The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-11-15

The report OF Gen. sheridan concerning tn
operations IN the Military Division ~ Mi,
.ouri during the past year. & Of considerable
'ength ana mainly devoted 20 the India
TO garrison the ~ permanent posts m
camps IN this division. embracing the coun
Wy rom British America to the Rio Grandt
there are Tour companies OF artillery, nverag
Ing W men each. eight regiments of cavalry
averaging ld5 men each. ana - regiment
81 Infantry, averaging az men each. whicl
~ inquired out ~ being one man 10 100 squar
miles IN the Department Of Texas and on
20 every 70 square miles ia the Department
q Dakota, and about the same ratio ii
the Departments ~ the Platte and III.
Missouri "Whcn ii Is borne m mind I'm
TINS immense section Of country has 10 h.
constantly under. surveillance against Indi
Mexican ana side rs'd'of Ps'eI ~, IRON .r.n 2.
the work that has 10 be performed
w mat portion Of our army located within
TINS military division will be appreciated by
Al military men and by those VITO have ever
lived upon our frontier. No other army ia
the world hns such difiIcnlt fine TO keep in
nruef, anu no army In modern times has had
Sucn an amount Of work put upon the same
number Of men. In all other countries II Is
the custom 70 establish gafiisons OF not less
thnn nregment or brigade. while we have
one ON ' or t~a % vimlar duties only
hfe rarely II ever. togs Their; the posts are
generally garrt~oned by one, two or four
companies. who are expected 70 hold and
guard against one Of the most acute and
wary Toes IN the world "A space of land that
~ any Otnef country would be held by Il brig.
adc. TO 90 this requires sleepiess wntchftil.
ness, great activity and tirrlcss energy, and
an graiiilrd 10 know that, a. general
tiinT our CHEERS possess those soldieriy
ns being very unsatisfactory at the present
time. He says: "Thc Indian Department.
owing 90 want OF sufficient appropriation or
from wrctched misinanagcmcnf. has given
@EftlHfnAnfl VA fufft s...tt s.s.x
constant anxiety during the last year, aud in
some places loss of life and property attend
81 with dreadful crimes and crueltics There
mas pccii an insufiiciency OF food at the Agen-
cies, and, a. the game H. gone, hunger has
mhue the indians IN some cases desperate
anu almost any race Of men will fight rather
Shan stufNe IL seems TO me, with wise man.
agement, that the amounts appropriated by
Congress ought 20 be sufficient, IL practically
snppiicd 20 the exact purposes specified. and
but the reports Of the Department Com.
manders forwarded herewith would Indicate
y :. Inherent result, except IN the case OF the
Ked Cloud and Spotted Tail bands OF sioux.
who, although threatening I'm their conduct
have been the best supplied, and have been
until their Increasing insolence
constantly threatens TO bring about a breach
" tue peace. had hoped that the agencies
OF these Indians would have been retained
on the Missouri River, where they could have
been fed and looked after at comparatively
small expense; but this would not have suit.
"a the traders and contractors, who, i fear.
abofed systematically last summer and fall
- work up the result which has been obtain
ground than the Missouri bottom. and
ocated nc points beyond the riv-
a lines OF transportation; for in
lance, Red Clouds band, where the expense
- on the Missouri River. In addition, these
indians sc now located near the line Of
fnNelt TO NJ Black Hills, and are on the cx- !
RENE western limit OF their reservation, and
where contact with the whites Is liable to
frequently occur. and doubt N, In the pres. /
M frame OF mind Of the RED Cloud Indians.
he two races can live closely together /
without fighting. There does not seem ID lie K
Tow, ana there never has been, much sfeadi. I
css ~ tile management Of the Indians and
Y We're not Tor the results which 80 severe
y Involve the military, this would be none
I my business, and would not be mentioned
ere"
Gen. Sheridan gives AZ length his opinion
4 the causes Of our Indian wars. The first
nilse was the inevitable crowding out Of tho
indians by the Westward tide Of white emf
ration. and this. while unavoidable, would
ave been accomplished with much less
roublc had not the military forces employ
q IA protecting the settlements and subdil.
ng the savagcs been insufficient TO intimi.
ate or even punish tkem Tor their acts 81
Ostiiity.
" The second outbreak Of Indian hostiiities
caused IN this way: After he has lost his
lain on reservations. his limits cifcum.
ciibcd, his opportunities Of hunting abridg.
!; his game disappearing, sickness "a MS
,dge from change q life and food. and IN
regularly supplied, and the reflection
Drring TO him OF what he was, and
hat he now T., and pinchcd by hunger, ere
es feeling OF Dissatisfaction, which, In the
,scnce OF n good strong force OF soldiers,
arts him out on the war path again. and
harmed people are killed. settlements bro
infusion exists. This condition OF affairs a
ell illustrated by the recent outbreak of the |
orthern Cheyenncs, who lately abandoned
cir reservation at Fort Reno, and the same I
light be said OF the outbreak OF the Nez
srces last year, and certainly OF that az :
2 Bnnnocks and Shoshoncs in this year, ,
the Chcy ennes, kiowas and Comanches, and !
less wiser measures prevail hereafter il
III go on The Crows will come In next. the .
'sinaboines and Gros.Nentres and Wild
hes north Of the Missouri will he obliged TO !
low. spotted Tails and Red Clouds peo- 7
. will be driven 70 the same conditions I
entually, and so on down 70 the tribes I'm 4
= western part OF the Indian Territory. To !
event or even meet the calamity which .
thout exposing other important points,
can collect together only a few hundred =
sn." h
'On the Rio Grande border, troubles until c
lite lately have continued about the same
they have been for years past and are In
lent 70 the character Of the population on b
les in length from III paso 20 ifs mouth, .
4 fordabr nc almost any place. and Next z
ns and Indians committing depredations :.
Texas have every facility for cscap- \
20 the Mexican side. I think :
W that the Mexican Government Z
making more cxcrtion 10 suppress u
viessncSs than heretofore. II IL does not Al
,cced, would recommend that Congress n
- an act that, from and after a certain FIX
time, II depredations in Texas IRE not sis
itinucd, a force OF troops be sent across at -
tain points and kept there until ueprtda- n
~ entirely cease. The moral elect Ol I =
IA Congressional action would. ia my opin u
!. prevent all future ttoublc." "
eo>-