The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-09-13
The Indian Companies.

The Indian Companies.
Some statements have been going
the rounds of the papers that the Indian
companies enlisted under Senator
Proctor's administration of the war de-
partment have been disbanded. Only
parts of two companies have been
broken up, and the reason for this had
no bearing upon the general question
of the policy of enlisting Indians.
There is no question about the practi-
cability and usefulness of ex-Secretary
Proctor's plan, provided it is faithfully
carried out; but, like any other reform,
the plan of Indian enlistment needs the
continuous and even hand of wise and
sympathetic administration to make it
the success it ought to be. In evidence
of this view of the scheme to promote
the civilization of the Indian by making
a soldier of him, the following extracts
from a letter written by George A.
Beecher, a missionary, to the secretary
of the Indian Rights Association will
be read with interest. He writes with
special reference to Company |, Twenty
first Infantry, forming one of the
four companies stationed at Fort Sgd
ney. This company is composed of
Indians enlisted from the Brule and
Yankton agencies, South Dakota, and
is commanded by Lieutenant Seay.
The missionary writes:
"There has been of late much dissatisfac-
ton expressed in the newspapers and army
journals about the Indian soldiers, and there
is report that the Indian companies will all
be discharged. ] take this opportunity to
express my own idea in regard to this
measure, in the hope that it may concur
with you in taking some steps to prevent, if
possible, the issuing of such orders from
headquarters. / nave known the Indians
in Company l for one year. I became &C.
quainted with them principally from hold
ing s~ervices with them, but also through
frequent visits to their quarters with Mr..
Seay. In all my dealings with these Indi-
ans, L have been a close observer and care
full student OF the details in their new life,
and know that the company reports for the
last year show plainly that they are making
remarkable progress. Their quarters are as
neat and clean as those of any of the white
men, and in person each soldier is as tidy as
can be. He takes pride in everything he
does when the merits Of the deed are based
upon the principles or true qualities OF a
soldier. He is proud Of his uniform, and is
more than willing to give up his striped
blanket and bear the flag. 1t may be I'M
necessary for me to tell you any Of these
things, but l do not know that you have
seen the Indian as a soldier. You know of
what he is capable, and 1 have learned that
he can become a good man, a good citizen, a
good Christian, If the proper steps are taken
to aid him to this plane of living. The army
provides for him proper food, and compels
him to be regular mall his habits. A proper
diet and certain regulations in regard to
his personal cleanliness are two very i'm
portant steps which the army afford for the
civilization of the Indian. In this first step
toward civilization, he gains a certain
amount OF self-respect and a desire to be
more like the "good " white man. AS a
soldier he is obedient to the minutest detail.
Mr.. Seay, the commanding officer of this
company, is thoroughly fitted for his posi-
ton. If the commanding officers of the
other Indian companies were as thoroughly
devoted to their work and to the cultivation
of the indiUidual men of their companies as
Lieutenant Seay, / am sure there would be
no more orders from headquarters to dis
charge Indian companies. There was an
attempt made last winter, by some man
who claims to be a missionary among the
Indians of South Dakota, to secure the dis
charge of certain Indians in Company I. A
petition was sent to the headquarters,
(signed?) by member of the company who
never saw the petition. When the matter
was made known to the men whose names
were signed to this paper they all said they
wanted to emain in the army, and knew
nothing OF such a petition. Drinking and
drunkenness is not more common among
the Indians than among the whites. | am
confident that if the companies now enlisted
are given the same amount of drill and in
dividual training as the white man, there
can be no question as to the result. The
Indian wants to become civilized, and / feel
bndJ IDtTo 10 no DcbttT way 10 clVlIlZ6 tl6
Indian than by making a soldier of him. If
these men are turned back to roam about
their reservation, they will become discon-
tented and there is no telling what may re-
suit from such a measure. Before closing
allow me to make one request of you. II
you cannot exercise some influence in hav-
ing all the companies of Indians retained,
please make a special effort for Company /
of the Twenty-first Infantry at Fort Sydney.
/ feel that it comes within the range of my
duties to do all ] can for the uplifting and
lettering the condition of the Indian"
The abovei is very gratifying evidence
of the practical wisdom of Senator
P%roctor's plan of Indian enlistments.
With a war secretary possessing a modi-
cum even of the secretary's sound
sense and capacity for administration
the plan, C successfully begun,
should be made a permanent success.