Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1877-09-15
lcONTlNUED,l
Fl. ELLIOTT, TEXAS. Sept. 1 1877.

The Pan Handle is that part that pro-
jects itself. wedge-like. in between the
Indian Territory and New Mexico. 1t is
to great extent elevated table-land. de-
sceniing gradually from the snow:clad
Sierra Msdre IN Colorado and New Mex
leo.
After drive of nine miles over beau
tifui country, We come to Sweetwater
creek. on the second bottom or table Of
which on the north side 10 situated Fort
Elliott. This Fort was commenced Two
Year, ago. and is not Yet completed in
conformity to the original plan. but at
present six company quarters have been
built, with all the necessary buildinU,
Q. n. & c. s. store houses, adjutanrs
office, &c.
The post In ut present commanded by
Lieut.. Col. Hatch. 4th Cavalry, and c
and companies of the 18th Infantry. and
+ and b companies Of the 9Th Cavalry
are doing duty. Lieut.. Thomas II.
Wenuie, Of the 10Th Infantry. 10 A. A. Q.
power saw null for saving tho wood for
the post. The quarters arc all built Of
frame, aud present q comfortable appear
ance. Tins post is built some sixteen
miles from the old 'Csntonment ON the
Sweetwater," owing to the location being
more suitable.
Sweetwaser City, q thriving little town,
is situated just At the edge of the govern
ment reservation, some three miles MP the
river Of the same name. This section Of
country has some historic epoehs which is
quite interesting 10 the student of history.
It WAS IN this part Of the great west that
General Sheridan. in 1865. executed the
most effective campaign against the In
dams that has been recorded at all events
II created the greatest hub-buD IN the
Eastern States as atrocious and hendlsh.
only paralleisd by the savages themselves.
General Sheridan was then. and 10 to-day.
one OF the most practical military chief
tains that probably ever lived. He saw
the folly of a summers campaign against
the savage Indians, and at once inaugu-
rated the burning policy. which proved so
successful in quellinR the entire hostile
element. Our little army. under the la
mented Genl. Geo. A. Custer. reduced in
midwinter no less than four Tribes to
complete subsection, VIZ: the Comanches.
Several women and children were killed
when their villages were attacked TO be
sure, and which raised such q cry back
east, but the destruction Of these nom
combatsnts can Dc laid exclusively to the
casualties of war, which every soldier
knows are unavoidable. General Custer
marched against the hostile Indians in
dan. The detail of the campaign was
lett to suboriinates, but the Lieutenant
General did not /. nor would he sanction. .
useless waste Of life But he was terribly
in earnest when in discharge Of his dnIy.
but no man can accuse Gen. Sheridan or
the late Gen. Custer of meanness or of
cruelty. The reader Will remember Q
fact OF sufficient importance to render US
cautious in = too hssty Judgment on mat
ters OF this kind. l have reference TO
General Clusters attack on Black Kettles
camp in November, 1869. There then
went up great and terrible cry from
eastern friends" that friendly Indians
lad been killed. Agents whose trade WAS
IN danger published tear-shedding protests
against the sayages of Custer and his
command. Even New YORK ct the time
held indignation meetings in Cooper's In
stitute 10 exprese their SORROW ~ the death
Of so maLy poor untu tored ln6ians,
when at the same time these very savAges
seld ~ prisoners Of war two young ladies
tmany morel whose mother and little
brothers were killed by the s9usws before
their very eyes. Fresh scalps of white
women and children werc found in the
lodges Of the chief. and many articles