Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-12
INDIANS AS SOLDIERS.
Lieut. s. e. Robertson's Success With En-
listed Red Men.


listed Red Men
Lieut. S. c. Robertson of the first cayalry
who is well known in Washington. has in
Ha'pe's Weekly an extensive and in
teresting account of the result Of en-
listing Indians in the regular army. He
gives the credit of this method of employ
ing and civiiizing the Indians to the Inflated
Lieut. Casey of the twen;y-second infantry.
who conceived the idea of employing the In
dams on a more Substantial and permanent
basis than scouts and trailers. His idea was
to enlist the Indians in the different tribes in
separate troops or companies for a year six
months. Lieut.. Casey was given permission
by the War Department to carry his plans into
execution and raised troop of enlisted Indians
with great success. The second troop was organ
lied by Lieut. Robertson from the Crow tribe.
After giving an interesting account of the
transformation of the Indian from a lawless
savage TO an obedient, painsiaking and we'll
behaved soldier, Lieut.. Robertson says that the
Wax Departments conception as to Indian SOL
dlers Is a correct one. granting that the idea of
cIvilizing him goes hand in hand with that Of
obtaining an efficient soldier. He believes
that the movement Is in its infancy and that
when IL has gone far enough to demonstrate TO
the Indians and the government its advantages
to both there will be ten enlistments where
there is one today. Ii must be recollected he
says, that the experiment in this case has been
made with an unframed savage, accustomed
hitherto to no restraint, ignorant of method or
discipline and entirely IMMERSED in the white
man WAYS.
Put HIM in one Of these new troops: teach
him pride in being a soldier of the govern
ment, and that the government relies on him
for Its safety and protection; make him feel
that the white soldiers around him are his COM
rades, and he as good as they: explain to him
the reason of things; give him healthy and con-
mar q r,.aa hi ,,,.l.
ent rational being and a man; cease irving TO
promote his confidence in you and his progress
by talking to him about his soul-and YOU will
soon have result astonishingly different to the
accepted Idea of his race lie who commands
these people best must be scrupulously Just.
and keep every promise as far he can. He
must feel genuine interest and friendship for
them. for they are quick TO detect shams.
THE PROPER TREATMENT.
'He must at first be patient and lenient,
Furnishing usually only after repeated cautions
and explanations, and after he is sure the ma
ture of the offense Is understood. He must
have tact and perception of character. for In
dian character Is just as varied the white
and treatment that would do for one man would
break up the troop if applied to others. Let
him. in addition to the above, show a certain
congeniality for and skill in their own manly
sport with rifle and horse. 90 with them on
their hunting trips now and then, not be above
and speaking in kindly and friendly fashion to
them--let him, in short, be in every way both
their chief and friend, and ne will be repaid by
confidence and loyalty and friendship (never
without respect) equal to that which any other
sort OF soldier IN the world will give him.
Il do not want in the case OF my own men TO
seem too enthusiastic. There are. of course
many defects and shortcomings in the men,
and certainly in their immediate commander
There are a good many worries and unusual
N IN hn h.anlf until IL.
about scores of things a day-am asked to
marry or divorce; write their agent (AIaj. NJ
L. Nyman, the most energetic agent the Crows
ever had) about a dispute over a wagon or a
hay claim; ask the doctor for medicine for a
SICK child at the schools and SO on, and SO on,
ed infinitum. Then, too, they ride their gov
eminent horses too hard; they wear out and
spoil their clothes; they eat twice the amount
of beef they ought to want; they claim more
time and attention than a white troop. But all
this Is natural, and L am repaid by a sincere
attachment on the part of my men and by nv
own belief that III an emergency they would
not be found lacking in either valor or loyalty
soldiers.
now IN THE SERVICE.
"The service now contains, 1 believe. some
seven troops and companies of Indian soldiers,
completely filled, but not all as yet drilled or
much disciplined. Others are in slow process
OF creation. OF these can only speak by hear
say. Lieut. bravo Of the sixth cavalry has a
fine troop of Sioux; Lieut.. wotherspoon,
twelfth infantry. has a well-trained Indian
company, and Lieut.. Macdonald, first cavalry,
has been doing excellent work in recruiting
among other portions of the Sioux tribe Per-
haps these officers can indorse my views aud
share my earnest conviction as to the future of
the Indian soldier. That Secretary Proctor,
Maj. Gen. Schofield and others have, besides
doing good to the army. inaugurated, by his
enlistment, a movement which will do more
than aught else to stop future Indian wars,
in, i,ld ,b,