Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1883-04-02
A new MAJOR.
Being the New COmmandant at
Fort Robinson, Col. Louis
h, Carpenter.
The Colored Troops and How
They Fight-Views on the
Apache Outbreak.

Brevet Colonel Louis FL. Carpenter,
late of the Tenth cavalry, but recently
promoted to majority In the Fifth
cavalry, was met by q BEE reporter
yesterday at the Paxton. Major Oar
penter is fine soldierly officer of
some forty years of age, who has seen
over twenty years of servics In the
army, more than ten years Of which
have been spent with the colored
troops of the Tenth cavalry. In Oct.
'6S he commanded two companies in
the Indian war In Kansas, and re-
ceived the brevet of colonel at General
Sheridan's request for gallantry In
action. Having recently read some
structures about the oolored troops as
soldiers, THE BEE reporter ventured
the inquiry.
"What sort of soldiers do the
colored mon make, Colonel2"
"a great deal better than many
suppose" replied Major Carpenter.
"The records show that there have
been less desertions In the Tenth
cavalry than in any other regiment In
the service. We have had fewer court
martials, fewer offsnses against the
regulations, and as good general dis
oipline as can be found elsewhere in
the army. The men are unusually
cleAnly and tidy, and spend more on
their dress than the white soldiers;
they drill well, and are obedient to
their superiors."
"How are they In action9" asked
the reporter. "Can they stand fire2'
my experience has been," said
Major Carpenter, "that they are as
reliable as white soldiers In action. /
have seen them In number of Indian
fights, and they behaved unusually
we'll. You know their record during
tho war, and since then the troops In
the colored regiments have maintained
their reputation. 1 certainly have no
fault to find. In '6S the two comps-
nies that commanded did excellent
service and deserved all the compli-
ments that they got"
"Then you believe In the enlistment
of colored men into the armyp
II didn't say that, did II On some
accounts I do not. The moral tone of
the colored men Is not as high as that
of the whites. They are more uned.
ucated and it is extremely difficult to
find mechanics among them for the
work of the regiments. mean
blacksmiths, carpenters, etc I think
that for three reasons 1t would have
been as we'll II the enlistment of COL
ored men had been postponed for q
generation at least. Still 1t is only
fair to say that they are improving
, greatly in the matter Of education and
will doubtless improve more rapidly
In this respect every year"
II see that the Arizona papers are
criticizing the Apache campaign, said
the reporter.
"That Ia to be expected, of course, II
said Mr.. Carpenter. "The Apaches
cant be subdued in day and 1t will
require hard work to capture or sup.
press the band who are disturbing the
/ territory. The character of the country
| ID buCu tHht U uhu u uCZou luulhul
can burn, plumber and massacre In
the face Of couple of companies ol
troops and escape to the mountains OF
dodge aoress the line into Mexico
l before much can be done towardl
their capture. Indian fighting In
Arizona Is hard work, even with the
9 best of troops and officers, as anyone
r knows who has been In an Indian
!. campaign. The Apaches are like th'
Irishman's flea, you put your fingel
on them and they are not there. i
, Is unfair to preJudge the results Of I
campaign before 1t has begun"
: Major Carpenter takes q month";
leave of absence before assuming
= command of Fort Robinson, to whiol
!. he has been assigned, In the place o
Major Sumner, transferred to For
Niobrara, He leaves In few day
for Philadelphia, returning abou
: May 1st