Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1876 — President's Measure' Relative to Troops in the Indian Country. [ARTICLE]

President's Measure' Relative to Troops in the Indian Country.

Washington, Aug. 11. The following message was sent by the President to Congress to-dfiy: To the Senate and Haute of Representative*: I transmit herewith a telegram of the sth of August inst. from Lieut-Gen. Sheridan to Gen. Sherman, aletter of thellthof the present month from Gen. Bherman to the Secretary of War, and a letter from the latter of the same date to me, all setting forth the possible needs of the army in consequence of existing hostilities. I would strongly urge upon Congress tbe necessity for making some provision for a contingency which may arise during the vacation for more troops in the Indian country than it is now possible to send. It would seem to me to be much more economical and better to authorize an increase of the present cavalry force by 2,500 privates, but If this is not '(Teemed advisable, then that the President be authorized to call out not exceeding five regiments, 1,000 strong each, of volunteers, to serve for a period not exceeding six months. Should this latter authority be given, I would not order out any volunteers unless, in my opinion, based upon reports from the soene of war, I deemed It fibiolutely necessary, and then only the smallest number considered sufficient 4o meet the emergency. (Signed) U. S. Grant. Exzccnvx Mansion, Aug. 11. The following is Gen. Sheridan’s letter to Gen. Sherman: Chicago, Aug. s. —To Gen. W. ~T7 Sherman, Washington: I have not yet been able to reinforce the garrison at Red Cloud, at Spotted Tail, or at Standing Rock, to count the Indians or to arrest and disarm those coming in. I beg of you to see the Military Committee of the House and urge on it the necessity of increasing the cavalry regiments to 100 to each company. Gen. Crook’s total strength is 1,774, Terry’s 1,873, mid to give this force to them I have stripped every post’ from the line of Manitoba to Texas. We want more mounted men. We have not exceeded the law In enlisting Indian scouts—in fact, have not as many as the law allows us. The whole number in this division is only 114. The Indians with Gen. Crook are not enlisted, or even paid. They are not worth paying. They are with him only to gratify their desire for a fight and their thirst for revenge on the SiouX. (Signed) P. H. Shbridan, Lieutenant-General. A letter of Gen. Sherman to the Secretary of War indorses the recommendations of Gen. Sheridan, and the letter of the Secretary of War recommends the same to the President.