The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-01-09
General Sheridan's Reply to Sec
rotary Schurx.

WASHINGTON. Jan. I.
The following is the substance of the sup
Elemental report to the annual report of
Lieut.-Gen. Sheridan for 1873 with reference
of Secretary Schurz that specifications be fur
nished in support of the statement made by
Gen. Sheridan in his annual report:
HEADoUARTERs OF THE
MILITARY DIVISION OF THE missouri,
CHICAGO, Dec. q, 1878.
To Gen. W. T. Sherman, Washineton:
GENERAL:-In consequence of n law suit in
the United States Circuit Court in the city of
New York, was compelled to go to that city
shortly after the receipt Of the Communication
from the Honorable Secretary of the Interior
of Nov. 10, 1878, endorsed by you Nov. 20, and
forwarded to me. In this Communication the
Secretary took exception to certain conclu-
sions arrived at and stated in my annual re-
port of this year. The General quotes the
conclusions. and Gays: The object 1 had in
view in my annual report was to show that
Indian wars came from two causes jsee report)
but that while the first war could not be
avoided by the Government the second WIS
clearly within its control and resulted from
bad management OF Indian affairs: 1 made
tary of the Interior; / made no charges
against anyone. / desired simply 20 call the
attention of my superior officers to the causes
that produce discomfort and outbreaks, and
that from the inadequacy of our military
force resulted In the massacre Of officers, SOL
diers and citizens, and the horrible and un-
mentionable barbarities perpetrated on wom-
en- and children, and to state my belief that
better organization, a more complete system,
and more integrity in agents employed. The
Secretary Of the Interior saw fit to take this
up, and by disingenuously saying that had
agency in the limits of this military division,
challenges me for facts to prove a charge he
has himself put into my mouth. His infer
ences are not warranted by the language Of
h..Ss t. ~ -lAN n
respectfully submit the data accompanying
this supplemental report.
The question of justice and right to the In
dian is past and cannot be recalled. We have
occupied his country, taken away from him
game, penned him upon reservations, and re-
duced him to poverty. For humsnity's sake,
then, let US give him enough to eat and in
considerate the Honorable Secretary of the
Interior was in his first and second letters of
November 10Th and November 18th respec-
lively, it is only necessary for me to call the
fact that since 1874 have carefully retained
copies of Indian reports coming to my Of
fee, briefs Of which are herewith inclosed,
and Il was on this information that my report
was made. Surely the Honorable Secretary
of the Interior cannot impute untruthness to
the officers making these reports. They were
on the ground, generally as ofiicial inspectors
for the Indian Bureau, or In some official ca
most Of them probably known to the General
of the Army, and many of them to the coun-
try. My object was to call attention to, and
II possible prevent, caiamities occurring to the
the army, and to reduce the unnecessary ex-
penses brought upon u.s..
The report of Lieut.. Lee, giving an exact
exposition of the Indian management at Spot
ted Tail Agency, was obtained since the date
Of my annual report, but the facts as related
were well known to me. In fact, / was instru-
mental to some extent in the detection of the
McCann fraud. Els report is submitted first
hensive idea Of the Indian management, and
believe may be assumed as fair explana-
tion of what has occurred at many of the
other agencies, and which produced the hun
Ing briefs. In this connection l also call at
tention to the briefs of correspondence from
Lieut.. Dougherty, relative to the attempt to
force upon him since he has been acting as
ter, and Of the loose and criminal manner In
which the Indian goods were shipped without
bills of lading or invoices. This is true also
for the Cheyenne and Brule agencies on the
Missouri River. as well as Of Crow Creek,
whose agent, DIR. Livingston, has recently
been indicted on about 1A charges, and as
many more that were thrown out under the
statute of limitations. The attention of the
General of the Army 10 expressly called to the
reports on Standing Rock Agency under the
management Of Agents Burke and Hughes.
Then look at the MandAns, Arickarees, Gros
Ventres, Assinaboines, Piegans and Crows in
Montana Territory. At the latter agency
fraud has been rampant, although to the best
| of my recollection the agents have been
changed at least five or six times in the last
seven years.
Then come down to the Shoshones, Ban
| nocks, Northern and Southern Cheyennes,
Arapahoes, Kiowas and Comanches, Utes and
Southern Apaches, and ask them why they
have gone to war, or have been hostile or tur-
1 hulant for the mas gfY The
answer will be fnsufficiency Of food, irregu'
larity in its supply, and broken promises. The
| present Indian Commissioner Il doubtless
honest; he has discharged number Of agents
for malfeasance in office. Commissioner
Smith, who preceded him, was an honest man
also, so far as 1 know, and likewise the Com
| missioner Of Indian Affairs before him, and
| so on back. They all did as well as they knew
how, but Ifear with all precautions Of honesty
| that the system and manner OF accountability
are too loose Tor the government Of a people
who cannot read or write, and are 90 peculiar
and primitive in their habits rs Indians. II
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