The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-07
synopsis u ca. shetl.n's Annual
s ID "elor.
F sS WAsHtyaroN, Nov a. 4
Gen. Sherman, in his .lpual report i
tho Secretay of War, says: ~

the Secretary of War, says. - q
By the assignment Of MAJ: Gen. schoaeld
Academy that institution 10 made equal t.
that of division command, and West Point
should rightfully institute military depart
ment, SO that its Superintendent, rs tho
Comm anding- General of the Department.
may exercise all the powers and functions
of such Commander, Especially to order gen.
their findings, and to execute all sentences
not especially reserved by the articles of war
to the President and Secretary of War. The
Military Academy, in addition to Its gwell-es-
tablished character as q literary and scientific
school, should form the model for an army,
and the habits Of the youth trained therein
should be in exact accordance with what ex-
for the efficient government of an army 81
the field.
Gen. Sherman says that the Academy un-
der Gen. Schofield's administration will take
rank among the first educational establish.
ments of the world.
consists of rs ,331 men, all of whom are as
actively employed as though war existed.
By the subdivision of territory every fort of
the country lis under the supervision of a
general officer near at hand, with part of
the army proportioned to the supposed ne.
cessity to maintain order and peace, whereby
the settlement of the country may progress
laws of the United States. On the military
divisions of the Atlantic there are no hostile
Indians, but troops have been actively en-
ployed in aiding United States Marshals in en-
forcing the revenue laws, and in protecting
the weak against the prejudices of the
strong in the frequent necessities Of civil
elections. These duties call for the highest
of md mr.
sure the behavior of the troops in every in
stance has commanded the respect of all
men. The care and preservation of public
property and of the seacoast ports is chief
duty Of the troops.
The chief military events Of the year
have transpired in the Military Division of
the Missouri, where state of actual war
has existed for many years, and still con-
tinues. l am not yet in possession of Gen.
Sheridan's report, but, in anticipation of its
receipt, will endesvor to give 4 concise re-
port of some of the chief points as gath
cred from reports and letters received during
their progress.
"In the Department of the Gulf the
troops under Gen. Anger have been shifted
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 discretion and
kOOu 1uUkucut.
"On the Texas frontier, especially the
Mexican border, has long existed an unsatis-
factory condition of affairs. Civil war has
each faction has at times sought an asylum
on this side of the Rio Grande; but from
Gen. 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 murders, steal horses, cattle,
etc. and cross III back XVI with d their stolen
they are comparatively safe from pursuit
from our troops, who rarely hear of the raid
until it is too late to intercept them. be-
lieve no one supposcs the authorities of the
National Government of Mexico can be
rrivy to this nefarious business, and it is
probably carried on spite of the better peo-
pie on both sides of the border. There are
now in Texas two regiments of cavalry, the
Eigh h and Tenth, which will be filed up as
rapidly az possible to the maximum stand
ard; also three regiments of Infantry, the
Tenth, Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth,
which are necessarily very small under the
existing laws. Still, hope, with increased
activity, these troops will suffice to protect
the border from incursions which discour-
age settlement and are otherwise very irri-
tating and dcmoralizing.
:" In the Department of the Missouri, the
Indians of New Mexico have been remarka-
bly, quiet, and the Kiowas, Comanchcs,
Cheyennes and Arapahoes, located on the
reservation at and near Fort Sill, have been
exceptionally quiet this summer though re-
quiring for reasonable security 10 the Kan
sas frontier pretty strong garrisons at Forts
sill, Elliott, Dodge and Supply, and small
garriSons along the Arkansas River and Kan
sas Pacific Railroad"
Tie chief events to which Gen. Sherman re-
fcss are those relating to the war with the
Sioux, and alter giving a detailed history
them, and the death of Custer with his COM
mand, ETC., says:
"Col. Hazen, of the Sixth Infantry, COM
handing at Fort Buford, has started up the
Missouri River for Fort Peck with four COM
panics Of his regiment to head of Sitting
Bull, who is reported by the surrendered
Chiefs to have slipped out with thirty lodges
of his own special followers during the re-
treat down Bad Route Creek, and to have
resumed his course for Fort Peck in the
British possessions. Col. Miles reports his
purpose to replenish his supplies, to turn
north and follow this last desperate band to
the death.
"Gen. Crook organized a new column at
Fort Fetterman with which he left on tho
paign against the faction of hostile
Sioux under Crazy Horse. Gen. Sheri-
dan, in his last dispatch on this
subject, uses this language, which !
cordially indorse. If successful, of which l
do not doubt, the Sioux war and all other
Indian wars in this country of any magnitude
will be over forev-r.'
arrangements made for hcmming in and
capturing the remainder of the hostile
Sioux during winter must result in compar-
alive or complete success. Meantime no
change can DC 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 Randall, where
they can be guarded and fed at onc-half the
60, l,o4 fhax,