The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-11-20
Passssaa,dnia!nte,a the 9ncham-
pion Idiot.
H9aAI2 MOO
WASHING TON.
schur. After sheridan,s scalp.

Sehurz After Sheridan's Scalp.
Washington, Nov 19.-The secre-
tary of war received and referred to
Gen. Sherman letters from the secre-
tary Of the interior, shar ply replying to
certain statements by Gen. Sheridan in
the latter's report Secretary Schurz
says these statements, so far as they
reflect upon the conduct of the Indian
service, are of u sweeping and somewhat
vague nature, but it must be assumed
that Gen. Sheridan would not have
made them and permitted them to be-
come public had he not In his possession
specific information concerning certain
agencies and certain branches of the
Indian service to which these state
ments may be Individually applied.
Gen. Sherican, in his official document,
gives it as his opinion that with wise
men as agents the amounts appropriated
by congress ought to be sufficient il
applied to the exact purpose specified,
but that the reports of department
commanders would indicate different
result, except in the case Of Red Cloud
and Spotted Tail bands of Sioux. He
would certainly not have expressed
such an opinion without being ac-
quainted with the appropriations made
by congress and the specific purposes
for which they were intended. 1t is
also to be supposed that before making
the sweeping charges above quoted, he
was cognizant Of specific cases in which
those appropriations were not either
applied ut all or diverted from the
purpose intended by congress. You
will greatly oblige me byrequesting Gen.
Sheridan to communicate such facts as
may be in his possession, giving the
names of agents, dates and other cir
cumstances which warrant the charges,
which include all Indian agencies in
the military division of the Missouri,
except those of Red Cloud and Spotted
Tail bands of Sioux.
He asks specific information on the
subject in view of the fact that certain
military officers seem of late to have
fallen into the habit of indulging OIL
cially, and probably in general reHec-
tion, on the Indian service without TAX
ing the trouble of substantiating with
such statements as would facilitate the
discovery of abuses. do not deprecate
criticism at all; I rather invite it, but
when it is officially put forth there is, it
seems to me, certain fairness due
from one branch Of the public service
to another. l should, for instance, not
deem any officer of this department JUS
titled in blaming the army for its failure
to intercept the runaway Cheyennes on
their march of several hundred miles
through Kansas and Nebraska, and
across the Union Pacific railroad,3 with
out being able to point out certain in
stances Of mismanagement or neglect.
If such instances come to the knowledge
of this department. which they have
not, should have considered it due to
the army that they be specifically ascer-
tained and stated, before indulging in
general arraignment.
Gen. Sheridan's intimation that the
Red Cloud and Spotted Tail Sioux were
allowed to select their present locations
owing to systematic working up of
the case by traders and contractors, is
also made the subject Of emphatic COM
ment by Secretary Schurz.s He states
that this policy was adopted by the de-
partment on the earnest advice of the
distinguished Indian fighter and man
ager, Gen. Crook, who, as result of
his long experience with the Sioux, OPP
posed any policy that would force the
Sioux against their unanimous and de-
termined protest to stay on the Mis-
souri, river, as seriously endangering
our peaceful relations with those pow
erful tribes; and the secretary adds
| that 50 far, at least, their loyal conduct