Year: 1874

| ter at the time let-some OF them we're; and 1t
AL came from system OF enforced labor.
| Nearly all tho Indians that have in the coun-
try, except the Sioux and some OF the Cheyennes.
Kiowas and Comanches, may be considered as
broken down. All the extensive tribes OF Indians
In Washington and oregon Territories were broken
down by the troops ana put on reservations' and
II Is more than probable that the Sioux and the
Southern tribes referred to will have 10 be broken
down In that way before they settle on the reser-
vstons. should the military have charge OF the
reservations II an Indian leaves he can be pre-
vented from coming back until he 10 properly
punished. He can be deprived OF his means OF
subsistence; he can be followed and harassed.
But as II goes now Indians leave aud come back
when they please, and there is no government.
Among Indians there are no laws for government.
There is no chief who has any great influence, ex-
cept influence to do bad His influence is very
great In that respect; but II he attempts to stop
war party from going out any young man can
step up as leader OF that war party. and the chief
Is perfectly helpless to prevent 1t from starting,
and unfortunately he usually has his share OF the
piunder when it comes back.


RESULTS OF DIVIDED AUTHORITY.


CoRREsPoNDENr-General you have some views
IN regard to the increase OF the ration for the
Indian, as being demanded by the requirements OF
his case and calculated to give him more satisiac-
ton and more contentment?


General SHERIDAN-ln my judgment there has
been an insufficient quantity OF food issued to the
Indians. ard think that bis daily rations should
be Increased beyond the present allowance. also
think that Indian reservations are made entirely
too large and 1t Is source OF great dissatisfaction
on the part OF the white settlers that 1t should be
so. They usually take the ground that the Indian
IL no better than anybody else They say he is
lszy, he is good for nothing, don't work. has
no profession ana that the government gives him
large quantities OF land, very often among the
Wild tribes, averaging 10000 acres for
every head OF q family; while settler
can only receive from the government
100 acres OF land, and he says that in getting that
100 acres be fences 1t IN, he puts up house, he
ts the soil, he pays his taxes to the government,
and he does not see why the governments should
give so much to the Indian and 80 little to him,
and the consequence is he does not hesitate to
encroach upon Indian limits and there Is no way
OF keeping him or except by the use Of the troops


CoRREsPoNDENr-What, in your Judgment, Gen.
eral. should be done by Congress in the way Of
legislation to provide a remedys


General SHERIDAN-I think that Congress ought
to transfer the government or all wild Indians to
the military authority OF the country, and that
each department commander should be held re.
sponsible for the proper management OF the In.
dian reservations inside OF his command. 1t should
so with the general administration Of the army,
and in making this remark l wish 1t
to be understood that not seeking 1t at all,
although We have great annoyance at the pres
ent time on account OF divided authority. Should
the Indians be transferred TO the military power
we have fear that We would be all made out ras-
Gals within about six or eight months.


CoRREsFoNDENT--Is there not some way OF pre-.
venting the robbery and extortion OF the Indian
by Indian agents and others, and is this nos the
prime cause Of the principal part OF the dtssatis-
laction OF the Indians, and their warlike acts9


TIE INDIAN DEPARTMENT INCOMPETENT.


General SHERIDAN-i do not wish to make any
charges against anybody. but know that the In
dian Department has but very little machinery in
for the purpose that 1t has undertaken. and that
what little 1t has is loosely managed; while the
army has perfect machinery not only for the ad-
ministration OF large command, but for accu-
racy in accountability and honesty in dsburse-
mepts


CoRREsroNDssT-How about the Christ,anizat,on
and civilization Of the Indians In case these res.
ervartons were trausferredy


General SHERIDAN-The ability to accomplish
this purpose would be greatly facilitated by the
change. Ministers OF the Gospel would have
perfect protection and every assistance, and
the Indians being under police surveillance
they could circulate much better for the accom-
puSumeut VI tuet purposes. Ine propIlety OF
police regulations will be appreciated by compari-
son with what would be the state OF AFFAIRS In New
York city, for instance. in case its police and
militia regulations were withdrawn.


CoRREsPoNDENT-Could not the Indiani be en-
ployed to great advantage as soldiers?


INDIANS As SOLDIERS.


General sHERIDAN-I nave always thought that
the idea Of employing the Indians soldiers was
very good one, and we have employed number OF
Indian scouts There are nearly three hundred IN
this division at this time. AS scouts they do ad-
mirsbly. There is no trouble In their management,
and they so far forget thsr allegiance to their own
people as to go freely out to fight them whenever
they are called upon. Even Indian soldiers en-
listed belonging to dInerent nations that have al
ways been at war when they become scouts seem
to forget their old hatreds and to work admirably
together. The only case detection in our Indian
scouts has been at Fort Fettermau a short time
ago. where few but recently enlisted deserted
and joined their people. The only taing IN the
whole Indian question is the proper management
Of the reservations.


CoRREsPoSDENr-Do not small number Of In
dtans VINO are troublesome cover gre at extent OF
country which would be OF immense value to the
United States If opened up7


General SHERIDAN-I would say yes; ana It
seems strange raat great government like this
enoulu not ihsst upou InahiHg every portion OF tue
country safe Tor It's citizens to travel over The
region between the western slopes oil the black
Hills and the Big Horn, or even beyond as far as
the Rosebud and down as lar south as tie Wind
River Mountains, Is section OF great mineral
wealth still, few hundred Indians nave been
covering this country and preventing its develop
ment. Then take the southern part OF the coun-
try--the very portion of the country that seems to
be of the least value ior cultivation IS and will
become the most valuable portion OF the country
for grazing purposes. Immense herds are now scat
tering all over the plains OF the South, and, with
population increasing as rapidly as ours the
necessity OF the development IN the grazing inter.
ests OF the country Is very great and Is very much