The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-01-20
GEN. HOWARD.
What He Thinks OF Recent Army
Changes.
San Francisco Chronicle.

Gen. 0. 0. Howard late commando,
of the division of the Columbia, and
who was recently appointed by Presi
dent Hayes to succeed Gen. Schofield
at West Point, arrived in this city from
Washington Saturday, and is stopping
at the Palace. In reply to a question
by Chronicle reporter, Gen. Howard
said: II came here to meet Gen. Nc.
Dowell and Wheaton, settle up my af
fairs on this coast, and turn over the
department Of the Columbia to Gen
Wheaton. Gen. Nelson Miles has been
assigned to command of the depart.
ment, but is now with Gen. Crook in
the POnca Indian country, investigat
ing affairs there. Until he arrives
here the department will be in charge
of Gen. Wheaton,"
"Did you read the interview recently
published in which Gen. Sherman is
reported as saying that he was all
right, as the president could not retire
himW
Il did not read it but heard some
thing about it. 1t is evident that Gen.
Sherman has been misrepresented.
He may have said that President Hayes
could not retire him, as Gen. Sherman
will not be 81 years old (the age at
which the law provides the president
may retire officers until year after
MIR. Hayes has gone out Of Office. But
the then president can, of course, retire
him, as the law applies to all army
officers and does pot exempt the gem
eral of the army, as has been stated by
some papers commenting on the inter-
view you refer to-"
do you have any reason to believe
that Gen. Sherman was displeased with
any of the recent army changes?"
II have not. The general is a warm
personal friend of mine and of my
family, and am satisfied that my ap-
pointment to West Point pleased him,
and think the other changes were
equally satisfactory. There are three
persons to be consulted in making such
changes-the president, secretary OF
war, and Gen. Sherman, SO, of course,
all of the changes may not have been
satisfactory to ALL"
"What were the principal changes
made?"
"a new department was created
the department of New Orleans, of
which Gen. Schofeld was given COM
mand; Gen. Ord was retired and Gen.
Augur was sent to take his place in
Texas; Col. Hunt takes Augur's place
at Newport, and take Schofield's place
at West Point"
"Do you like your changer"
eyes, very much. Principally be-
cause I am doing considerable military
writing and my new place puts me with
in convenient reach of army records
and libraries of references, the lack of
which missed very much in my seven
years of duty on this coast"
"Did you read what Gen. Schofield
said about the inadvisability of admit
ting colored cadets to West Point?"
II only read a synopsis of his report
containing the remarks you speak of,
and am not sufficiently familiar with
his views to criticise them. However,
l think my course in relation to the
colored cadets can be briefly and plain
ly stated. Our people have given the
colored people the rights of citizenship.
One Of those rights is the privilege,
equally with all others, of a military
education at West Point, under the
same conditions and restrictions which
white boys who seek admission to the
academy find. 1 think it is the duty OF
all executive officers not to criticise
the laws, but to put them into effect.
shall endeavor to execute the laws in
relation to West Point aS find them
on the statute-books.
"Was Gen. Schofield removed from
| West Point for misconduct, as has been
generally stated?'
"By no means. That is an entirely
wrong impression. I know that Gen,
Schofeld has long desired to be assign
ed other duty. I know, also, that he
has made three separate applications
to Gen. Sherman to be assigned duty
elsewhere and the change was made at
his earnest request"
"When will you take charge of West
Point, General?"
~ shall finish my business here, I
think, so as to reach there about Jan
20. That would suit me, as the yearly
examinations are concluded at that
time, and that would be favorable
time to commence my duties there"
Gen. Howard reported himself in
excellent health, and his assertion was
borne out by his robust and rugged ap-