Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-02-13


nishes the best material. He lacks
even the chief of the soldiers virtue.
He is not courageous, as we under
stand courage He fights only with
feriority, that his capabilities are
limited. He is only passible in a par
ticular arm. As an infantryman he
is worse than useless; he has to be
carried. The cavalry is his best effort,
but here again he is inferior to the
white soldier and it is only as a scout
that he is Of much use in this army
And how much you can depend on
him as a scout is also a conundrum.
In Miles campaign of "a against the
KioWaS and ComancheS, DelaWareS
were hired as scouts at something
like thirty dollars a month and rations
"a wealth and abundance they were
little accustomed to. AS long as there
was nothing more dangerous to do
than pocket the money, eat the rations
and do q little riding, it was all
right, but when they were required
to hazard their red, romantic skins
in unpleasant proximity to lead they
desired to be excused. 1t was none
of their business. The descendants of
Cooper's ideal warriors, the Uncas
and ChingachgookS, the noble Della
wares of romance proved to be as
arrant towards as ever ran away.
They unanimously and universally
shirked. They could not be lured into
a fight or anywhere near one and
they were discharged. When they got
back to their reserve they said they
came back because Miles was no good
he wouldn't fight.
I'VE may regret that men have
frvJf Tlra% and
we must count with them in pTac-
tical government. There is no dis
guising the regrettable fact that the !
divinity used to hedge around the !
uniform of the United States soldier |
has been sadly deteriorated in the /
public mind since the savage emerged |
from the reservations, clad In the |
cherished blue, and followed in bar
oarous fashion by his retinue of squaws |
and papooses. This Is to be regretted
out we cannot shut our eyes to 1t. /
Tis true, tbs pity, but pity tbs true" |
But the argument was not all one
sided. The Journal had character
Ized the Indian soldiers as a costly |
Army periodicals COM |
nented in 8 similar manner upon |
he Indian as a soldier. Early IN |
October, 1894, a missionary who had |
been working among the Idians IN /
OA4cAcu l1S OPAlOAA eAAOSA
Observing the activities of four COM
1anies composed Of Indians. His
opinion was given as follows:
an all my dealings with these
indians I have been close observer
and careful student Of the details In |
heir life as soldiers. believe their
present condition to be far better than
my in which they have been placed
before. They all are perfectly con-
ented in their new life, and now the
company reports for the last two
years show plainly they are making
remarkable progress. Their quarters
ire neat and clean as any of the |
White men. In person each soldier Is
as tidy as can be. He takes pride IN /
he does, when merits OF
The deed are based upon the principles
Or true qualities of soldier. He is
proud of his uniform and more than
willing to give up his stripped blanket
and bear the flag. 1t may be unneces-
sary to tell you any OF these things,
out I do not know that you have seen
ne indian as a soldier. You know of /
what he is capable, and have learned
hat he can become a good man,
good citizen, a good Christian if the /
steps are taken to aid him in this plane
Of living
saThis army provides for him proper
God and compelS him to be regular
n all his habits. A proper diet and
certain regulations In regard to his
personal cleanliness are two very inn
oortant steps which the army affords /
Tor the civilization of the Indian. In |
his first step toward civilization he |
gains q certain amount Of self-reSpect /
and a desire to be more like the |
good white man. As a soldier he is /
Sbedient to the minutest detail"
The Journal considered this COM /
nent to be very well, "but the con-
,lusion that the army is the place
or the Indian because it provides |
or him proper food and compels him /
% be regular in his habits would |
apply equally to a proposition to make |
he Indians inmates Of the different |
county, poor houses throughout the |
vest, but who, for that reason, be-
ieves in putting them there? The /
army is not the place for a kinder
,arten for the aborigineS."
Notice was directed at this time to |
he statement made by the Adjutant
General of the Army in his annual /
-eport to the Secretary Of War. The |
Adiutant General said that he could /
lot resist the conviction Of the in
.dvisability of enlisting Indians into
he regular regimental organizations.
On the other hand, he was strongly
If the opinion their employment as
.rrnv scouts would be OF great use
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