of
infantry, tho Tenth and Twenty-fourth,
which are necessarily very small under
he existing laws, still hope with in
;reased activity that these troops will
suffice to protect the border from incurs-
ons which discourage settlement, and |
ire otherwise very irritating and dem
,raliziDg.
In the Department of Missouri the
indians of New Mexico have been re-
good, and the Kiowas, Co.
nanches, Cheyennes, and Arapahoes,
ocated on the reservation at and near
Fort Sill, have been exceptionally quiet
his summer, though requiring tor rea
enable security to the Kansas frontier
'retty strong garrisons at Forts Sill,
elliott, Dodge, and Supply, and small
.arrisons along the Arkansas River and
Kansas Pacific Railroad.
The chief events to which General
sherman refers are those relating to
be war with tho Sioux; and after Civ
ng q detailed history concerning the
ate expeditions against them and the
cath of General Custer with his COM
hand and company, General Sherman ,
avs: "Colonel Hazen, Sixth Infantry,
in Fort Buford;'h has started j
n the Missouri River for Fort Peck
nth four companies of his regiment !,
Sixth Infantry to head of Sitting Bull, ]
rho is reported By surrendered chiefs to
ave shipped out with 80 lodges of his !
wn special followers during the retrea.
own Bad Route Creek, and TO have re-
umcd his course tor Fort Peck or the .
British Possessions. Colonel Miles re-
orts his purpose to repIenish bis sup
lies, to turn north, and follow this last
espcrate band TO the death. General
'roolS organized another column at Fort
'etterman, with which he left on the
=, l. 81 Oosoher for another carly winter