The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-11-06
OUR BORDER TROUBLES.
The Important Document Submitted
by Sheridan to Sherman.
The Causes Which Have Precipitated
Indian Wars.
The United states Government Must
Assume the Responsibility.

General Sheridan's report 10 General Sher-
man concerning the work and workings dur.
ing the past year of the military division OF
Missouri. 1t contains many interesting facts,
which will be very generally read through
out the west.
THE PRESENT SITUATION.
The Indian situation at the present time
is, am sorry to say, unsatisfactory. The
indian Department owing to want of suffi-
cieDt appropriation or from wretched mis-
management, has given to the settlements in
the western country constant anxiety dur
ing the last year, and in some places loss of
life and loss OF property, attended with
dreadful crimes and cruelues. There has
been an insufficiency of food at the agencies,
and as the game Is gone, hunger has made
the Indians in some cases desperate, and al
most any race of men will fight rather than
starye. 1t seems to me, with wise manage
ment that the amounts appropriated by con-
gress ought to be sufficient, IL pra ctically ap-
piled to the exact purposes specified, and if
the supplies are regularly delivered, but the
reports Of the department commanders for
warded herewith would indicate a different
result, except in the case of the Red Cloud
and Spotted Tail bands of Sioux who, al
though threatening In their conduct have
been the best supplied, and have been
humored until their increasing insolence
breach of the 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
mparatively small expense; but this would
not have suited the traders and contractors,
who fear labored systematically last sum-
mer and fall 10 work up the result which has
been obtained, and how these Indians are on
worse ground than the Missouri River bot
tom, and located at points beyond the river
lines of transportation; for instance, Red
Clouds band, where the expense of feeding
will be probably five times as great as on the
Missouri River. In addition, these Indians
are now located near the line of travel 10 the
Black Hills, and are on the extreme western
limit of their reservation, and where con tact
with the whites is liable TO frequently occur.
and doubt if, in the present frame of mind
of the Red Cloud Indians, the two races can
live so closely together without fighting.
There does not seem to be now, and there
never has been, much stesdness in the man
agement Of the Indians, and, If it were not
for the results which so severely involve the
military, this would be none of my business
and would not be mentioned here.
WHY We HAVE INDIAN WARS.
1t ia often wondered at by the general pub
lie why we should have Indian wars and
again the remark is made that the English
government hiss always been able 10 get
along without them in Canada and British
Columbus. l therefore respectfully submit
to the general of the army the following
brief answer to these inquiries: Ten years
ago the Indians owned and occupied nearly
all the country west of the Missouri River,
from British Columbia to the Gulf of Mex
leo, excepting the settlement of Eastern
Kansas Colorado and Montana, and Eastern
and Southern Texas. The eros Ventres,
Assinaboines, Blackfeet and other bands oc.
cupied the country north of the Missouri
River; the Sioux south of that, as far as the
Platte River; the Cheyennes south to Beaver
Creek in Kansas; the Arapshoes from thence
down to and including both the Canadian
Rivers; the Gomanches from the Canadian
down 10 the Concho River, In Texas. The
almost unlimited extent of country was
occupied by two vast herds of buf-
falo one grazing in the north, the
other in the south, and each herd
and in the same region were herds
of elk, antelope, deer, and other large game
o! almost every variety, and In numbers in
Vulnerable, while in the valleys were to be
found wild roots. vegetables berries and fruit
in abundance Nature had produced every
thing necessary for the subsistence OF the
Indians, and the whole region was pasture
field for the numerous herds of ponies,
which was the wealth and sole means of
for the Indians, while the re-
suits of the chase and the trapping of game
procured them the means Of clothing them
selves, either With the skins or by barter with
the traders, or by both. This, thus briefly |
stated was their condition in this vast extent
Of country about ten years ago, and this was
good enough for and satisfied the wants of
the savage, while constant feuds among
gave them active occupation, az
pvao thar prnfaoSiOn and fbay Hia-
dained work.
BROKEN PROMISES, ENDING IN WAR.
The Indians believed that all the region /
have described belonged 70 them, and our In |
dian policy acknowledged their rights to the |
country and what it contained, but, alas for
the poor savage, along came the nineteenth
century progress, or whatever it may be |
tailed, TO disturb their happy condition. |
The white men crowded on TO the grounds /
Of the Indians and made encroachments on |
their rights which no government could |
stop. Our handful of soldiers was at first |
sent to protect the Indians, but such al |
tempts were powerlesS The government |
made treaties, gave presents, made promises, |
none of which were honestly fulfilled, and, !
like all original treaties with Indians in this |
they were the first steps in the /
process of developing hostilIties. The In. |
dian became jealous; he made In his sim
ands wrested from his possession, bis herds !
Of buffalo, which he believed the Great Spirit |
bad given him, rapidly diminish, and the !
elk, deer and antelope killed for the market. |
and by the sportsman, and widely scattered |
by both, and bis rude nature under similar |
,ondiuons naturally rebelled. He com.
nepced war, war as he bad been accustomed
10 make it, and men, women aud children,
upon his soil, were killed, no diff
terence being made between the innocent or /
guilty, the armed or unarmed.
Thu government followed up these acts OF |
hostility with an army too small To intimi-
late or even punish, and, alter years OF
struggle. the Indians south OF the Union |
Pacific Railroad and down to the Gulf of |
Mexico, inc, uding the CheyeDnes, Arapah
oes Kiowas and C1manches were forced on /
70 reservations at Forts Sill a1d Reno, in the
Indian Territory, by the constant hammer
ng OF an inadequate force.
Only q breathing spell interviewed when
the same tide of restless emigration was at
racied to the northwest The Black Hills |
r. II