The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-11-04
The Natfou,s Army.

GENERAL sHEBMAN's ANNUAL REP0RT-THE
STRENGTH OF THE C0MRATIvE FoRcE-THE
RECENT TROUBLES WITH THE INDIANS DIS
+ CussED. ...s- ~ ..... F., !. !. e..
WAsHINGToN, November 3.-Genera
Sherinan's annual report 10 the Secretary OF
War was completed to-day. It is prefaced
with the usual tabular statements and re-
turns compiled by the sAdiutant-G eneral.
These show that the total strength OF the
army is now 2.187 officers and "a, 262 men in
service. and $50 officers retired. OF this
force, however, 3,463 enlisted men are de-
tailed for special service in the Engineer
and Signal Corps. at torpedo stations, Of
West Point. as prison guards, DC, and are
not available for frontier defence. The army
proper, or real combative force, therefore,
consists OF II generals, 1869 officers, and
20,566 men and 233 Indian scouts, together
with such staff officers as are assigned by the
| War Department to duty with the troops.
| It thus appears that one sixth of the enlisted
men provided by law for the whole army
are not available for active service, and the
army, General Sherman says, should not be
| held responsible for tue work OF $4,000 men
| when so large fraction is necessarily d.
verted to other uses. He recommends that
| Congress be asked to so legislate as to allow
ZCStUO Lucu lOi LEC
| General Sherman devotes large part OF
his report to the trouble with the Ute III
dians, which he prefaces with history of
that tribe, and accompanies with d number
OF letters throwing light upon the history
OF the outbreak. He applauds the courage
and energy displayed by General Adams in
obtaining the release OF the captives, and
| hopes be will completely succeed in his
praiseworthy mission. At the same time
he quotes n letter to General Sheridan, in
which he says: I" Should Agent Adams fell
| in his mission, understand that the ciyi
authorities will stand aside, and the mill.
| tary will take absolute controlof this whole
| Ute question, and settle it for good and
ALL"
General Sherman also gives the history o1
the recent trouble With Apaches in New
Mexico as far as known.
In view of possible trouble from Sitting
| BULBS Indians on the northwestern from
tier the report recommends the construc'
ton of strong fort near the boundary line
| between Forts Buford and Assiniborne
and also the completion OF the latter fort
which will require about 100000.
A Refrn csery Indian Chief Shot Dead
| WASHINGTON, D. c.. November 3.-Somt
| Time ago TcpOIt was lCCci'cu ny Sonini"
siouer Hayt, from the Ponca reservation, in
the Indian Territory, that Big Snake, 9
chief OF band OF the Poncas, was freely in
dulging in threats to kill the agent. Mr.
WhiteGlan, who last summer had caused
the arrest OF Big Snake, and his imprison
nent for month ut Fort Reno. for bruta
and disorderly conduct, by which he had
made himself terror to all the Indians ane
the agency employees. Upon receipt Of tht
news of his threats Of vengeance, his re-
arrest was ordered. and Il detachment O.
soldiers from Fort Reno were employed t.
effect it, A telegram received from Agen
Wbiteman to-day announces that Big Snake
iorcibly resisted arrest, and was shot deat
by soldier. The occurrence caused con
siderable excitement among the Indians
but it was soon quieted, and at last account:
there was no fear OF further difficulty.