Huntsville gazette., 1889-07-13
RED-SkiNNEp SOLDIERS.
Indian Scouts in the Employ of the United
States Government.

indian SConts in the Employ OF the ohieeu
States Government.
The practice of employing friendly
Indians as allies of the white troops has
come down to us from the earliest col
onial days, it being only a part OF the
system always adopted by Great Brit
ain, France and other nations, and ap-
piled to every part of the world. But
our force of enlisted red men is always
small The act of 1886 prescribes that
Indian scouts to the number OF l,OOO
may be employed in the Territories and
Indian country, who shall receive the
pay and allowances Of cavalry soldiers.
But inasmuch as they are included IN
the maximum of $4,000 enlisted men
allowed to the army, the tendency IS
TO keep down their numbers as much as
practicable. Even in time Of war the
maximum is not reached, and in peace
the Indian scouts all told do not usually
aggregate more than two or three hun
dred. A return made last year showed
that they were 200 strong, including "A
sergeants, 16 corporals and 100 pri-
Yates
1t will be seen that the arrangements
for employing Indian trailers in our
army are liberal. They can rise to the
grades of sergeant and corporal; they
serve under their own nOn-cOmmission-
ed officers; and they have tie same
pay. rations and uniform as white
r. ,icnl l,1rr
their own mounts. they receive a per
diem allowance OF, we believe, about
forty cents for the horses. All this, Of
course, is over and above the regular
issue Of provisions, ETC., which as
members Of their respective tribes
they receive with other agency Indians.
They are stationed at various posts on
the reservations the numbers al any
particular time depending much on the
needs of the region. They are gener-
ally selected from the most warlike and
efficient young men, some Of thela,
notably among the Cheyennes, having
been the fercest and bravest OF their
tribe during the wars they waged
dS'IuSG tut4f itcScHt dIlIoS.
That the Indian scouts are invaluable
allies is beyond all question. OF course
there are drawbacks to their employ
ment. Some experienced and we'll
informed officers consider that the mil
itary drill takes away little from their
efficiency, but they are usually docile
and easily taught. Instances also have
been known in which, as on one occa-
sion in Arizona, the scouts themselves
have created an outbreak; but in gen
eral their fidelity and obedience are
well attested. General Crook, whose
experience and skill both in fighting
and negotiating with Indians are widely
known, has repeatedly declared that
Indian scouts are absolutely indispens-
able to successful campaigning against
hostiles. General Miles declares that
one unequaled feature of their military
skill is that of rapidly passing over a
country, noting every feature of it, and
observing their enemies without expos
ing themselves or being discovered"
OF the practice of employing Indians as
scouts he once said: at cures them OF
their restlessness, they earn some
money, and when not actively employed
they have a chance to do little hunt
ing" 1t was on this principle that,
when the last Indian disturbance broke
out-that of Sword:Bearer on the Crow
Reservation-one Of General Ruger's
first steps after it had been quelled was
to recommend the enlistment Of some
Of the warlike young Crows as scouts,
in order to give better direction to
their bclligerent energies. Some fam
GUS operations have been conducted by
cavalry officers in charge Of Indian
scouts, such as that of Captain Craw-
ford against Geronimo in Mexico.
Harper's Weekly.