Connecticut western news., 1886-11-24


 to the Secretary of War his annual report show ing the operations of the military forces during the past year. From the report it appears that st the date of the last returns the Army of the United States consisted of 3, 102 officers and 9, ,946 men, distributed as follows;
 Officers. Men General. ............."...... 10 Ten regiments of cavalry. ........ All 6,943 Five regiments of artillery. .272 2,473 Twenty-Five regiments of infantry. .sSe 10,7 Indian scouts 595 Detachments, recruiting parties, dc. - 2,Oos
 The adjustment made with the Cheyennes and Ahrpboes by the President, through the medium ef the Lieutenant General, in July, 1885, has al- layed all irritation in the Indian Territory, but the troops in that region have been kept constantly employed in the prevention of un- lawful settlements in the Oklahoma country and it's invasion by herds of cattle. Unless some legislation is had which specially fixes the status of the Oklahoma lands he fears it's many advantages in the way of beautiful landscapes and fertile soil will prove continual tompta- tion to an adventurous population near it's bor- prosperous State.
 Under the haad of the Division of the Pacific, after alluding to the preservation of peace by the prompt arrival of troops at points where anti-Chinese riots were threatened, Lieutenant General Sheridan turns his attention to the campaign against Geronimo. He states that it was his idea to remove to Florida the Indians held as prisoners by General Crook last Novem- Der; but that he deferred such action upon the recommendations of General Crook and Cap tain Crawford. The report then relates in de- tail the circumstances attending the qualified surrender of Geronimo to General Crook upon terms which were not approved by the Presl dent, and the subsequent escape of the chief with twenty warriors and thirteen women. The Lieutenant General says:-
 General Miles went to work with commend able zeal. His troops followed up the hos ties with vigorous energy, broke up, their camps by attack four or five times and gave them no rest until they surrendered, on Sept. 4, under circumstances and conditions, how ever, that should not in my judgment permit their being turned over to the civil authorities for punishment, as was intended by the Presl- dent On September they were started by General Miles to Fort Marion, Fla, without authority, but at later date stopped at San Antonio, until their final disposition could be decided upon.
 The report states that the arrest of the Chiricahua Indians and their removal to Florida had been ordered by the President, notwithstanding the objections by General ernment had taken advantage of the Indians, and that such action would necessitate war of extermination against the hostiles then in Old Mexico.
 The report states that the army generally is in . very healthy and gratifying condition and the discipline excellent But few officers have beeh tried by courts martial during the year, and the opinion is expressed that there has not been period in twenty-five years when so little necessity has existed for the correction of those holding commissions. It is suggested that Congress open the retired list to the ex- tent of embracing officers now excluded from it for want of vacancies.