The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-30
ARMY NOTES.
Lieutenant McD0DaId's Estimate
of Indian Troopers.

Fifty-four Indians under command of
Lieutenant Mcdonald arrived at SturGis
S. OAK. on the morning Of the Sth inst
and marched down through Main street on
their way TO the post, where they will be
stationed. Each one had his cape thrown
back with military precision, showing the
yellow lining. At present they are not
mounted, but the horses to be secured until
the lately awarded contracts are for them.
Lieutenant Mcdonald said concerning his
troop:
1--WE have had fair success in enlisting
the Indians, and my troop is now full
l do not know how many Indians there are
now in the service, but am pretty certain
that the cavalry troops to be made up from
them are filled. In enlisting infantry | I'M
derstand that great deal OF difficulty has
been experienced, as the Indians dO net care
tn he what they call walk soldiers" l
find frGm my experience with the Indians
that they make excellent soldiers. They
take much more pride in their work than
the White recruits. They do not learn to
drill as quickly as the white soldier, but
when they get so they can go through the
tactics they do it much better. They are
splendid horsemen. Then they show
greater respect for their officers than the
white soldiers do, are much easier to handle
and keep better discipline. | am IN favor
u iul t4tl SIlLSliIici'lS HUM dHiOuS liO
Indians for the regular service.
The greatest advantage obtained by
making q soldier OF an Indian Is that IL
seems TO ciyilize him. When these men
wee enlisted they were as dirty as the dirt
lest Indians. Their hair was tangled and
gnarled and hung to their shoulders, and they
had all the appearance of the savage.
Seven Of the men in my troop were arrayed
against the whites In the battle of Wounded
Knee last winter and three OF them were
wounded there. Now money could not hire
them TO resist the whites. They are as
loyal as can be. We give all the commands
in English and require the men to ask for
articles they want in the mess-rOoMS in
English. In that way We arc teaching them
the English language. Then we have an
Interpreter with us, an Indian who has been
through Carlisle, who instructS them. You
would be surprised to know the improve
ment my men have made since they were
enlisted. Yes, [ think that the army Will
do more TO civIilze the Indians than any
other agency and that 1t VIII prove aaYan-
tageoGs to the army, especially in the West.
A hint thrown cut by Adjutant-General
kelton is the one that the oath Of enlist
Ment would have much more 5glemrty in
the eyes of the men if it were administered
to them second time after they had joined
their regiments ana in the presence of the
troops, paraded under arms. The recruits
on that occasion might be appropriately adj
dressed by the Adjutant or Post Chaplain,
anu meg might appear III lGl!-ileSS UNIFORM
for the first time on this occasion.
Acknowledgement kcltOu la; recommend
ed that the Senior Chaplain be instructed to
prepare form Of worship, to be considered
BY q board composed Of one Chaplain of
each denomination represented in the army.
He also suggests that where the church to
which Chaplain belongs does not prescribe
the YeStmcnt to be worn when officiating
the War Department shall authorize a suit
| able one. tor example, the Geneva gown.
Lieutenant b. \. BYrne, Sixth Infantry,
speaking OF his recent travelling reEimental
recruiting party through Kentucky, says:
In my opinion the greatest obstacle to sue
cess in recruiting is the total ignorance of
the people on matters which pertain to the
army and the false Impressions which prevail
in regard to the character Of the men, their
life and tire atment by officers and non-cOm-
miSsionel officers"
The sling devised by Captain Samuel NJ.
Mills, Fifth Artillery, may. according to
orders, be substituted at the discretion of
the officer conducting the mRneuvers for
that prescribed in "TidbalPS Manual of
Heavy Artillery Service"
First Lieutenant I. Il. Adams, Fifth Ar
tillery, recently ordered to join his battery
at Alcatraz Island from detached service at
FortHMonr0e, has been given leave of alb
| sencc for one month.
TIE leave on account of sickness granted
Captain Francis L. Pierce, First Infantry,
has been extended three months.
Major Benjamin p RUnkle (retiredl has
been ordered TO return from New York to
this citv