Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-04
.nlyGER ON THE BORDER.
u,r ARMY TOO SMALL TO OVER
IL AWE THE INDIANS.

4
:, ooo soldiers Made to Face $4,000
iC,vs ,T.,I. armed and Fearless Savages-
scalps OF Settlers Never safe from
,-sNietsd Tomahawks-5O.OO Men
Con.idered not too Great a Force.
w.sHrNGToN, Dec. 3.-Maj. Gen.
.soaold. commanding the division of
T,.onri. says in his annual report, that
~ oree in round numbers consists Of
AN intaptrv, 5000 cavalry, and $50 artil-
,,ry aggregating $4,000 men. They oc-
.,nv a. different stations, giving an aver
-aof 931 men at each. he has the fol-
n ,an,iro 10 say about the means necessary
;, nrovent great destruction Of life and
4 rronertv by savage Indians:
& rbo Indians are well mounted, having sew
al nonies to each man, well armed and
.hnndaptlv supplied with ammunition. Be-
.tr,,ned from early childhood they are ex-
# l.51ent horsemen and expert margsmen, equal
ines respects to the best regular troops in
"a tbe world.
RrT ONE WAY TO oVERAWE THEM.
d Ms manifestly Impossible to permanently
,goroye and hold in subjection such bodies of
.svsges by a show of army force far inferior
tbam IN numbers. Considerable progress
ssJaubtIese been made toward the ciYiliza-
I'M of some of the tribes, but their savage na-
.nre has not vet been greatly changed, ana
.Ssrr love of war is not greatly diminished
Fble the temptations to eng ge in hostlllues
nd the opportunities TO do injury have been
rSstlY increased.
TEMPTING SURROUNDINGS.
The reservatIons are now surrounded by
AIn o.aA nv TuaF6 6nlft ~
rbset and corn, and by thousands of de-
srseiess settlers When the lapse Of a few
pgrs has duled the recollection OF past
nD.hment. only slight provocation will be
eeded TO induce the young warriors to yield
such tempting opportunities TO satlate
beirpative thirst for blood and plunder and
heir brutal lust.
CHARACTER OF THE SETTLERS.
A great majority Of the large frontier popu-
sfo1 are strangers to the earlier history Of
be Indian country. They have settled there
nce the Indians we're located upon the reser-
stiOns, relying on the government for pro-
Rclion. They are apparently unconscious OF
anger. while in simple truth they are liable
spv moment to experience all the horrors
savage warfare. Nothing short of the i'm
nediste presence OF a superior force can be
eledon to restrain the Indians from an out
reak until they have advanced far beyond
heir present stage of civilization.
TIME SHOULD NOT BE LOST.
OF course, troops could soon be cOncentra-
Ri tOsubdue any rebelllous tribe. but the
Image which might be done even IN the
me required for this purpose would be enor-
ous as compared with anything in our past
yperlence Of Indian wars. he number Of
Indians n this division as reported by the In
nor Department is about 10000. OF these
out 5000 are rated as peaceable, the re
alng ~ 000 being more or less unclvilized
nd Warlike. Their warriors mum Der at least
900, equal to the entire strength OF the Uni
states Army or two thirds more than the
hole numberof troops serving in this di-
sion.
DANGER OF FUTURE OUTBREAKS.
It Is manifest that this numerically small
nee Of troops cannot absolutely prevent In
an outbreaks in the future, as it has not in
past. The probabilities Of such an out
faak NAV have diminished in the last few
ars and undoubtedly the facilities for sup
e''ing them have greatly increased by
ans OF rapid ranspOrtatiOn OF troops by
A bDt the question to be now
nsdered Is, whether the vast in
ease OF interests Of life and property
o7ed does not now demand that such
tarY measures be adopted as will surely
event 10 the future any Wholesale destruc-
OF life and property by the uncivilized
hes Of the country. It is my duty to plain
anl clearly present the question for the
lsle.atlon Of the authorities upon whom
WHERE THE RESPONSIBILITY LIES.
Following up this line Of argument,
n' schodeld says:
desire TO pointedly invite attention to the
mat while our present force can by con-
lIau0n subdue any rebellious tribe, rs has
Often been done heretofore, the warlike
Os are 70 less prepared for war now than
nave been at any former period, and
our present military force is mani
insufficient to prevent or
2ptly, suppress an indian out
A' beg leave to submit that in
llfy Of 100000 people, $1,000 men would
small army to be maintained with sole
renee TO possible foreign wars. But when
lunlry has constant daily use for nine
~ that force 10 protect its people
property against destruction by savage
10 their midst, il is extremely unwise
nH tle army TO its present strength. AS
ngnt the great cities Of the country
,lhefpolce force to one half Of that which
lelce las shown to be necessary for
,es. ''''' Wv" no reserve ior great siner-
GEN. CROOKS REPORT.
en- Crook, commanding the depart
" Oh Arizona, in his annual report
iloas az length the circumstances
yu attended the outbreak of the Chi
.las under Geronimo, Manqus and
caIels last spring, and declares sub
laily mat want OF harmony between
yits a.gnts OF the Interior Department and
military makes such outbreaks possi-
ms detailed account Of the events
last year and the year previous in
epaflment amounts in effect TO an
ftelgioh or deliberate deception and
sll against the then Secretary Of
u'sfior and Indian Commissioned.
CROOK ASKS FOR CONTROL.
Va Crook, in January last. i'm a letter
..5 i.ant General, asked that he be
gu 70 control of the Indians. for
le was held responsible. or that he
Hs,ed from the responsibility. In
letler to the AGiutant General in
zen, Crook writes: "As this
Vonirol has now been withdrawn
W. must respectfully decline TO be
'"stF held responsible for the be-
RAY, any OF the Indians on that
''uon lsan Carlos)."
ns INFLUENCE DESTROYED.
liner regret being compelled to say
6ns,,GGs.ihg 10 relieve me from this
las requested in my
M January 90 J and ut the same
dang from me the power by which
ferrous Indians have been con-
n "Q managed, and compelled to en-
leuustrial pursuits, tho war
destroys my Influence, and
'ulusuce 70 me, and to the service
represent"
many msolne of the matter was the ap-
lbia.eoI lI, oI Capt. f. +. Pierce, OF the
4''ulry, rs Indian agent at San
RAIDS IN ARIZONA.
ailaoo5N =, ARIz., Dec. 8.-The In
ol,5s.s-e = tne town Of Duncan, on