XVIII REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 
 
In the month of June last the situation, which had gradually grown 
from bad to worse, was reported to be so alarming, and the dan ger of 
an outbreak amongst the Cheyenne Indians, who had heard that it was 
contemplated to disarm them, so imminent, that I became convinced that 
any further delay on the part of the Government to take active meas- 
ures would result in a conflict between I he Indians and the whites. 
Accordingly, by letter of the 25th June last, I recommended to the De- 
partment that steps should at once be taken to place a sufficient body 
of United States troops upon and in the neighborhood of the Cheyenne 
and Arapaho Reservation, for the preservation of peace; that the agent 
should be relieved from duty by a special agent to be temporarily de- 
tailed in his place; that all leases or pretended leases of the reservation

lands for grazing purposes entered into by the Indians with white men 
should be disapproved and annulled by the Department, and the cattle 
removed therefrom; that the Indians should be disarmed, and that all 
white men present on the reservation, and having no legal rights there, 
should also be removed. 
Upon this recommendation, which was concurred in by the Depart- 
ment, the War Department promptly concentrated all available troops 
in the Indian Territory. On the 10th July last the President dis- 
patched General Sheridan to take command, and at the same time 
directed him to hold a conference with the disaffected Indians, inquire 
into their grievances, and inform himself generally as to their condition.

United States Indian Inspector Armstrong had previously be+n directed 
by the Department to proceed to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Agency to 
aid in investigating the condition of affairs. 
As the practical outcome of General Sheridan's investigation (the re- 
port of which is already before the public), and in furtherance of rec- 
ommendations previously.made by this office, the President, on the 23d 
July last, issued a proclamation, declaring all leases, agreements, or 
licenses for grazing purposes theretofore made with the Cheyenne and 
Arapaho Indians to be void and of no effect, and directing the removal, 
within forty days of the date of the proclamation, of all persons, other

than Indians, then on said reservation for the purpose of grazing cattle

thereon, their servants and agents, and all other unauthorized persons, 
with their cattle, horses, and other property. The civilian agent was 
removed, and a military officer, Capt. Jesse M. Lee, Ninth Infantry, 
was appointed in his place. These measures General Sheridan feels 
confident will end the difficulties, and there need be no further appre 
hension of an outbreak. 
At the present writing indications are in every way favorable to an 
orderly compliance on the part of the cattlemen with the President's 
proclamation. 
Recurring to the general subject of leasing Indian lands, and in con- 
nection with the issuance of said proclamation, it is proper here to re-

mark that on the 21st July last the Attorney-General, in reply to cer-