The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-15
ARMY OPERATIONS.
Annual Report of the General in -Chief-The
Campaign Against Geronimo.

Annual Report of the Genersl-in -Chief-Ths
Campaign Against Geronimo.
WAsHINGToN, Nov. ID Lieutenant general
Sheridan has submitted to the Secretary of War
his annual report, showing the operations of the
military forces during the past year. From the
report it appears that st the date of the last re-
turns the army of the United States consisted Of
2, l02 officers and %, 946 men. Under the head OF
the Division of the Atlantic, the Lieutenant
general refers feeliney to the death of General
Hancock. He says that no military operations
of Importance have occurred in this division
during the year The recommendations hereto.
fore made by General Schofeld and his pred
ecessor relative to the concentration, at some
suitable point of several light batteries for their
better instruction, are renewed, and attention is
called to the fortifcation and armament of our
seacoasts lying along the Atlantic ocean.
The Lieutenant-general says that while the
division of the Missouri has had no troubles ap-
preaching condition of hostilities during the
year, many operations of minor nature have
been rendered necessary to suppress predatory
raids in Montana by Indians from one reserya-
ton. directed mainly against Indians of other
reservations, to protect the Indian agents from
the insolence and INSTRUMENTATION of their
charges, and to secure settlers from the lawless
demands of rowing bands, who have been per-
mitted, pretext or another, to leave their
reservations. The adjustment made with the
Cheyenues and Arapahoes by the President,
through the medium of the Lieutenant-general,
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 settlements in the Oklaho-
ma country, and its invasion by herds of cattle
Unless some legislation is bad which will
specially fix the status of the Oklahoma land he
fears its many advantages in the way OF beauti-
full landscapes and fertile soil will prove con-
tinual temptation to an adventurous population
near its border, which, in short perEod, could
make it prosperous State Reports from the
Uintah and Ouray Indian agencies lin Utah,
whore the situation last winter was threatening,
indicate that the agent is now satisfied. and the
Indians have ceased their insolence azd appear
willing to behave themselves In roting the
abandonment of Fort Fred Steele and Fort Ellis,
the Lieutenant general 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,
after alludng to the preservation of peace by the
prompt arrival of troops at points where anti
Chinese riots were threatened, Lieutenant gen.
eral Sheridan turns his attention to the cam
paign against Geronimo. lie states that it wag
his idea to remove to Florida the Indians held as
prisoners by General Crook last November but
that he deferred such action upon the recon-
mendaton of General Crook and Captain Craw-
ford. Touching the death or Captain Crawford,
at time when negotiations had been opened
with the hostile Indians at their solicitation,
with view to their surrender, General Sheri-
dan says "The loss of Captain Crawford was
much TO be regretted, as he would, in my opin-
ion have, at that time, terminated
the cruel and bloody atrocities which corr
tinued thereafter for many mouths" The report
then relates in detail the circumstances attend
ing the qualified surrender of Geronimo to Sen
eral Crook upon terms which were not approved
by the President, and the subsequent escape Of
the chief with twenty warriors and twelve wo-
men, Touching the relief of General Crook and
his replacement by General Miles. General Sher-
idan says that grew out of the fact that Cen
eral Crook seemed welded to the policy Of ope-
rating almost exclusively with Indian scouts,
and rs his experience was of great weight, his
policy could not we'll be changed without his re-
moval to another field. To relieve the depart
ment of embarrassment General Crook re-
quested to be relieved, and General Miles was sss