National Republican., 1883-11-15
OUT or THE FRONTIER.
Lieut.. Gen. shoridNn's Report OF the
Operations OF the Army in the West.

Lieut.. Gen. p. II. Sheridan, in his annual
report to the general of tho army on the
operations of the division of the Missouri
during the past fiscal year. says that there
were many difficulties in the division. but
none of q serious nature and that the outlook is
favorable for peaceful condition for the pres
ent fiscal year. Hcsays that the troops in tho
department of Dakota have been very active
in controlling incursions from Canadian
Indians and halfbreeds, who cross the boun-
dairy line for trading, hunting, or horse steall
ing purposes. They have been met each time
by the troops and arrested or driven over the
border, with tho loss, occasionally, of somc
of their property, and when they had
erected tents they wero burned. Gen.
Sheridan says he is led to believe that in the
course of time these predatory incursons will
cease. yh
Military affairs in the department of the
Platte have been peaceful during the past
year. The posts of Fort Hall and Fort
Cameron were abandoned, as it was thought
that tho settlements about them had grown
so strong that the population needed no fur
ther protection. Forts Mckinney. Laramie,
Robinson and Niobrara are the picket posts
in this department; they arc near the In
dians and can be rapidly re-enforced from the
stations along the Union Pacific railway.
The ugly difficulty in the Creek Nation,
which threatened bloodshed, was quieted by
SenulnR troops 10 OCKmulBCe, WnGre SuDSD-
| quently commissioners came and settled on
| terms of peace to which both sides agreed
| We have at the town of Ockmulgee small
! force. and will for sometime be obliged to
maintain it at point in the Creek nation.
| There has been unusual quiet in the de-
partment of Texas, and the use of troops for
| protection against Indians will soon close
but new interests are growing up by the con-
! struction of new lines of railway into Mexico
| and tho international line of tho Rio Grande
does now and will continue to demand our
attention. The post of Fort Duncan and
few minor camps have been given up du ring
| the past year.
In reference to desertions in the army Gen.
Sheridan says that in his opinion tho ''eXcess
beyond the ordinary ratio comes from the
mining, railway, cattle, and agricultural de-
velopment of what may be called the frontier.
Many young men in the eastern and middle
states wanting to better their condition by
getting out to the frontier, and not having
money enough to reach this Eldorado enlist
there at the governments expense.
That is their real object. They get
out to military posts in this way,
and to mako it more easy for
their consciences in deserting their flag, they
complain of the rations the work they have
| to do, and then desert, thus accomplishing
tho object they had in view when they
enlisted. The communities to which they go
are in sympathy with this class, shield them
and do not consider it crime to desert 1t
was the same in California in the old mining
days, men enlsting in the east with no other
object in view than to get out to the Pacific
coast, descrting on their arrival there aud
going to the mines" Il
For many years the army has been Obliged
| to keep large number of small posts in the
Indian territory, which has greatly added to
the cost of the service. Gen. Sheridan says
that the extension of railways in all direc-
tons over the vast region between the Mis-
souri, river and the Rocky mountains npw
affords an opportunity for concentration, aud
for somo time the process of ABANDONING
these small posts has been going on that in
consequence the standard of discipline and
efficiency is increased and economical result'
are anticipated.
A recommendation is made for the con
tinuance of the allowance Of ammunition fol
target practice on the ground that liboa
expenditure of money to carry out the pre-
scribed rifle competitions will meet with th'
best results in craftsmanship.