New-York tribune., 1879-01-02
SHERIDAN VERY SEVERE.


TuF GENERAL THINKS HE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO
REPORT TO HIS sUPERIoRs WITHOUT BEING
1rCrJRED BY TIE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
UrApoUA ARrERs MILITARY DIVISION or TIE MISSOURI
CHICAGO. Dec. %, 1873.
zoGEyEnAL W. T. SHERMAN. Washington d. c.
GENERAL: In consequence OF lawsuit in the United
states Circuit Court in the city OF NevYork, was COM
peed TO 90 TO that city shortly after the receipt OF
communication from the Honorable Secretary OF the
Interior Of November TO- 1878, Endorsed by you Noveu
her 90 and forwarded to me. In this communication
the secretary took exception certain conclusions ar
rived at and stated my annual report Of trs year as
follows
The Indian situation the present time is am sorry
20 saw unsatisfactory. The Indian Department. owngo
want Of sufficient appropriations OF from wreIcheq mis-
management gwen TO the settlements IL the Wests
10 some places loss OF fe and OF property attended
wtu dreadful crimes and cruclues There has been an
gone hunger the Indians IN some eases dcsper
ate and almost any race oi men VII h&ht Idlntr tndn
amounts appropriated by Congress ought to be sufficient
and the s1pnes are regularly Delivered but the
ports the Department commanders forwarded here
cas- OF the Red Cloud and spotted Tail bands OF Sioux
who, although Threatening IN thelr conduct nave oesn
the best supplied and nave been hunJred uIl theI IN
cIeIsng nsUlence constantly tlre%Icus 10 orls ABOUT
Il Oi each OF the peace.
As this report made FOR the information o. the Gen
cra OF the Army and the Honorable Secretary OF War
not feel it incumbent on me 10 answer any questions
in unless there should be some doubt on
General OF the Army or tOnOfdDle
Secretary OF War 10 the correctness any statements
or commissions therein II doubt exists II has not
been made known to me- but as the General OF the
Army has forwarded 10 me tue Communication OF the
, Honorable Secretary OF the Interior, with his own
Endorsement and that Of TN Honorable Secretary Of
War and as I presume further action on my part
may be desired, leave to reply 10 by supple
mental report. IN which / hope TO fully sustain the
concius ous arrived at 10 the report first named
Az this supplemental report Is from data IN my pos
session at time the annual report was rcndercdand on
which the report based and these facts nave been
forwarded 10 the Honorable Secretary of War from time
10 time and by hlm to interior Department. and
NOW on file in the Indian Bureau t Is the custom OF the
War Department TO furnish the Interior Department
copies OF al papers relating 70 Indian affairs 1t VIII be
seen what shallow ground the Honorable Secretary had
fer the dsa reeaule alusOn made his second letter
| Of Nov. 90. 1878, namely:
You Will therefore Obige me by calling once more
upon General Sheridan for detailed specifications 10 the
agencies tne Military Div, o. the Missouri
except the Red Cloud and Spoed Tail SIOUX AseuceS;
mad. bV Congress OT the support OF
the Indians which, in General SherIdan's opinion were
Sufficient mad been during the last year ener not a
pied al all partly diverted from their purpose: II
General sheridan has auy Such Stclnc hhoNl-t ~ j.
very much be regretted hat lie did not produc be
fore 50 that the Information given couC nave nfh
acted upon. Imike THIS demand IL good falih ana III
Iu order that abuses which have not Yet been cor
rected may be eorrcied lronp,y; nope GynrT3 riic
he must be able to d. II soUt no; DE assumed that
verdict first to look Tor the evidence afterward
The object had in il my annual report was 10
show that Indian came from Two causes sec re-
portl but that while the first could not he avoided
nv the Government the second clearly within It's
control, and resulted from the bad management OF
Indlan affairs made charges against me honorable
Secretary OF the Interior made charges against
any one. / desired simply 10 call the attention
OF my superior officers 10 the causes that produced
discomfort 6ud outbreaks that from the uedequacy
| ,If., fha mas .4ra Of p0ie
soldiers and citizens, and the horrible and unmention-
able btrttlcs perpetrated women aDd children,
and 10 sale ny belief that these disasters rgnt have
been avoided by better organization, more ')mplcte
sy-iem ana integrity IN the agents enPloyed
The secretary OF Interior saw iii 10 tax, this W.
and by dsngenuOusly saying that had made charges
tas 10 corruption every in the limits Of this
/lutary division challenges Inc for facts to prove
charge Dc has himself put into my mouth. His infer.
cpces are unWaraI.ed 10y the language OF the report
but in support of what did sag respectfully submit
| tie data accompanying has supplemental report.
The question Of justice and right to the Indian past
aud cannot be recalled We have occupied his country
taken away from him his lord domain destroyed MS
herds Of game penned him up reservations and
Iluced 10 poverty Fol humanitys sake, then let
Irve him enough to eat and integrity in the
SOME TELLING EVIDENCE on FILE.
To show iDconsderae the Honorable Secretary OF
the Interior his first and second letters OF No
NcDer 10 ana ~ respectively, u IL Ouy necessary Tor
10 call the attention Of the General OF the Army %
the 1874 carefully retained copies
Of Indian reports coming TO my Office, the briefs
lOf which herewith inclOsed, and II
On this information that nv report made Surely |
the Honorable secretary OF the Interior cannot mpute
untru,hfulnrss 10 the officers making These reports.
They on ground generally official inspectors
Tor the Indian Bureau official capacity, and
among the best IN the service most Of them person
ally known 10 the General OF the Army, aud msny OF
them 70 the country. Ny object 10 call attention to-
and u possible prevent, the calamities occurring 10
frontier settlers 20 officers and OF the army, ana 10
reduce the unnecessary expenses brought upon US
The report of Lieutenant Lee, giving an exact expos
ton Of Indian management at the Spotted Tan Agency
Ob;aned since date OF annual report pu' ING
facts as related were well known 10 me In TACT was I'D
tIumenta TO the detection OF the Mccain
fraud This report submitted hrst' iOr tho
reason that it gives a and comprehensive dea u
ndlan management, and believe may be assuheu as
fair explanation OF what has occurred al many VI W..
other agencies and which produced the hunger ana u
content described in the accompanying DrleiS ,
In this connection also call attention 10 'ho ~ ~o
sf eorresDopdenee from Lieutenant Doughefy Feis'e
h the attempt force upon him. since he haa De0n "'