Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-10-21

From Camp on White River. I
Three Miles North of Agency.
October 18th.
This afternoon Merritt and command re-
turned to this point, the orders from Wash
ington being to suspend operations against
| the Utes and wait orders, Us negotiations fol
peace are in progress. it being understood
| the hostiles have agreed to surrender the
warriors engaged in the recent depredations.
1t is probable the combined commands OF
Merritt and Gilbert are present at this point,
although nothing is definitely known as to
future movements. In the event of peace
being established, it is probable permanent
| military post will be constructed either at
Bear River or at the Agency.
Los PINos AGENCY, October 20. Col.
Runner has arrived from the southern Ute
agency with letter from Page to Agent
Stanley, dated 18th, with information that
another all day council had been held by the
chiefs. They all united and are DESTROYS OF
peace, and request that a runner be sent, re-
newing the assurance already given. TWEEN
ty-four chiefs and head men were present.
The Indians of this agency are all encamped
around Ouray's house. Not one report in
fifty has particle of truth, and facts are ex-
aggerated. The women and children are
suit Dut Will uot Dt utllNcItu up uitli
matters are arranged by the peace commits
sion from Washington, which is expected in
a week.
WAsHINGToN, October 20. Secretary
Schurz, to-day, in answer to an inquiry as to
whether the dispatch of Sheridan to Sher-
man, in which the former speaks Of Merritt s
command as being ''tied up and ''sold out,
was intended to reflect on the Interior De-
partment, said he did not see how Sheridan
telegram can reflect on the department, and
did not think the dispatch was intended for
publication, but since it had been published
he would make known the rest of the story.
He then detailed his instructions to Gen.
Adams, who was sent as special agent of the
department, to strengthen Chief Ouray' $
friendship and cndeaver to bring about the
capture of the hostiles. The dispatches re-
ferred to in Sheridan's telegram were all
seen by Sherman, and if he had thought they
would site up" or "sell OUT the troops he
would have said so before sending them to
Sheridan. He then gives the correspondence
between himself and Sherman on the subject,
and says: From this it will appear that
there has been no disaccord between Sher-
man and myself; that there were no instruc-
tons from me to stop Merritts command |;
that the necessary information to be procured
by my agent will probably be on hand before
the force assembling at Alamosa is ready for
action, and that Sheridan's remark about
tying up and 'selling out" Of Merrtt's
command, while it gives expression to his
feelings concerning the difficulties surround
ing those troops, cannot be held to refer to
any action on behalf of the department"
Sheridan in a despatch to Sherman, after
relating the disposition of troops, etc, says
| regret that Merritt was not permitted to go
on, as have not the slightest belief but that
our army can deliver up the murderers, and
fear valuable time will be lost After your
despatch of the 18th I directed Crook to send
to White River Agency supplies in abund-
ance, before the deep SHOWS came on, and
will assume the risk of keeping Merritt with
his present force at that point, to await fur
thcr Developments.