Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-15
INDIANS AND INDIAN SOLDIERS.
Gen. Merritt Says the Recruiting Goes Oh
Slowly I'm Dakota.

The annual report of Brigadier Gen. Wesley
Merritt, commanding the department of Da-
kota, contains brief synopsis of tho move
ments of troops In that department from the
LIST Of August, 1880, to the 18th of July, 1891,
thus covering the period Of the troubles with
the Sioux Indians last winter
These notes contain no new facts and are but
routine memoranda of the dates and distances
involved. table appended shows that on the
3lst Of July, 1891, there was a total strength in
the department Of S,32S troops, 252 officers,
S,o54 enlisted men and II Indian scouts. Gen.
Merritt says: There are three troops Of cav
airy being recruited from the Indians in this
department. L of the first, l. Of the third and
l. OF the eighth (Casey's scoGts) and three COM
panies Of infantry, Of the third, twentieth
and twenty-second.
These organizations are stationed and have en-.
listed strength follows: Troop L, first cavalry,
Fort Custer, So; troop L, third cavalry, Fort
Bennett, so; troop l., eighth cavalry. Fort
he0gh, IL; company !, third infantry, Fort
SuiIy, z; company l. twentieth infantry, Camp
fopiar River, 81; company l, twenty second
infantry, Fort Yates, IA; total, l48.
company l. third infantry, was at first being
recruited in the vicinity of Fort Sully and nine
recruits for that company were obtained, but
when II was decided that troop Of cavalry, L,
tnlro cavalry, was to be organized at that
post, those nine Indians requested transfer
to the troop. This was authorized and the at
Tempt Is now being made 20 recruit company l,
thlrd infantry, from among the Indians at
Lower Brule, Crow Greek, Sisseton and other
smaller agencies. Only two recruits for this
organization have up to this time been OBJ
talned. l am informed that progress in re-
cruiting has been seriously impaired owing to
the reduction of rations by the Indian depart
ment, which is said to be in direct violation
OF the authorized statements made by re-
crultlng ofhcers-that is, that the abb
sence OF an Indian from his tribe and
reservation in consequence Of his enlistment is
not severance of Lis tribal connection, and
he would thereby, in no sense. forfeit his right
TO lands. annuities and benefits granted his
Tribe by treaty or law. / earnestly recon-
mend that reconsideration Of this matter be
had, and that if possible the Indian .ecruits
may have restored TO them the rations from
the department of Indian affairs that they
would have were they not in the service as SOL
diers.
las was to be expected there has been great
decrease in the number of desertions from the
enlisted strength Of the army in this depart
ment. Cen Merritt continues: 'The records
snow 2l5 desertions this year against AIS
last year. Post canteens are now reported to
De In successful operation at all the permanent
posts OF the department. They are found to
De greatly advantageous in every way over the
old system OF post traders.
BEHAVIOR OF THE INDIANS.
''The Indians within the limits Of this de-
partment are said to be peaceable and well dis
posed. If there is an exception 10 this it is
among the northern Cheyennes, who are now
living in the vicinity of Fort Keogh. They
number about !, $50 souls. Among them there
has been great excitement because Of the
rumored intention to remove them to the Pine
Ridge agency. They declare that they would
rather hght than submit to removal believe