The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-11-09
Gen. Sheridan'S Annual Report.

Lieut., Gen. L. ii. Sherldan'S annual
report to the General of the army has
been made public. The General takes
occasion to refer at considerable
length to the inadequate force of the
Division of the Missouri to carry out
all its duties successfully. He says
mo other army in the world has
such difficult line to keep in order,
and no army in modern times has
had such an amount of work put up
on the same number of men. In all
other countries it is the custom to es-
tablish garrisons of not less than
regiment or a brigade, while we have
for the performance Of similar duties
only one or two comapnies. With us,
regiments are rarely, if ever, to-
gether. The posts are generally gar.
rIsoned by one or two or four cOmpa-
MES who are expected to hold and
guard against one of the most acute
and wary foes in the world space of
country that in any other land would
be held by brigade. To do this re-
quires sleepless watchfulness, great
activity, and tireless energy, and l
am gratified to know that as general
thing our officers possess these SOL
derby qualities"
By far greater portion Of the re-
port is taken up with presentation
of the condition of Indian affairs in
West and Northwest and a discus
sion of the causes which have led to
the war, and the best means to bring
about a permanent peace. Gen. Sher-
idan says 1.-The Indian situation at
unsatisfactory. The Indian Depart
ment, owing to want of sufficient ap
preparations, or from wretched mis-
management, has given to the settle
mentS in the western country
constant anxiety during the last
year, and in some places loss of life
and loss of property, attended with
dreadful crimes and cruelties. There
has been an insufficiency of food at
the agencies, and as he game is
gone, hunger has made the Indians
in some cases desperate, and almost
any race of men will fight rather
than Starve. | t seems to me, with
wise management, that the amounts
appropriated by Congress ought to
be sufficient if practically applied to
the exact purposes specified, and il
the supplies are regularly delivered.
But the reports of the department
commanders, forwarded herewith,
would indicate different result, eX-
cept in the case of the Red Cloud
and Spotted Tail bands of Sioux
who, although threatening in their
conduct, nave been the best supplied
| and have been humored until their
increasing insolence constantly threa-
tens to bring about a brea h of the
peace" The General reviews at
length the situation of the Indians
ten Years ago, and the causes which
have led to their present condition.
At that time their wants were salts
fed. But" says he, "alas for the
poor savage, along came the nine
teenth century progress, or whatever
it may be called, to disturb their hap
py condition. The white men
crowded on to the grounds of the In
dianS, and made encroachments on
their rights which no government
could stop. Our HANDFUL of soldiers
was at first sent to protect the In.
dians, but such attempts were power
less. The government made treaties,
gave presents, made promises, none
of which We're honestly fulfilled, and
like all original treaties with Indians
in this country, they were the first
steps in the process of developing
hostlties. The Indi n became jeal-
Gus and trouble broke out. Already
we have had outbreaks with the XII
owas, Comanches, Sioux, Bannocks,
Nez Perces and ShJshones. Unless
wiser measures prevail hereafter e
trouble will go on. The Crows will
come in, next the AssinibOines and
Gros Ventres, and the wild tribes
north OF the Missouri will be obliged
to follow. Spotted Tails and Red
Clouds people will be driven to the
same conditions eventually, and so
on down to the tribes in the western
part of the Indian Territory. To pre-
vent or even meet the calamity
which may occur we are entirely I'M
prepared, for without exposing other
important points, we can collect to-
gether but a few hundred men. de-
sire to warn the General of the army
that we have not half the troops re-
quired to meet these anticipated
troubles. Now that the game, upon
which the Indians depend for their
raniIlar .nn1,IV nf food -, 49,.