Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-11-19
THE REPORT OF GEN. SHERIDAN
Military Operations During the
Past Year.
Recommendations Touching the
Indians,


of war his annual report showing the opera
tions of the military forces during the past
year. From the report it appears that, at the
date of the last returns, the army of the
United states consisted of 2102 officers and
p, 946 men, distributed as follows: General
officers, 10; general staff, 578; 10 regiments
of cavalry, All officers, 6949 men; five regi-
ments of artillery, 2T2 officers, 2473 men; %
regiments of infantry, $50 officers 10, 721
men; Indian scouts, 595 men; detachments,
recruiting parties, etc, 2003 men.
The recommendations heretofore made by
Gen. Schofeld and his predecessor, relative
TO the concentration at some suitable point of
several light lat cries for their better in
struction, are renewed, and attention is
called to the fortification and armament of
our sea coasts lying along, the Atlantic
ocean.
The acknowledgement says that, while the
division of the Missouri has had no trouble
approaching a condition of hostlities during
the year, many operations of minor nature
have been rendered neces ,ary to suppre s
predatory raids in Montana by Indians from
one reservation directed mainly against In
dlans of o.her reservations, to p.otect the
Indian agents from the insolence and in
subordination of their charges and to secure
settlers from the lawless demands of rowing
bands, who have been permitted on one
pretext or another to leave their reservations.
The Acknowledgement says it is his desire to
persevere in the policy of abandoning small
posts that are no longer useful.
Under the head of the division of the
Pacific, Lieut. Gen. Sheridan turns his at.en-
tion to the campaign against Geronimo. He
states that it was his idea to remove to
florida the Indians held as prisoners by Gen.
Crook last November, but that he deferred
such action upon the recommendation of
Gen. Crook and Capt. Crawford. Touching
the death of Capt. Crawford, at time when
negotiations had been opened with the hostile
Indians, at their solicitation, with view of
their surrender Gen. Sheridan says: "The
loss of Capt. Crawford was much to be re-
gretted as he would, in my opinion. have at
that time terminated the cruel and bloody
atrocities which continued thereafter for
many mon hs." ---,
The report then relates in detail the cir
cumstances attending the qualified surrender
of Geronimo TO Gen. Crook, upon terms
which were not approved by the President
and the subsequent escape of the chief with
20 warriors and 13 women Touching the
relief of Gen. Cook and his replacement by
Gen. Miles, Gen. Sheridan says that it grew
out of the fact that Gen. Crook seemed we'd
ded to the policy of operating almost ex-
clusiVely with Indian scouts, and, as his ex-
perience was of great weight, his policy could
not well be changed without his removal to
another field. To relieve the department of
embarras> >ment, Gen. Crook had requested to
be relieved, and Gen. Miles had been as
signed to the command upon the ecommen-
datlon of Gen. Sheridan. The report notes
marked decrease in the number of deserters
from the army during the past year as COM
pared with preceding years The percentage
of desertion in 1884 was Is, in 1885
III d-during the past year S.9.
general says: "The great decrease since 1884
is due, no doubt to the Improvement of ad-
ministration and to the benificent legi gillation
which provides for honorable retirement for
enlisted men after long and faithful SER
vice.
The report states that the army generally
is in very healthy and gratifying condition,
and the discipline excellent 1t is suggested
that Congress open the retired list 10 the ex-
tent of embracing officers now excluded from
it for want of vacancies, Geu. Sheridan
says this would give certain degree of pro-
motion, and if we could get the infantry
regiments increased to IL companies, as pro-
posed by the Manderson bill, and the increase
of 5000 men reported favorably by the Senate
military committee last winter, a state of
efficiency and usefulness would be reached
highly creditable.
The lieutenant-general renews his recon-
mendation made in his preceding report
touching the allotment of land in severalty
to Indians, the sale of surplus lands and the
creation of a trust fund fEQ2a the money req
liZed, the inter est, OH which Shall be turned
over to the Indians for their support In
this connection the report exhib IS some in
teresting statistics touching the extent of the
lands now held by the Indians and the income
likely to be derived from the sale of the sur
plus lands according to the plan sug-
gested by Gen. Sheridan. The report
says: considering all the Indians and re-
servations in the territories of Dakota and
Montana we have an aggregate area of over
81, 100000 acres, and population of less than
$4,000 The surplus area of nearly 1000
square miles almos5 equal to the entire state
OF Kansas) would produce annual interest of
over S2,5OO,0OO. The appropriations for the
fiscal year ending June 3D. 1886, for fulfilling
treaties with hCss tribes an for their sub.
sistence and civilization and the pay of the
employee incident to such undertaking,
amounts to about 500, 900 less than this
sum- In like manner the result of the ap-
plication of the plan in the different western
states and territories is shown in detail, and
the report concludes as follows "The Indian
reservations Of the United States contain
about 200, 900 square miles, and their popula-
tion is about 260, 900. Twenty six thou and
square miles would locate each family upon
half-section of land, leaving a surplus
of about 10000 square miles, which, ac-
cording to the plan l have proposed, would
produce annually 4,4S0,000 This amount
exceeds by about $66J, 900 the entire sum ap-
propriate1 for the payment of their annui-
ties and for their subsistence and civilization.
The policy advocated in myreport would be
most advantageousy applied gradually, the
general government of the Indians being
continued according to the methods now in
vogue, or such Improvement of them as time
and experience may suggest Tho ultimate
development of the suggested policy would,
as the Indians advance in civilization and
intelligence, result in the return to them of
the principal derived from the
sale OF their lands, which, until
such measures were authorized by act
OF Congress, would be held as a trust for their
benefit and the income applied to their sup
port. The adjustment made with the Chey-
ennes and Apaches by the President through
the medium of tie acknowledgement in july
1885, has allayed all irritation in the Indian
territory, but the troops in that region have
been kept constantly employed in the pre-
vention of unlawful settlement in the Oklo-
hama country and its invasion by herds Of
cattle Unless some legislation is had which
will specially fix the status of the Oklohama
land he fears its many advantages, in the
way of beautiful landscape and fertile soil
will prove q continual temptation to an adj
venturous population near its border, which
in a short period could make it prosperous
State.
OHlO'S OFFICIAL VOTE.