The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-19
Calling for More Military Posts.

With retrenchment the need OF the hour,
the Senate Military Committee has new
ertheless evolved another bill for new
army post-a bill laying out $4,000
for building fort among the Black
Hills, at the as yet unknown point
which Mr.. R. b. HAYES may, in his wisdom.
deem best adapted for the protection OF the
citizens Of the Black Hills country from the
hostile incursions of the Sioux and other In
dian tribes congregated or operating in that
locality"
This Is in addition to between $500, 900 and
$4,000 proposed by the same committee for
building new forts on the Rio Grande, and
to the $4,000 asked for new post on Milk
river-nearly 100000 in all, exclusive Of the
cost Of establishing and maintaining the
garrisons.
To help this bill, Mr.. G.. W. McCRARY sends
the committee letter, in which he quotes
Gen. TEcUMsEH SHERMAN as saying, under
date OF March q, 1875:
we must keep pace with our rapidly growing from.
tier. valuable mines now exist aud are being devel.
oTed IN the Black Hills OF Wyoming. Incidental the reto
farms and ranches being opened necessarily
tered aud exposed to Indian depredauons which will
need military protection Troops cannot exist In that
region without shelter and therefore post
sary. The amount, $4,000, is deemed ample"
But in letter sent from Montana, July
II, 1877, less than eight months before, this
same Gen. SHERMAN wrote to this same q.
w. McCRARY as follows:
IL now regard the Sioux Indian problem asa war cues
ton as solved b. the operations OF Gen MLEs last win
ter. and by the establishment Of the posts
Yellowstone now assured this summer
In the same letter he declared that 1.-THE
great mass of the hostilcs have been forced
10 go to the agencies for food and protection,
or have fled across the border into British
territory" and he claimed that in a few
years even the northerly route 10 Montana
by way Of the Yellowstone would be las
safe AS the Patte"-the North Fork OF which
flows through the Black Hills region.
Altogether, the need of that new $4,000
fort is not apparent Gen. SHERMAN himself
warily puts 1t as a prospective need,
and takes care to give you no infOrma-
ton as to the existing forts, and as to the
degree Of protection they afford the settle
ments.
What Congress should do is not to build
more military posts, but to abolish forth
with twenty or thirty of those now occu-
pied. The Senate has now before it
documents from division and department
NbillilblhNlSt ouONAuB illdl HlduJ UOSlS
could be and should be abandoned
at once and permanently. Gen. Pope
says: Concentration would be Of immense
benefit in every way, especially in the way
Of economy and he recommends the aban-
donment OF Fort Lyon, Fort Wallace Fort
Hays, Fort Harlior, Fort Iarned, Fort Craig,
Fort Selden, Fort McRae, and Fort Dodge.
! Gen. CROOK recommends the abandonment
Of Fort Bridger, Fort Hartsuh, and the
| North Platte post, and says that no mill
| tary necessity now exists" for troops at
| Fort Steele, Fort Sanders, Fort Mcpherson,
and Sydney barracks, though these are
cheap places for the stationing of troops"
| We may remark, by the way, that some OF
these forts are not far distant from the
Black Hills region. where the new $4,000
| fort is called for. Gen. KAUTz says that
! Camp Grant, Camp Lowell, Camp Bowie,
Camp Verde, and Camp Mojave can be aban-
| dOned, so far as military needs are concern
| ed. Gen. MCDOWELL suggests the aban-
| donment Of Camp Independence, Camp IIar-
ney, and Camp McDermit; Gen. HANCOCK
that OF Newport barracks and Chattanooga;
Gen. TERRY that of Fort Sully and Fort
Rice. Gen. SHERIDAN adds Fort Union and
Camp Stambaugh to the lists already given.
Gen. ORD adds Fort Richardson and Fort
Griffin.
The Senate will find quite enough to do in
diminishing the stations not needing troops,
without making itself anxious for establish
ing new ones. Where even army officers,
responsible for the peace of their depart
ments and the security OF property, ac-
knowledge so many surplus military posts,
probably still more practicable reductions
could be discovered. Studying that branch