desirability of establishing the six small posts in the sections of country named by him in his accompanying report, and as soon as the exact locations are decided upon, the work of building can go on, as the money for construction has already been appropriated by Congress and is now available.

The extensive construction of railways in Texas has greatly contrib uted to the economical administration of this department and to the effectiveness of military operations. The good feeling which exists between our Mexican neighbors and ourselves along the Rio Grande frontier has almost entirely relieved the embarrassments which for a long time existed in that direction, and I most cheerfully pay tribute to the lamented General Canales, of the Mexican army, for his kindly feelings and cordial co-operation in the attainment of this most desirable result.

The department has been ably and economically administered, and the thanks of the division commander are tendered to Lieutenant Bullis for his successful pursuit and merited chastisement of the Indians who murdered Mrs. Lawrence and robbed her home.

The troops in this division are efficient and their discipline is very good, considering the smallness of the companies and the amount of hard work to be performed in fighting Indians, building posts, making roads, guarding settlements and railroads, and escorting parties engaged in surveying projected railways, boundary lines, and public lands in the Territories. The rights and the lands of the Indians have also to be protected against encroachments, and I have to reiterate what I have said in former reports, that the Army is much too small to efficiently and economically perform the duties required of it. I would recommend greater activity in enlistments. This could be brought about by modification of the rigid standards of weight and height for recruits.

The school of instruction for cavalry and infantry, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, will be organized shortly after the 1st of November. I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient ser

vant.

Brig. Gen. R. C. DRUM,

P. H. SHERIDAN, Lieutenant-General, Commanding.

Adjutant-General, United States Army, Washington, D. C.

3 A.-Report of Brigadier-General Terry.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF DAKOTA,

Fort Snelling, Minn., October 9, 1881. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the military operations which have taken place in this department since the 4th day of October, 1880, the day on which my last annual report was made. At that time the force in the department consisted of the following-named regiments: The Second Cavalry, the Seventh Cavalry, the Third Infantry, the Fifth Infantry, the Seventh Infantry, the Eleventh Infantry, the Seventeenth Infantry, the Eighteenth Infantry, the Twenty-Fifth Infantry.

These troops were at that time distributed to posts and stations as follows:

At Fort Snelling, Minn., the regimental headquarters and Companies C, H, and K, Seventh Infantry.

At Fort Sisseton. Dak., Companies F and I of the Seventeenth Infantry.

At Fort Pembina, Dak., Companies E and K of the Seventeenth Infantry.

At Fort Totten, Dak., troops F and K of the Seventh Cavalry, and Company C of the Seventeenth Infantry.

At Fort Randall, Dak., the regimental headquarters and Companies B, F, G, and I of the Twenty-Fifth Infantry.

At Fort Hale, Dak., Companies C and E of the Twenty-Fifth Infantry. At Fort Sully, Dak., the regimental headquarters and Companies A, G, I, and K of the Eleventh Infantry.

At Fort Bennett Dak., Company E of the Eleventh Infantry.

At Fort Yates, Dak., the regimental headquarters and Companies A, B, D, and H of the Seventeenth Infantry, and troops B and D of the Seventh Cavalry.

At Fort Meade, Dak., the regimental headquarters and troops A, C, E, G, H, and M of the Seventh Cavalry, and Companies A, D, H, and K of the Twenty-Fifth Infantry.

At Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dak., troops I and L of the Seventh Cavalry, Company D of the Eleventh Infantry, and Company G of the Seventeenth Infantry, and Company F of the Seventh Infantry.

At the Cantonment Bad Lands, Dak., Company D of the Seventh Infantry.

At Fort Stevenson Dak., Companies G and I of the Seventh Infantry. At Fort Buford, Dak., Companies A, B, and E of the Seventh Infantry.

At Fort Keogh, Mont., the regimental headquarters, and Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and K of the Fifth Infantry, and troops A, B, and E of the Second Cavalry.

At the Cantonment Poplar Creek Agency, Mont., Companies B and F of the Eleventh Infantry.

At Fort Custer, Mont., the regimental headquarters, and troops C, G, I, and M of the Second Cavalry, and Companies C and H of the Eleventh Infantry.

At Fort Assiniboine, Mont., the regimental headquarters and Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, and K of the Eighteenth Infantry, and troops H and L'of the Second Cavalry.

At Fort Benton, Mont., Company A of the Third Infantry.

Fort Shaw, Mont., the regimental headquarters and Companies F and G of the Third Infantry, and Companies G and H of the Eighteenth Infantry.

Fort Logan, Mont., Company I of the Eighteenth Infantry.

At Fort Ellis, Mont., Troops D, F, and K of the Second Cavalry, and Companies C and E of the Third Infantry.

At Fort Missoula, Mont., Companies B, D, H, and I of the Third Infantry.

At Fort Maginnis, Mont., Company K of the Third Infantry.

The regiments serving in the department remain unchanged, but various changes, which will be spoken of hereafter, have been made, and the resulting distribution is as follows:

At Fort Snelling, Minn., the regimrntal lead quarters and Companies C, H, and K of the Seventh Infantry.

At Fort Sisseton, Dak., Companies F and I of the Seventeenth Infantry. At Fort Pembina, Dak., Companies E and K of the Seventeenth Infantry.

At Fort Totten, Dak., Troops I and K of the Seventh Cavalry, and Company C of the Seventeenth Infantry.

At Fort Randall, Dak., the regimental headquarters and Companies B, F, and G, and I of the Twenty-fifth Infantry.

At Fort Hale, Dak., Companies C and E of the Twenty-fifth Infantry. At Fort Sully, Dak., the regimental headquarters and Companies G, I, and K of the Eleventh Infantry.

At Fort Bennett, Dak., Company E of the Eleventh Infantry.

At Fort Yates, Dak., the regimental headquarters, and Companies A, D, and H of the Seventeenth Infantry, and Troops B and D of the Seventh Cavalry.

At Fort Meade, Dak., the regimental band and Troops A, C, E, G, H, and M of the Seventh Cavalry, and Companies A, D, H, and K of the Twenty-fifth Infantry.

At Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dak., the regimental headquarters and Troop L of the Seventh Cavalry, Company F of the Seventh Infantry, Company D of the Eleventh Infantry, and Company G of the Seventeenth Infantry.

At the Cantonment Bad Lands, Dak., Company D of the Seventh Infantry.

At Fort Stevenson, Dak., Companies G and I of the Seventh Infantry. At Fort Buford, Dak., Troop F of the Seventh Cavalry and Companies A, B, and E of the Seventh Infantry.

At Camp Poplar River, Mont., Companies B and F of the Eleventh Infantry.

At Camp Porter, Mont., Company A of the Eleventh Infantry and Company B of the Seventeenth Infantry.

At Fort Keogh. Mont., the regimental headquarters and Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and K of the Fifth Infantry, and Troop E of the Second Cavalry.

At Fort Custer, Mont., the regimental headquarters and Troops C, F, G, I, and M of the Second Cavalry, and Companies C and H of the Eleventh Infantry.

At Fort Assinniboine, Mont., the regimental headquarters and Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, H, and K of the Eighteenth Infantry, and Troops H and L of the Second Cavalry.

At Fort Shaw, Mont., the regimental headquarters and Companies A, F, and G of the Third Infantry.

At Fort Maginnis, Mont., Troops A, B, and K of the Second Cavalry, Company K of the Third Infantry, and Companies G and I of the Eighteenth Infantry.

At Fort Ellis, Mont., Troop D of the Second Cavalry, and Companies C and E of the Third Infantry.

At Fort Missoula, Mont., Companies B, D, H, and I of the Third Infantry.

The following tables show the strength of the several garrisons at the date of the returns for August, the last received at these headquarters:

The following is a general record of events during the year, taken principally from the post returns:

September 3, 1880, Company F, Fifth Infantry, returned to Fort Keogh, where it remained until September 30, on which, date the company returned to its former camp near government saw-mill. Distance marched, 30 miles.

September 6, 1880, Company A, Second Cavalry, left Fort Keogh, en route to Fort Custer as escort to public funds, under charge of Major Bates, paymaster, U. S. A. The company returned to Fort Keogh September 16. Distance marched, 220 miles.

September 12, 1880, Company K, Fifth Infantry, left Fort Keogh on detached service. Distance marched during the month, 343 miles. September 13, 1880, Lieutenant Brewer, Seventh Cavalry, and detachment, returned to Fort Yates, Dak., from a scout across the Black Hills stage-road.

September 14, 1880, Company C, Seventh Cavalry, returned to Fort Meade, from its camp on the Bell Fourche River, having thoroughly scouted the country in that vicinity. Distance marched, 145 miles.

September 18, 1880, Lieutenant Greene, Seventh Infantry, with a detachment of ten enlisted men, left Fort Buford in search of cattle belong: ing to the beef contractor at that post, and which were alleged to have been stolen by Indians. Lieutenant Greene and his detachment returned to their station September 22, having recovered the stock. Distance marched, 99 miles. No Indians seen.

September 19, 1880, Lieutenants Ogle and Chubb, Seventeenth Infantry, with a detachment of six enlisted men and three Indian scouts, left Fort Yates, and proceeded beyond the Black Hills stage-road for the purpose of observing the movements of a party of Indians belonging to the Standing Rock Agency, hunting on that reservation.

September 20, 1880, Company M, Seventh Cavalry, Lieutenant Spilman, Seventh Cavalry, commanding, left Fort Meade, Dak., as escort to United States surveying party, supposed to be operating along the southern boundary line of Montana Territory.

September 25, 1880, Companies B and F, Eleventh Infantry, left Fort Custer, Mont., en route to Poplar River Agency, to establish a camp in that vicinity.

October 1, 1880, Company K, Fifth Infantry, left camp on Sweeney Creek, Mont., en route to its station, Fort Keogh, arriving same day. Distance marched, 35 miles.

October 2, 1880, Lieutenants Ogle and Chubb, Seventeenth Infantry, and detachment returned to Fort Yates from detached service in the field, observing the movements of a hunting party of Indians.

October 8, 1880, Company C, Third Infantry, left Fort Ellis for the purpose of repairing the military telegraph line between that post and Helena, Mont. Distance traveled during the month, 78 miles.

October 12, 1880, Camp Poplar River, Mont., established, Companies B and F, Eleventh Infantry, from Fort Custer, arriving this day and taking station.

October 18, 1880, Company G, Third Infantry, left Fort Maginnis, Mont., where it was temporarily attached for duty, en route to Fort Shaw, arriving October 25, 1880. Distance marched, 189 miles.

October 18, 1880, Camp Porter, Mont., on the right bank of the Yellowstone, about 3 miles above the mouth of Glendive Creek, was established by Companies A, Eleventh Infantry, and B, Seventeenth Infantry, on the 18th day of October, 1880, as a winter camp for troops guarding working parties and material on the Northern Pacific Railroad. October 22, 1880, Company E, Third Infantry, returned to Fort Shaw from duty at government saw-mill near that post.

October 25, 1880, Company M, Seventh Cavalry, returned to Fort Meade from detached service with a surveying party. Distance marched,

October 27, 1880, Fort Logan abandoned, Company I, Eighteenth Infantry, leaving this day en route to Fort Shaw. One non-commissioned officer and one private, Company I, Eighteenth Infantry, were left at the post in charge of public property.

October 28, 1880, Company F, Seventh Cavalry, arrived at Fort Buford, Dak., and took station.

Changes of stations of troops during this month.

Company F, Seventh Cavalry, from Fort Totten to Fort Buford. Company I, Seventh Cavalry, from Fort Abraham Lincoln to Fort Totten.

Company H, Eighteenth Infantry, from Fort Shaw to Fort Assinni.

boine.

Company I, Eighteenth Infantry, from Fort Logan to Fort Shaw. October 30, 1880, Lieutenant Kislingbury, Eleventh Infantry, with a party of twelve enlisted men, ten Indian scouts and an interpreter, left Fort Custer for mouth of the Musselshell River, to receive and take care of certain stores ordered to that place for certain anticipated contingencies of field service. He arrived at that place on the 6th of November, and was attacked by a party of Indians on the 7th of November, who left after an hour's skirmishing, with the intention, as reported by Lieutenant Kislingbury, of getting re-enforcements and return