The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1879-11-22
-, sherman's Annual Report Of
.he operations OF the Army.
wAsnI4GroN, November

.r,l Shcrman's annual report to
ussretary of War was completed
Il is prcfaced with the usual
s'lg statements and returns COM
sla1h he the ant-General, COM
Emo on which General Sherman
IgS .,ercn Generals, l,55o officers, 20,566
sfue - Indian scouts, together with such
81 ~ ~ INC staff as are assigned by the War
IpsrTrwepf 10 duty with the troops, constitute
INanns nyopcr. or the scombative force
ID asmy ,arts of the military establishment
eupsided By law for special service more
n " Connected with the army or militia, but
~ available for frontier defenses.
a. FOR instance, the 3I enlisted men
pas ordnance Corps are in fact workmcn at
Ds., ~ The ~ men of the Engineer Corps
ss Wfets Point undergoing instruction
~, A r,racticc, and are not subject to the
issalRPn rommander. The 456 men of the Sig
sf.,rps are employed tn observing the wealth
mssats have charge Of old forts or
waeazines. The ISL Commissary
Ssssufs are In charge of stores; 1e7 men
Stewards Of hospitals. The West
~ Military Academy. The prison guard
- Leayenworth comprises seventy men,
"secr,itinc detachmcnts absorb l,1W men
NUS Island, Columbus, o., and Jefferson
srks. Mo. These various attachments,
-s~sting 3.i03 enlisted men Of the highest
s.s cnrnposo about one-sixth part of the
sScd men provided by law for the whole
- leaving but a0,1g9 for actual service.
simcntjon these figures in some detail, be
=, know that IL Is the popular belief,
"a by many members of Congress, that
ave * 400 men on duty. ! have done all
~ nower TO reduce these attachments to
Twest number possible, SO as TO afford
- men to our skeleton companies, but
r. found it impossible, and l notice that
ss,r attachments are reported on all army
srs for fifty years back. There are
companies In the regular army;
i'd men would give hfty-eight to each,
- Is as small as any company should
anil earnestly rSeo shst ,h .sh 2u asn
sssded by law may be allowed exclusively
smciments of the line, and that special pro-
an he made for these several detachments,
sss slrcady been done for the Signal Sery-
The army cannot, with justice, be held
s.nsblc for the work of 5000, when so
~ fraction Is necessarily diverted to other
"a peyhaps of equal National importance"
nctsbles above referred to show that the
nj aggregate of the army roll is 2iS7 Of
~ and A,z2 men In service, and 3SS officers
creral Sherman devotes large portion of
\ rport 20 the Ute troubles. He introduces
n abject with q history OF the tribe. These
sIms, he says, are OF the worst class, ana oc-
mi
9 MIXING, or military operations. Their man.
-neut Is complicated by the fact that their
,niry is known TO possess mineral deposits,
~ attracis bold and adventurous class Of
he mcn. They are very warlikc, and have
rs6cuIty in procuring in exchange for their
rskins, horses and sheep any amount of
tic1 rifles and ammunition. As long as
fnmc lasts they will not work or attempt
sing except In the smallest and most
Jiiolls way, and that only by compulsion.
n. roraorf "details ssNrup lprlvt bs. history
|, ne vcitknown events leading up to the
,wment by Major Thornburgh's command,
Ilipnfinues:
Twin a knowledge of the result, and to
Xkm as much light on the immediate cause
Ills war as possible, give the last letters
eh passed between Major Thornburgh and
Mccker, and will here record my judy
bm that Major 1hornburgh was an officer
geuileman Of whom the army has reason
be proud lie was young, ardent, ambi-
bus Of good Judgment and no man could
rrdone better in life nor met death with
knhcroism.
rnoRSBURGH TO MEEKER.
rEkaDo'Es Write RIVER EXPEDITION.
CAMP on FORrIFIcATIoN CREEK,
September p, 1879.
flir Mcekcr, Indian Agent, White River
Arency.
sSm:-In obedience to instructions from the
neral OF the Army, l am en- route to your
rncy, and expect 10 arrive on the 10Th inst,
The purpose of affording You any assist
bR In my power, and to make arrests at
4 ii your Indians as You desire until
tctgaficns arc made by your Department.
have heard nothing definite from your
keaey for ten days, and d. not kn1w what
Ne Of affairs exists. whether the Indians will
bve at my approach or show hostilities. l
fdes, and desire YOU to communicate with
as soon as possible, giving me all the infor-
ftion In your power, in order that may
gv what course am to pursue. II practi-
Pie meet me ON the road ut the earliest mo-
"vsy respectfully, x your obcdicnt servart
@Autheuorld now knows that Special-Agent
neral Charles Adams, of Colorado, appoint-
" the Secretary of the Interior TO conduct
e<e negotiations with the hostile Utes, has
nially succeeded In his mission, has OBJ
nn tte surrender of Mrs. and Miss Meek
Ms Price and two children, VINO arc nj
eay safe with their friends. He is now sup
"a 10 be Again with the tostilcs on Grand
zsr, endcarcring to effect the other condi-
m required of the Ures by the honorable
ufisry OF the Interior, who is primarily re-
nsinie for the entire management of tho
se certainly applaud the courage and en-
nus far displayed by General Adams,
anope ne will fully and completely succeed
HFaseworfhy mission, and yet believe
APndcncc deniandsthat the military prep
Hhns and precautions shall not slackcn.
~ iar We have lost eleven citizens, two Off
and twelve soldiers killed, and forty-one
endei The Indians admit n loss of thirty
~ Warriors killed, 50 that they have NOT
warrason TO boast"
ne report next treats of the Apache raid,
Yates that troopsare In pursuit, but moth
moeante can be given as yet. The Apaches,
oeneral says, only resort to the Agency to
~ ffcuperate and make ready for the next
~ tie infcis that as soon as winter comes