St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-11-15
OUR LITTLE ARMY.
Gen. sheridan submits His Annual
Report SuggestiOns Regarding
the Indians.


Gen. sheridan Submits His Annual
Report suggestions Regarding
the indians.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14.-Lieut. Gen.
Sheridan has submitted to the secretary 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 2.102 officers
and 23, 946 men. Under the head of the
division of the Atlantic, the lieutenant gen
eral refers teellngly to the death of Gen.
Hancock. He says that no military opera
tions of Importance have occurred i'll this
division during the year. The rec
ommendation heretofore made by Gen.
Schoneld and his predecessor rela-
tive to the early concentration at
some suitable point of several light bat
teries for their better instruction is re-
newed and attention called to the fortfica-
ton and armament of our sea coasts lying
along the Atlantic ocean. The lieutenant
general says that while the division of the
Missouri has had no troubles approaching
a condition of hostiIities during the year,
many operations of a minor nature have
been rendered necessary to suppress preda-
tory raids in Montana by Indians from one
reservation directed mainly against Indians
on other reservations, to protect the Indian
agents from insolence and INSTRUMENTATION
of their charges, and
TO SECURE SETTLERS
from the lawless demands of rowing bands
who have been permitted. OIL one preteXt or
another, to leave their reservations.
The adjustment made with the Cheyennes
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 preventing of unlawful settlements
in the Oklahoma country and its invasio
by herds of cattle. Unless some legis-
lation is had which will specially
fix the status of the Oklahoma
land. he fears its many advantages i'll
the way of beautiful landscapes and fertile
soil will prove continual temptation to an
adventurous population near its border,
which in short period could make it pros
porous state Reports from the Uintah and
Ouray Indian agencies in Utah, where the
situation last winter was threatening, lndl-
cate that the agent is now satisfied and the
Indians have ceased their insOIence and
appear willing to behave themselves. In
noting the abandonment of Fort Fred Steel
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 head of
the Division Of the Pacific, after alludng
to the preservation OF peace by the prompt
arrival of the troops at points where anti
Chinese riots were threatened. Sheridan
L. To fha
paign. He states that it was his idea to re-
move to Florida the Indians held as prison
ers by Gen. Crook last November, but that
he deferred such action upon the recon-
mendations of Gen. Crook and Capt. Craw-
ford Touching The death of Capt. Craw-
ford at time when negotiations had been
opened with the hostile Indians at their So
licitatOn. with view of their surrender
Gen. Sheridan says: The loss of Capt.
Crawford was much to be regretted, as he
would, in my opinion, have at that time ter
minated the cruel and bloody atrocities
which continued thereafter for many
months" The report then relates in detail
the circumstances attending the qualified
surrender of Geronimo to Gen. Crook upon
terms which were not approved BY the presi-
dent and the subsequent escape of the chief
with twenty warriors and thirteen women.
Touching
THE RELIEF OF GEN. CROOK
and his replacement by Gen. Miles. the
general says that it grew out of the fact
that Gen Crook seemed welded to the
policy of operating almost exclusively with
Indian scouts and as his experience was Of
great weight. his policy could not be
changed without his removal to an
other field. Gen. Miles went to
work with commendable zeal. His troops
followed up the hoStiles with vigorous
energy. broke up their camps by attack
four or five times and gave them no rest
until they surrendered on Sept. under
circumstances and conditions, however,
that should not i'll my Judgment, permit
their being turned over to the civil authorl-
ties for punishment, as was Intended by
the president. On Sept s they were
started by Gen. Miles to Fort Marion, Fla,
without authority, but at later date
stopped at San Antonio till their final dis
position could be decided upon. The re-
port states that the arrest of the Chlrlcahua
Indians and their removal to Florida mad
been ordered by the president, notWlth-
standing the objections of Gen. Miles that
it might be charged that the government
bad taken advantage OF the Indians and
that SuCn 3cGlOI WOulo HCCCooienuo o ""i "
determination against the hOStileS then In
old Mexico. The report notes marked
decrease in the
NUMBER OF DEsERTERS
from the army during the past year, as
compared with preceding years. The
percentage of desertions in 1884 was 10,
in 1885 lit and during the past year 6.3.
On this subject the lieutenant general says:
..The great decrease since 1884 Is due no
doubt to the improvement of administration
and to the benefcient legislation which pro-
vides for honorable retirement of enlisted
men after long and faithful service" He
suggests that law be passed permitting the
marking of convicted deSerterS with India
ink so that they may be known when they
Dresent themselves for re-iulistment The
report states that the army generally is in
a very healthy and gratifying condition, an
the discipline excellent But few ofncers
have been tried by court-martial during the
wear. and the opinion is expressed that there
hasuot been period in twenty-five year when
so little necessity has existed for the correc-
ton of those holding com missions. Ii is sug-
gested that congress open the entlre list to
the extent of embracing officers now ex-
cludea from il for want of vacancies. Gen.
Sheridan saws: This would give certain de-
gree of promotion, and if we could get the
Infantry regiments increased to twelve
compauies, as proposed by the Henderson
bill. and the increase OF 5000 men reported
fayorably by the senate military committee
last winter. q state of efficiency and usefulr
ness would be reached which would enable
US to creditably perform such service as the
country might demand" The report shows
that the instruction of the army in the use of
THE RIFLE OR CARBINE
with which the men are armed has been