Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-10-26
Indian Scouts.

The use of Indian scouts in the Apache
country by Gen. Carr is being unfavorably
commented on by many newspaper writ
ers IN California aRd the Eastern States.
Some go 50 far as to assert that the use Of
Indians to fight against Indians has never
been successful. Such assertions are gross
ly incorrect. as events which have trans
pired during the past twenty years dnmis-
takably prove. Since Gen. Albert Pike
and Ben Mccullough raised their Indian
legion in the Indian Territory 10 1861 81,
Indians have been very successfully en-
ployed to fight each other, and have, with
two exceptions, proved themselves not
only faithful to tn government, but made
the very best Of soldiers. a large number
of Cherokees were enlisted in tue Union
service, and did effective work IN Western
Arkansas and Texas In opposition to the
Chociaws and Seminoles under Gen Albert
Pike. AT the same time battalion of
Wyandoties, Shawnees and Delaware In
dians was raised by Maj. Ransom in
Kansas, and proved themselves excellent
cavalryInen when kept undsr proper dIsci-
pline and restraint. The only instances
known in which Indians have proved
treacherous TO their white companions in
arms was when they have been used TO fight
against their own tribe and blood rela-
tions. In both cases they turned upon
their white officers, and, after shooting
them down, drove of the herds of horses
and went off on the war path. The late
attack upon Gen. Carr had its counterpart
In the attack upon the 9TH Iowa Cavalry
in western Nebraska in 1865. Two CON-
ponies Of Sioux scouts enlisted, armed and
equipped to fight the Cheyennes, were sent
out with company of white soldiers to
fight against hostile persons of their own
tribe. When brought within sight of the
hJstiles these scouts turned upon the SOL
dlers, shot Captain Fouts, the commanding
officer, and most of his white cavalrymen,
and went forth on the war-path. The Ap-
ache outbreak occurred under almost simi-
Jar circumstances. Tine Apaches can not
be depended upon TO fight against Apaches.
No further attempt was made to use the
Sioux as Government cavalry. The Ute
tribe was used in Colorado to drive out the
Cheyennes in 1866 TO 1867, and Gen. Pat
Connor OF California, used several COM
panies of Omahas, WInnebagoes and Paw
A-NNo VIM EOOA III Ills great
paigr against their hereditary enemy-the
Sioux-in 1856 in the Big HON. Yellow
stone and Wind River country. The Paw
nees became the terror of the hostile red
SKINS They were always permitted to
ride IN the advance, and were the first to
overtake and strike the enemy, and never
were defeated or allowed Connnr to lose
his horses. They would sometimes strip
themselves down 20 their breecn clouts, |
throw oil saddle and bridle and revolver |
IN hand and knife in teeta, gallop right |
into the midst of the Sioux and Cheyennes.
The Omahas and WInnebagoes, under q |
Major Booth, proved themselves equally
effective as irregular cavalry. In later In
dian campaigns Gen. Crook and Gen. Gus
ter used the Crows and Shoshone Indians
against the Sioux and Cheyennes, and while |
the crows were rather unreliable and diff
cult to Keep within proper control, and .he
'ohoshones were sometimes pamcky and
cowardly, still they were faithful to the
government There are now about 800
indians armed, equipped, drilled and in
the pay oi the United States, and designat-
ed ''scouts. OF these less than 100 are
IL Arizona, while the balance are scatter
ed through New Mexico and the Depart
ment OF tie Plaue. They have proved
themselves 10 be superior as scouts, carri-
rs ana messengers TO the ordinary law
white lOafer t. be found about all frontier
posts, drinking ana boasting and self stYl-
ng themselves government scouts" The
'nly objection to the use Of Indians in
warfare on the frontier is tfelr natural op
ection to serving against their own tribe.
he Apache scouts could be used to good
advantage in the Department Of the Pate
imong lhe Sioux and Cbeyennes. or even
he UHcompagre or White River UIes, but
would be folly TO attempt to use them
galnst their own tribe and relations.