The Portland daily press., 1881-11-11
REPORT OF GEN. SHERIDAN.

increase of the Army Recommended.
CHICAGO, Nov. 10.-Gon. Sheridan's official
report has been forwarded to the General of
the Army. In his review of 1.-The departments
he shows that peace generally prevailed. Re-
ferring to the Indians, the case OF Sitting Bull
receives some attention General Sheridan
says: "Sitting Bull was not a Chief but was
the leader of a small band of about sixty
lodges, who held with him the same feelings of
bitter opposition toward being civilized. lie
was in the outskirts of the fight with Custer,
but not conspicuous, and shortly afterward
struck out with his small band for British
Columbia, being subsequently followed, from
necessity, by other bands sof Sioux l have
seen in the newspapers long accounts and mar
ratives purporting to Ebe descriptions OF Gus
ter's battle as related by Sitting Bull, which
had in my opinion but little truth in them,
and historians are cautioned against receiving
them as correct. The Northern Cheyennes
and Ogalla Sioux-the former under two or
three of their principal chiefs. and the latter
under Crazy Horse, as their leader did the
fighting at the battle OF Little Horn when
Custer fell.'
In the department of the Platte there were
no events of military importance. General
Sheridan earnestly recommends Congressional
action to keep out intruders from the Indian
Territory. 1.-THE military field operations in
Texas" says General Sheridan, sduring the
year were confined to the pursuit of small raid
ing parties from Mexico The extensive con-
struction of railways in Texas has greatly con-
tributed to the economical administration of
this department and to the effectiveness OF
military operations The good feeling which
exists between our Mexican neighbors and
ourselves along the Rio Grande frontier has al
most entirely relieved the embarrassments
which for long time existed in that direction
The troops in this division are efficient, and
their discipline good, considering the smallness
of the companies and tie amount of hard work
to be performed in fighting the Ind ans, build
ing posts, making roads, guarding settlements
and railroads, and escorting parties engaged in
surveying projected railroads, boundary lines
and public lands in the Territories The rights
and lands of Indians have also to be protect
against encroachments, and have to reiter-
ate what have said in former reports hat the
army is much too small to efficiently and
economically perform the duties required OF 1t.
L recommend greater activity in enlistments."
In the department of the Missouri small raid
ing parties of Apache Indians, the remnant OF
Victorias band, joined by few young men
from the Mescaleros reservation, in all not to
alarm and serious loss of life in southern New
Mexico last winter. The band came in from
Mexico, south of Fort Cummings, and after
making raid of extraordinary boldness, re-
crossed into Mexico near their point
of entrance. The General advises
that, if possible, the consent OF the
Mexican government be obtained
for our troops to cross and catch this band OF
freebooters, or at least to break down the con-
fidence with which the boundary line inspires
them in their ability to escape punishment.
The completion of several lines OF railway
within in the department. OF the Missouri and
their rapid extension into the country lying
beyopd it have done mnch to facilitate the
movement and supply OF troops.