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120

Letters forwarded from Headquarters Dep't. of Texas, in the Field, at Fort Sill, I. T. From Folio 120 to 189

                                                                          Hdqrs. D. T. in the Field, Fort Sill, I. T.
                                                                          November 26. 1874.

MO.MIL.DIV. [left margin] Lieut. General Sheridan, Chicago, Ills. Dear General,

                      On my way here I met at Denison the transportation Contractor, Mr. Graham, who told me that the Quartermaster here had control of his teams of sufficient capacity to haul one hundred and fifty thousand pounds, and that he could at once procure transportation to take about same amount from Caddo.  Believing this, I telegraphed you to send supplies for the Post on McClellan's Creek via Caddo.  On my arrival here, I find that the Qr. Mr. here has not one single team belonging to Mr. Graham and has never had but eleven teams of his, and they made but one trip.  I begin to feel that Mr. Graham is not reliable and that he may be equally wrong about the other teams, he promised from Caddo.  Under these circumstances the freight for the camp had better not be sent until something definite is known.  The trains in the field are much word down. Davidson lost about a hundred animals in the last sleet storm and I fear others have lost also.  I doubt if we can depend upon our own transportation for anything more, until after they are thoroughly rested and fed up.  My impression just now is, that it would be better to withdraw the columns from the field in December into nearest Posts, and let them recuperate until some time in February.  Then send them out afresh and keep them out as long as is desirable.

Meantime the Indians would hardly know the troops are withdrawn until they saw them again. I believe it would same immensely in animals and in the health and morale of the men, and do not believe it would effect injuriously the question of ultimate surrender of all the Indians. Please tell me what you think of it. Meantime the question of the Camp on McClellan Creek could be definitely arranged, as also the question of supplies. The latter could be collected here with trains ready to start at the proper time and as the Fourth [strike] Tenth Cavalry goes to Concho, they can go with these stores to that Camp and meet MacKenzie with his Command there, to exchange transportation. A good many Indians have gone to the Pecos and to the Guadalupe mountains. I will have to organize a force in the spring to clear these places. When I saw you, there was some talk about [strike] of the