Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-11-14
U.s. A..
synopsis Of the Annual Report Of
Lieut.. ten. Sheridan-The Con-
ditlon Of Car ARMY.
A Review OF the Iudian Troubies, Inoiud
Ing the Surrender of oeronimo.
Tho Sale OF Ind nm Lands
lIrur..anN. enKmnAN,s nERdRT.


the past year. From the report 1t appears
that AZ the date Of the last returns the
army OF the United States consisted OF
20l2 officers, and 28,946 men.
Under the head of the division Of the
Atlantic, the lieutenant-genera refers
feelingly TO the death Of Gen. Hancock.
He says that no military operations OF
Importance occurred In this division dur
ing the year. The recommendations
heretofore made by Gen. Sch0Held and
his predecessors relative 70 the
concentration at ONE suitable
point Of several light batteries
for their better instruction are renewed.
Attention IL called to the fertilization
and armament Of our sea coasts lying
along the Atlantic.
The lieutenant-general says that while
the division OF the Missouri has had no
troubles approaching the condition Of
hostilitles, during the year many opera
lions Of q minor nature have been rem
dered necessary TO suppress predatory
raids ia Montana by the Indians
from one reservation, directed mainly
against the Indians Of other reservations,
TO protect the Indian agents from iDso
ience and the characterization OF their
charges. and to secure settlers from the
lBwless demands OF rowing bands who
have been permitted, ON one pretext or
another, 10 leave their reservations. The
adjustment made with the Cheyennes and
Arapahoes by the president, through the
medium OF q lieutenant-grnera In July,
1885, has allayed all irritation IN
the Indian Territory, but the troops
In that region have been
kept constantly employed In the proven.
ton OF unlawful settlement In the Okla
homa country and its invasion by herds Of
cattle. Unless some legislation Ia had
which will specially fix the status Of the
Oklahoma lands he fears It's many adYant-
ages In the way Of beautiful landscapes
and fertile soil will prove a continual
temptation TO the adventurous population
near It's border, which In a short period
could make II a prosperous state
The reports from the Mintah aud
Ouray Indian agencies 10 Utah,
where the situation last winter was
threatening, indicate that the agent is
now satisfied, and the Indians have ceased
their insolencc and appear willing TO be-
have themselves. In noting the abandon.
ment OF Fort Frel Steele and Fort Ellis,
the lientenant.general says II Ia his desire
to persevere In the policy Of abandoning
small posts that are no longer useful.
Under the head OF division Of Pacific,
after abiding to the preservation OF peace
by the prompt arrival OF troops
at the points where anti-Chlnese riots
were threatened, the lieutenant.general
turns his attention TO the campaign
against Geronimo He states that IL was
his idea to remove to Florida the Indians
held IS prisoners by Gen. Crook last No.
yember, but that he deferred such action
upon the recommendation Of Gen.
Crook and Capt. Crawford. Touching
the death Of Capt. Crawford at the time
when negotiations had been opened
with the hostile InifThns at their
solicitation with 20 View Of their
surrender Gen. Sheridan says "The loss
OF Capt. Crawford was much TO be re.
GREETED, as he would, In my opinion, have
at that time terminated the cruel and
bloody atrocities which continued there.
after for many monthsn The report
then relates In detail the circumstances
attending the qualified surrender OF
Geronimo TO Gen. Crook upon terms
president and the subsequent es-
cape OF the chief with TWEEN.
~ warriors and two women
Touching the relief OF Gen Crook and
his replacement by Gen. Miles, Gen.
Sheridan says that II grew out OF the fact
that Gen. Crook seemed welded 10 the
policy Of operating almost exclusively
with Indian scouts, and as his experience
was OF great weight, his policy could not
well be changed without his removal TO
another field.
To relieve the department from embar-
rasment, Gen. Crook requested to be re.
llcved, and Gen. Miles had been assigned
10 the command upon Recommendation
Of Gen. Sheridan ander the following or.
ders; "Washlngtou, April 8, 1886 Gen.
Nelson A. Miles, Fort Leavonworth,
Kas, The iieutenant-generA directs
that on assuming command OF the depart.
ment Of Arizona vou1y your headquarters
temporarily at or near some point on tho
Southern Pacific railroad He directs
that the greatest care be taken to prevent
the Fpread OF hostllties among friendly
Indians In your command, and that the
most vigorous operations looking to the
capture OF the hostiles be ceaselessly
carried on. He does not wish to embarrass
you by undertaking at this distance to give
you specific Instructions In relation 10
your operations against the hostiles but
IL Is deemed advisable TO suggest the ne
cessity Of making active and prominent
use of the regular troops OF your com.
mRnds, II Is desired that you proceed TO
Arizona as soon as practicable.
[SIgned II @. DRUM,
Adjutsnt Generain
The acknowledgement says General
NIL. went TO work with commendable
zeal, His troops followed up the hostlles
with vigorous energy. lie came up to
their camps, attacked them four or Ave
tunes, and gave them no rest until they
surrendered on September 4, under cir.
cumstances and conditions, no Seyer,
that should not In my Judgment, permit
their being turned over to the civil au.
thorltlos for punishment, as was Intended
by the president. On September 81
they we're started by General Nil, a
to Fort Marion, Florida, with.
out authority, but at later
day stopped AZ San Antonio till their anal
disposition could DO decided upon. The
report says the arrest OF the Chiricahus
Indians and their removal to Florida had
been ordered by the president, notwlth.
standing the objections Of Gen. Miles that
II might be charged that the government
had taken advantage Of the Indians, and
that such action would necessltate war
81 extgrmination against the hostiles then
fl old Mexico.
The report notes marked decrease In
the number OF deserters from the army
during tho past year Rs compared with
years, The percentage OF de. !
scrti0ns N 1884 was To-, In 1885, IL, and
during tho present year S8. On this sub |
Iect the Northumberland says "Tho