The New York herald., 1879-10-30


tant from the agency. killing Major Thornburgh
ana tweive of his men and wounding forty
TWO others, officers and men. The ground
selected by the Indians was exceedingly favorable to
them. and they succeeded in beleaguring the com
nand and holding it until WAS relieved by Colonel
' Merritrs command which Was thrown forward with
preat ratidity TO Its rescue. The troops under
Colonel Merritt then pushed the agency without
opposition. where they discovered the dead bodies
oil the agent and his employees. At present large
column of troops is held at White River Agency an
other large column is being organized at Fort Gar
the action of the Indian Bureau through its
Special Agent General Adams, and these troops will
be held ut these points, awaiting the result OF Gem
ersl Adanis' negotiations with Chief Ouray for the
surrender OF the murderers.
THE MExrcAN BORDER.
The report of Brigadior General Ord gives full
and interesting account OF tue status OF affairs his
department for tho past year. Nearly all the yexa-
tious conditions which have heretofore existed along
the Rio Grande. the boundary line between our
country and the Republic of Mexico. have ceased.
owing to the active efforts Of our own troops ana
generally successful effort having been made upon
both sides of the line to capture and destroy all raid
succeed in evading the troops commit robberies
and outrages upon the outlying settlements and
mail routes some OF these parties entering Mexlso
country into this. 1t has been pretty weii
established that most OF the raids made by
our Indians have their origin on the Fort
Stanton Indian reservation. have repeatedly called
the attention Of the authorities this fact and to
vation is placed directly usder the control Of the
military, when am. satisfied we would be able 10
put an end to them. 1t will be seen from General
Ords report that the troops in his department have
been very active having marched forty thousand
miles scouts and in following the trails OF raid
obtained on the Rio Granae Is undoubtedly owing
to the energetic movements and general activity Of
the troops.
NO MORE GREAT INDIAN COMBINATIONS
There has been no general combination of hostile
Indians In this military division during the past
year, and doubt that such combinations
again exist. The continuous settlements of the
valleys of the Arkansas. the Smoky Hill. the Platte
and the construction OF the Union Pacific. the Kan
Pacific. the Atchison. Topeka and Santa Fe aud
the Northern Pacific railroads their natural con-
nections following the Indian of 1868 and 1876
have thrown too many obstacles in the way for
Indian runners to communicate intelligence among
the various tribes.
INsUFFICIENCY OF FOOD.
In addition to this the great southern buffalo
which they depended to subsist their warriors.
now nearly gone. Therefore Indian troubles
that hereafter will be those which arise upon
the different Indian reservations from attempts
made to reduce the number and size of these
vations by the concentration OF the Ind an tribes.
and think can safely say in the nature OF warn
ing to the that there is great danger at
all the agencies of wild Indians where sufficient mil
itary force is not present. of occurring smi-
lar to those recently enacted at the White River
Agency. Many complaints have been forwarded to
the War Department. through these head q uarters
since my last report showing that there has been
tnsuhciency OF food at some of the Indian agencies
have heretofore reported and desire to reiterate
my former statements that at least the beef ration
now allowed the Indians is insufficient and believe
this may arise from inadequate appropriations made
by Congress for this purpose. 1t should be borne
in mind that. the vast country lying between the
Misso uri River and the Rocky Mountains including
wrested from the Indians, and that the immense
herds OF game upon which these Indians formerly
subssted have to great extent disappeared. and that
nearly all the country mentioned Is now given up to
mining interests. cattle ranches and general agricu
ture, and that the annual market value OF the mill
eral and food supplies Of this region aggregates hun
such beneficial results rs these should induce Con-
gross to furnish the poor people from whom this
country has been taken with sufficient food to
enable them to live without suffering the pangs
Of hunger. 1t should also be remembered
that the Indian possesses q nomadic stomach; and
heretofore, simply by the pleasures OF the chase. he
was enabled to put his family beyond the possibility
exasperating it must be to warrior to find himself
limited to u moagre ration of Texas beef and to
his women and children suffering for food before his
eyes.
THE REMOVAL OF INDIANS.
There is one other source of trouble that desire
to aude to- and that is the removal of the Indians
from The localities in which they born and
reared. have never known 1t to be done without
producing trouble The Indian is deeply attached to
his place Of BIRTH and he ne yer abandons it except
under compulson; ana when that occurs and his
removal is accomplished it is invariably followed by
homeslckness which IL SO intense that 1t fire.
quently terminates fatally. l have no doubt
that the groundwork of the present Colorado
Indians that they to be deprived OF
their homes by concentration In order
to make fewer agencies. 1t should not be
forgotten that there no established system Of gov
ernment among Indians for the punishment of
crime. and the little influence possessed by their
chiefs is entirely disregarded whenever in the
opinion Of the individual Indian his present safety
other interests are threatened and among COM
munities so loosely governed composed OF men
wild and savage III their nature must as
natural sequence expect to be occasionally startled
by some most sanguinary outbreaks. There should
always be power to control punish. We
cannot govern highly civilized communities without
at least the force Of law guide and even punish.
Lace t1y1.f 20 ts,a Ivt1h
Indians without force to compel obedience to such
rules may be wisely established by the proper
thorities for their benefit.
GENERAL cOMMENDATION.
The supply departments throughout the division
have worked well and omcally. aud the officers
in control of this important branch of the service
entitled to credit for their services. The depart
ment commanders have faithfully performed their
duties and the line and staff have all done well.
Ihave the honor to be. General very respectfully.
your obedient servant. p. Ii. SHERIDAN,
Lieutenant General Commanding.