REPORT OF THE GENERAL OF THE ARMY. HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Saint Louis, Mo., November 2, 1875. SIR: Since the date of my last annual report, October 24, 1874, the following changes have been made, by order of the President, in the boundaries of divisions and departments, viz: The Department of the Gulf was by General Orders No. 1, Headquarters Division of the Missouri, January 4, 1875, (ratified by the President,) added to the Military Division of the Missouri; by General Orders No. 18, War Department, Adjutant-General's Office, March 11, 1875, the Department of the Missouri was extended to the northern boundary of Texas; and by General Orders No. 65, War Department, Adjutant-General's Office, June 22, 1875, the Department of the Platte was extended to include so much of the Territory of Idaho as lies east of a line formed by the western boundary of Utah to the northeastern boundary of Idaho, including the post of Fort Hall. The geographical commands, therefore, consist 1. Of the Military Division of the Atlantic, commanded by Maj. Gen. W. S. Hancock; headquarters, New York. 2. Of the Military Division of the South, commanded by Maj. Gen. I. McDowell; headquarters, Louisville. 3. The Military Division of the Missouri, Lieut. Gen. P. H. Sheridan ; headquarters, Chicago. 4. The Military Division of the Pacific, Maj. Gen. J. M. Schofield; headquarters, San Francisco. There are no departments in the Division of the Atlantic. The Division of the South embraces but one department, the division commander exercising a double command. The Division of the Missouri embraces— 1. Department of Dakota, Bvt. Maj. Gen. A. H. Terry; headquarters, Saint Paul. 2. Department of the Platte, Bvt. Maj. Gen. George Crook; headquarters, Omaha. 3. Department of the Missouri, Bvt. Maj. Gen. John Pope; headquarters, Fort Leavenworth. 4. Department of Texas, Bvt. Maj. Gen. E. O. C. Ord; headquarters, San Antonio; and, 5. Department of the Gulf, Bvt. Maj. Gen. C. C. Augur; headquarters, New Orleans. The Division of the Pacific embraces 1. Department of the Columbia, Bvt. Maj. Gen. O. O. Howard; headquarters, Portland, Oreg. 2. Department of California, over which the division commander exercises the authority of department commander; and, 3. Department of Arizona, Bvt. Maj. Gen. A. V. Kautz; headquarters, Prescott. The tabular statements of the distribution of troops, herewith, gives in detail the post and station of each company, and all I need add to it is that, although the troops are necessarily scattered in small detachments, they are grouped as near as possible by regiments, so as to preserve organization and discipline. The aggregate strength of the line of the Army, according to the last reports received, is 1,540 officers and 24,031 enlisted men, made up as follows: 5 regiments of artillery 10 regiments of cavalry 25 regiments of infantry Available recruits, hospital-stewards, orduance-sergeants, &c.... I inclose herewith the annual reports of the division and department commanders as far as received, with such subreports as seem necessary to a full understanding of the events of the past year, the condition of the troops, and of their supplies. During the past winter the troops in the Departments of the Missouri and Texas were employed in an arduous and severe winter-campaign against the Kiowa, Cheyenne, and Comanche Indians, on the border of the Staked plains, that have for years been engaged in depredations on the Texas and Kansas frontiers, resulting in their disarmament and subjection to authority. If the military commanders can have control over the supplies needed by these Indians, as they now have over their persons, I am convinced by a recent visit that a condition of peace can be maintained. The border of Texas on the Lower Rio Grande has also been the scene of incursions by Indians and by Mexicans, mostly engaged in stealing cattle and horses. I invite your attention to the report of General Ord on this subject. In like manner the Sioux located on their reservation have recently, since the date of General Crook's annual report, made incursions into Northern Nebraska, mostly to steal cattle and horses from farms along the Pacific Railroad and north of it. General Crook is of the opinion that the whole Army, acting defensively, cannot prevent these incursions, and suggests that the troops be stationed in the midst of the Indians, so as to watch and prevent their leaving on the pretense of hunting. This is impracticable, unless the Army can have supervision of the necessary supplies of these tribes within the reservation, which is now not the case. The reports of the several commissions which have, under military escort, recently been engaged in exploring the country and in negotiating with these Indians, will throw much light on this subject. Generally speaking, the damage to life and property by Indians is believed to be less during the past year than in any former year, and the prospect is that as the country settles up it will be less and less each year, till all the Indians are established on small reservations. But, until they acquire habits of industry in farming or in stock-raising, they will need food from the General Government, because the game on which they have hitherto subsisted has diminished very rapidly. Inviting your attention to the reports herewith, I am, with respect, your obedient servant, W. T. SHERMAN, Hon. W. W. BELKNAP, General. Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. List of inclosures. 1. Tabulat statement-distribution of troops. 2. Report of General Hancock, &c. 3. Report of General McDowell, &c. 4. Report of General Sheridan. 4 A. Report of General Terry. 4 B. Report of General Crook, &c. 4 C. Report of General Pope. 4 D. Report of General Ord, &c. 4 E. Report of General Augur, &c. 5. Report of General Schofield, &c. 5 A. Report of General Howard. 5 B. Report of General Kautz. 1.-Statement showing the organization of the enlisted men of the Regular Army, compiled from returns received at the Adjutant-General's Office up to September 30, 1875. |