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These departments； with changed commanders； have continued up to the present day； and have fulfilled perfectly the uses for which they were designed。
During the years 1865 and 1866 the great plains remained almost in a state of nature； being the pasture…fields of about ten million buffalo； deer； elk； and antelope； and were in full possession of the Sioux； Cheyennes； Arapahoes； and Kiowas； a race of bold Indians； who saw plainly that the construction of two parallel railroads right through their country would prove destructive to the game on which they subsisted； and consequently fatal to themselves。
The troops were posted to the best advantage to protect the parties engaged in building these roads； and in person I reconnoitred well to the front； traversing the buffalo regions from south to north； and from east to west； often with a very small escort； mingling with the Indians whenever safe； and thereby gained personal knowledge of matters which enabled me to use the troops to the best advantage。 I am sure that without the courage and activity of the department commanders with the small bodies of regular troops on the plains during the years 1866'69； the Pacific Railroads could not have been built； but once built and in full operation the fate of the buffalo and Indian was settled for all time to come。
At the close of the civil war there were one million five hundred and sixteen names on the muster…rolls； of which seven hundred and ninetyseven thousand eight hundred and seven were present； and two hundred and two thousand seven hundred and nine absent； of which twenty…two thousand nine hundred and twenty…nine were regulars； the others were volunteers； colored troops； and veteran reserves。 The regulars consisted of six regiments of cavalry； five of artillery； and nineteen of infantry。 By the act of July 28； 1866； the peace establishment was fixed at one general （Grant）； one lieutenant… general （Sherman）； five major…generals （Halleck； Meade； Sheridan； Thomas； and Hancock）； ten brigadiers （McDowell； Cooke； Pope； Hooker； Schofield； Howard； Terry； Ord； Canby； and Rousseau）； ten regiments of cavalry； five of artillery； and forty…five of infantry； admitting of an aggregate force of fifty…four thousand six hundred and forty…one men。
All others were mustered out； and thus were remanded to their homes nearly a million of strong； vigorous men who had imbibed the somewhat erratic habits of the soldier； these were of every profession and trade in life； who； on regaining their homes； found their places occupied by others； that their friends and neighbors were different； and that they themselves had changed。 They naturally looked for new homes to the great West； to the new Territories and States as far as the Pacific coast； and we realize to…day that the vigorous men who control Kansas； Nebraska； Dakota； Montana； Colorado； etc。； etc。； were soldiers of the civil war。 These men flocked to the plains； and were rather stimulated than retarded by the danger of an Indian war。 This was another potent agency in producing the result we enjoy to…day； in having in so short a time replaced the wild buffaloes by more numerous herds of tame cattle； and by substituting for the useless Indians the intelligent owners of productive farms and cattle…ranches。
While these great changes were being wrought at the West； in the East politics had resumed full sway； and all the methods of anti…war times had been renewed。 President Johnson had differed with his party as to the best method of reconstructing the State governments of the South； which had been destroyed and impoverished by the war； and the press began to agitate the question of the next President。 Of course； all Union men naturally turned to General Grant； and the result was jealousy of him by the personal friends of President Johnson and some of his cabinet。 Mr。 Johnson always seemed very patriotic and friendly； and I believed him honest and sincere in his declared purpose to follow strictly the Constitution of the United States in restoring the Southern States to their normal place in the Union； but the same cordial friendship subsisted between General Grant and myself； which was the outgrowth of personal relations dating back to 1839。 So I resolved to keep out of this conflict。 In September； 1866； I was in the mountains of New Mexico； when a message reached me that I was wanted at Washington。 I had with me a couple of officers and half a dozen soldiers as escort； and traveled down the Arkansas； through the Kiowas； Comanches； Cheyennes； and Arapahoes； all more or less disaffected； but reached St。 Louis in safety； and proceeded to Washington； where I reported to General Grant。
He explained to me that President Johnson wanted to see me。 He did not know the why or wherefore； but supposed it had some connection with an order he （General Grant） had received to escort the newly appointed Minister； Hon。 Lew Campbell； of Ohio； to the court of Juarez； the President…elect of Mexico； which country was still in possession of the Emperor Maximilian； supported by a corps of French troops commanded by General Bazaine。 General Grant denied the right of the President to order him on a diplomatic mission unattended by troops； said that he had thought the matter over； world disobey the order； and stand the consequences。 He manifested much feeling； and said it was a plot to get rid of him。 I then went to President Johnson； who treated me with great cordiality； and said that he was very glad I had come； that General Grant was about to go to Mexico on business of importance； and he wanted me at Washington to command the army in General Grant's absence。 I then informed him that General Grant would not go； and he seemed amazed； said that it was generally understood that General Grant construed the occupation of the territories of our neighbor； Mexico； by French troops； and the establishment of an empire therein； with an Austrian prince at its head； as hostile to republican America； and that the Administration had arranged with the French Government for the withdrawal of Bazaine's troops； which would leave the country free for the President…elect Juarez to reoccupy the city of Mexico； etc。； etc。； that Mr。 Campbell had been accredited to Juarez； and the fact that he was accompanied by so distinguished a soldier as General Grant would emphasize the act of the United States。 I simply reiterated that General Grant would not go； and that he； Mr。 Johnson； could not afford to quarrel with him at that time。 I further argued that General Grant was at the moment engaged on the most delicate and difficult task of reorganizing the army under the act of July 28； 1866； that if the real object was to put Mr。 Campbell in official communication with President Juarez； supposed to be at El Paso or Monterey； either General Hancock； whose command embraced New Mexico； or General Sheridan； whose command included Texas； could fulfil the object perfectly； or； in the event of neither of these alternates proving satisfactory to the Secretary of State； that I could be easier spared than General Grant。 〃Certainly；〃 answered the President； 〃if you will go； that will answer perfectly。〃
The instructions of the Secretary of S