The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-24

Ths Birtsution OF Isdisn Cs-psatss $50
the Brawbsehs 80 TheIr E-Ploy-eH.
wAsHINoroN, Oct. 23-It seems probable
that the experiment made In enlIstng Indians
as regular soldiers, In companies OF their own,
reached It's climax some time ago In our army.
Gen. Ruggles, in his recent report, shows that
out Of fifteen Indian troops and companies 1--WE
have been dlsbanded, leaving only ten remain
ing. These ten are Troops L Of the First Caval-
~, at Fort Custer; L Of the Second, at Fort
wingate; l. Of the Third, at Fort Meade; l. Of
the Sixth, at Fort Niobrara; l. OF the Seventh
at Fort Sill; l. of the Eighth, at Fort Keogh,
and Companies OF the Third Infantry, ct Fort
Smelling; l Of the Twelfth, at Fort sill; Of the
Twentieth, at Fort Assniboine, and Of the
Twenty-frst. at Fort Omaha.
The reasons assigned by the Adjutant- ieneral
for the lack OF success Of the Indian soldier are
those which had already been noted. They In
clude restlessness under restraint after the first
novelty Of life in the army has worn of, the
inability to break loose from old habits, the
decentralization produced by being stationed
near Indian reservations, the restrictions upon
the number of married Indians allowed and the
general influence of marriage, and. finally, the
lack of knowledge Of the English language.
The tendency Is shown " the fact that only
making total of 900.
The idea in undressing the Indian companies
III
was desired to find out how far they could be
relied upon as n military resource for the Gov
thing for the red men themselves that they
should become accustomed To Government EN-
ployment as means of breaking up tribal AL
leRiance and as step toward civilization and
citizenship. One of the reasons most strongly
urged for the experiment was that OF giving a
safe outlet for the military instincts OF the race.
II was often thought that the outbreaks among
The young men of the tribes were largely aserib-
able To the fact that, having Inherited these
Instincts and being Denned reservations
they went upon the warpath In sheer. reckless
ness, After the putting down OF the last Crow
disturbances, Gen. Kruger advised that some OF
the young men OF the tribe should be taken into
the military, service of the Government
selves L. concerned, the experiment can hardly
be called failure. As whole, they appear 10
have conducted themselves well, and have
shown a capacity for obedience and military
control Many, OF them have also exhibited
marked aptitude as soldiers, and i may fairly BIO
would be found .tractable and useful. But the
dered them, as a class, less valuable than other
portions OF the army. and in a service limited to
TO have those who are capable OF all-around
service and are free from objections.
must % ore es 9s than tha. m
dicrs. For example in the case Of calling out
troops for the enforcement of the laws, even IL
there were no objections to Indians on other
scores the imperfect knowledge OF English pos
sessed by most Of them would be a fatal obsta-
other purposes. One OF the laws enacted at the
last session OF Congress prescribes that no per-
who cannot read, write, and speak English; but
an exception was made OF Indians, because It
might otherwise be difficult or impossible to
keep up even the existing companies with re-
cruits. still, the objection which the provision
of Congress was designed 70 remove applies TO
red men as well AS white. Even their drill must
be retarded by this lack Of knowledge Of Eng
lish, although many drill well.
only a short time ago Secretary Lamont came
10 the conclusion to- dispense with the l5O In
dian scouts, believing that lao soldiers, for
whom places would thus lie made, would prove
useful III times of hostility in the Indian coun-
try to hunt out other Indians; but Indian hos
ticabie TO engage scouts when needed, instead Of
keeping them under pay through years. II this
gree 10 the regular troops and companies OF In
uians, At one time II was proposed to organize
of the question. and II is not even probable that
additional companies will be recruited.
1t must further be noted tina, the Indian police
service ON the reservation furnishes some Gov
ernment employment OF "A sCmi-military char
acter TO the active and athletic young men. The
keeping up OF existing organizations in the
these who wish 10 join IL. Up tO u certain point
IN sh .bs s
they make progress. that they are usually proud
OF their uniform aud their nag. that they are
usually neat and orderly and keep their quar-
tiers clean, are certainly evidences OF the civil
iEing uses OF the army for them. Even those
back new ideas TO their tribes. There Is some
drunkenness, of course, among Indian as among |
white soldiers, but IL will he observed that this
Is not mentioned among the drawbacks.
There has also been some testimony from |
prominent ana able officers to the good quail |
ties OF Indians as soldiers including amenability
u pne and aptitude for military duties. but
"a general the opinion OF army officers seems 10 |
have been rather averse to the experiment, |
while the Indians themselves have been slow in |
enlisting. When the movement was started, |
under secretary Proctor, IL was proposed To add |
one troop to each of the eight white regiments |
Of cavalry, and one company To nineteen out OF |
the twenty-three white regiments OF In |
fantry. As fifty-fve Indians are allowed for |
each troop and company, this would have |
the enlistment OF ! ,4S5 Indians. In |
reality, the number Of troops and companies |
and the total number OF recruits fell far short of
what was thus intended, and for the infantry |
1t was hard to secure enough enlist |
ments.
but on the whole 1t would seem wise not to |
take steps toward dischargng those Indians who |
wish to remain in the service and are good sol |
diers. II Is well that the experiment, now that
u has been undertaken, should be thorough. |
Perhaps the voluntary action OF the Indians
themselves In declining tn reenlist and the
consolidation of companies. may solve |
The problem gradually, leaving few Organiza-
lions in the service but abandoning the scale on
which this enterprise was begun.