Daily globe., 1879-10-21
Secretary Schurx Frplat.s.

Sherman, in which the former speaks of Gen.
Merritt's command as being tied up' and
sold OUT was intended to reflect on the in
terror department. In response to this qucs-
tion and a number Of cognate inquiries ad-
dressed to him bv representatives of the asso-
ciated press in an extended interview, Schurz
made the following interesting statements,
with which are given tho letters therein re-
ferred 10:
Idon't see how Gen. Sheridan's telegram
can reflect upon this department. nor do l
think his dispatch intended for publica-
tion, but since it has been published and the
disposition of troops has been made known,
the rest of the story may properly accompany
it, When Gen. Merritt was still supposed to
have to fight his way through to White River
agency Instructed Gen. Chas. Adams not as
peace commissioner but special agent OF this
department on temporary service chosen on &C
count of his ability, and intimate acquaintano
with the chiefs, to proceed to Los Pinos
agency to strengthen chief Ouray in
his friendly attitude in case Of refusal OF the
government to stop proceedings produced ex-
citement among the Los Pinos Utes and then
to endeavor to bring about the surrender of
the hostiles, or failing in that to draw the
peacably disposed Utes away from them and
thus isolate them. He was to assure all In
dians within his reach that the troops were
bound to force their way to White river and to
ance lasted the worse it would be for the In
dlans.
On the 18th We received information that the
Utes had disappeared from White river, that
Gen. Merritt had proceeded to the agency with
out resistance and had lost sight of the hos
tiles. then instructed Gen. Adams to ascer-
tain the whereabouts of the White river hos.
tiles, to summon them to surrender
every possible erdeavor to induce the peacea-
BILE Utes to give them up and to put himself
Eny, l~;,v1
him all the information he had together with
his opinion of the condition of things.
These dispatches were communicated by me
to Gen. Sherman before they were sent off.
Gen. Sherman communicated them to Gen.
Sheridan and Gen. Merritt was advised to give
credence to what Gen. Adams might tell him,
as he had the confidence of this department.
These are undoubtedly the dispatches referred
to in Gen. Sheridan s telegram. Gen. Sber-
evidently didn't think that by these in
but facilitate and AID Gen. Merritt's move
ments, in securing to him information which,
judging from his own reports, he couldnt
otherwise obtain, were calculated to "tie up
and ''sell out" the troops under command of
Gen. Merritt IT he had thought 40 he
would nndou btedly have said to me before
sending them off to Gen. Sheridan, as Gen
Sheridan might have said 90 before com uni
eating them to Gen. Merritt.
When Gen. Sherman, four days afterwards,
published in the newspapers, he addressed to
me the following letter, which ia additional
evidence that be, down to that time, hadn't
understood my instructions to the special
agent of this department. to stop any move
ment.
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY UNITED STATES, !
WASHINGTON, Oct. II.
Hon. Carl Schurz, Secretary Of the Interior,
Washington, D. C.-Dear Sir: 1 have a tele-
gram from Gen. sheri idan saying he has
sage from Gen. Merritt to the effect that to
punish the hostile Utes, he would on the 18th
inst. move from White River for Grand River
and Los Pinos agency. But Gen. Sheridan
supposes that before starting Gen. Merritt will
have received my dispatch of October 18th.
notifying him of the appointment of Special
his conduct by his instructions.
DO You want Gen. Merritt's force of about
l0OO men to be at White River or at Los Pinos
agency? Some one must determine this ques-
ton and as the Interior department. has charge
of the Ute Indians and the military is acting
to support the Indian Bureau in its manage
ment of this tribe of Indians, l beg of you
to inform whether you prefer that this
military force shall be at Los Pinos agency, or
at White River. Your obediept servant,
W. T. SHERMAN, General.
received this letter on the evening of the
l7th, and the same evening visited Gen. Sher-
man at his house for the purpose of ascertain
ing what it meant. Gen. Sherman explained
to me the difficulties Gen. Merritt's command
would have to encounter in crossing the high
mountain range between White river and Los
Pinos, without any wagon road, the possibility
of being showed IN, ETC., and also that another
force could be concentrated in a short time at
Alamosa to accomplish all that was necessary
without finding such difficulties in
its way. The expression of his
to me and left Gen. Sherman with the un-
derstanding that would officially answer his
letter the following morning, which 1 did,
and here is the answer.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
WASHINGTON, Oct. Is, 1879.
GENERAL: In reply 20 your letter yesterday,
referring to Gen. Sheridan's dispatch in which
he expressed his apprehension as to the difficult
ties likely to attend movement Of Gen.
Merr.tt's troops across the mountain ridge be-
tween White River and Los Pinos agencies,
which dispatch you communicated to me in
full at our interview subsequent to the receipt
of your letter, have the honor to say, Gen.
Chas. Adams, special agent of This department,
will probably reach Los Pinos agency to-day
or to- morrow. As you know, he is instructed
to ascertain, if possible, the present where
abouts Of the White River Utes and succeed
ing in this, to every effort, with the aid of
Chief Ouray, to bring about their surrender.
l may have telegraphc report from him by
pear whether that surrender can be accom-
plished without the assistance of a considerable
body Of troops or not. In the meantime
fully agree with the opinion you expressed at
interview last night that Gen. Merritt
should not at present undertake the hazardous
march across the mountain divide, but remain
at or near White river and tkat another body
of troops be concentrated at Alamosa to act as
the condition of things at Los Pinos and the
outhern Ute agency may require. shall
without delay inform Gen. Adams of the in
structions telegraphed by you to Gen. Sher-
dan last night and direct him to put himself
III communication, not only with Gen. Merritt
lis ord red before, but also with the command
or of forces at Alamosa, keeping both these Of
fcers fully advised OF the situation of things.
Very truly your obedient servant,
q. SCHURz, Secretary.
To Geu. ". T. Sherman, U. S. A.
From this it will appear that there has been
no disacoord between Gen. Sherman and nv
SELF that there were no instructions from me
to stop Gen. Merritt's command, that the nee
essary information to be procured by nv
agent will be ready for action, and that Gen.
bhelman's remark about the ''tying up and
''selling OUT of Gen Merritts command, while
it gave expression to his feelings concerning
the difficulties surrounding these troops, can:
not be held to refer to any action on the par
of this department..
Sheridan to Sherman.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 20.-A telegram from Gen
1oto