The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-11-13
THE United STATES ARMY.
More Men and More Money Needed
Lively Talk with Gen. sherman.

A reporter has had an interview
with Gen. Sherman in relation to the
increase and pay of the army. The
General said:
Congress ought, in my judgment,
TO pass the Army bill at once, without
any special legislation. The army needs
the money, and nothing could be added
to the Appropriation bill that can oc-
easion debate. While l was before the
Appropriation Com mittee, yesterday, !
was asked If I could not get along with
the present force of the army. | an
swered unhesitatingly NO. The fact
is we are not getting On ut all. The
safety Of the people, the safety of the
Government, and the general Govern
ment property, demand more men.
Before the war there was only one
grand line to guard, that extended from
Lake Superior to Puget Sound. Now
there are n dozen lines running through
Wyoming, Arizona, Montana, Utah,
and the other States and Territories of
the great West. Without its protec-
tion there would be a West without
population or development. Then
there is n long and dangerous
Mexican frontier with a condition of
affairs that may any day involve us
in u war with Mexico. Nothing but
the judicious conduct of the army Off
GERS there can prevent II war. There
are many Of the inhabitants along the
border who want n war; but it Is not to
the interest of the Government to en-
gage in a war with Mexico"
What do you propose as 4 remedy"
The army must have more men.
The regiments ought to be recruited
up their full standard, so that we might
have 2 1000 effective men; fifty privates
and ten non-eommissioned officers in
each company. The clerks and all nom
combatants should be called by their
right names, and should not be charged
to the actual force of the army. The
President should be given the right to
take from n regiment in an unexposed
position any number of enlisted men,
and add to another regiment in an ex-
posed condition in case of emergency.
The fact is, my friend. as l told the
House committee, the army Is not get
ting on ut all. Why, in the West, where
fve been this Summer, the officers
a to carry muskets, and thus do duty
both as officers and ~privates. General
Gibbon carried n gun all Summer long.
1t is said by some that the frontiersman,
the pioneers and settlers on the border
are the best Indian-fighters, and can
take care of themselves. How was it
during the SummerY When General
Gibbon went from Fort Shaw to the
Big Horn, last August, he could rake
and scrape barely 1856 men to fight 400
warriors. He was Joined by thirty-iye
citizens, and went into battle. Four of
the citizens were killed and five or six
wounded. Now what becomes of the
wounded citizens, and what will the
families of the dead ones do? They
cannot get q pension, and they are thus
cut off from support. The settlers are
beginning to understand that there is
no fun in getting killed for the Gov
eminent that will let their families
starve afterwards"
In answer to n question, the General
of the Army said: ''There is another
point upon which ask your attention.
Where an army is so small, there is no
reserve. Every soldier is employed.
and in case of any emergency the army
is almost powerless. You must Judge
rs to the degrees of its usefulness.
Forces are taken from one point where
they are needed, and placed at another
point where they are needed. Besides.
it would be economy to have a large
army judiciously disposed throughout
the country. The transportation ac-
count of the army is enormous. Dur
ing the labor riots last Summer troops
had to be brought to PENNSYLVANIA all
the way from New Orleans, and fire.
quently in the West troops have to be
removed from n point to the other
in emergencies, thousands of miles.
The amount spent for transportation
alone would increase the army to it's
required strength. What is wanted of
Congress is an appropriation in bulk.
The Secretary of War and the General
Of the Army are the best judges of cir
curnstances rs they arise. Thirty mil
lions of dollars a year net would place