The regiments had a mix of white and Indian commissioned and non-coms. The colonels were all white. Many (most?) of the captains were Indian. The lt. col. of the 3rd IHG was Lewis Downing, a full blood Cherokee, fluent in English, ordained Northern Baptist minister, and Keetoowah (Pin) leader who, after the war, became principal chief of the Cherokee and did much for reconciliation and return of property to the Southern Cherokee. He had been chaplan of Drew's Regt, 1st Cherokee Mtd Rifles (CSA). In the 3rd, IHG, many of the captains had been captains in Drew's Regt.
An advantage of the 3rd IHG was a greater number of the soldiers could speak English and had been around whites more than in the other two regiments. The chronic problem of all three was the Indian officers and soldiers had no military experience and very little knowledge of US military discipline and procedure. Many were unaccustomed to being "ordered" or giving orders. They were accustomed to following influence and leadership and had difficulty accepting orders without question. It was necessary to have Indian officers to get them to agree to serve -- the US would certainly have prefered all white officers. A difference between the Indian units and USCT is that the African Americans all spoke English, had lived their lives around whites, and, as former slaves, were accustomed to taking orders from whites. Regarding the 1st and 2nd IHG, it was said they had to be moved away from their chiefs because they would run to their chiefs for consultation before deciding whether or not to obey orders. Their first priority was to their families and they would not hesitate to go AWOL to take care of them -- they weren't accustomed to doing anything by another man's leave [stealing a great line from the movie Last of the Mohicans].
Too much is said regarding their loyalty or lack thereof to the US or the Confederacy. They were citizens of neither and served only to retain and perpetuate their land and sovereignty. They did not live on "reservations" and were not "wards of the US Government" -- they had legal title to their lands per their treaties with the US. The US Supreme Court coined the term "domestic dependent nations". Their loyalty was to their own nations, not the US who only honored its treaty obligations when it was convenient to do so and whose politics and ulterior motives often took advantage of them. Many had been taught to never trust a white government and were warned by Opothleyahola, the influencial Creek leader, as to how they would be 'used' in the war -- they did trust and respect individual whitemen, such as Col. Phillips, John B. Jones (Northern Baptist missionary and chaplan of the 3rd IHG) and a very few others. They provided good service as US soldiers when they were convinced it would lead to their return to their homes. Some politicians didn't want them to help the US because their plan was to take the Indian Territory from them after the war as punishment for allying with the South -- something those bleeding-heart liberals in the East wouldn't let them do without good reason. All the tribes were aware of that idea and hoped to prevent it with the help of their political friends.
The following is rather lengthy but I thought worth posting here. This is Phillips report of the conditions within his brigade and the roles of white and Indian officers from the ORs, Series 1, Vol. 22, Part II, page 56 forward:
It addresses several of your questions -- the IHG were mounted but were paid as infantry (and armed as infantry). Their weapons in general were serviceable and they used them with success but they were obsolete by US military standards. Phillips also describes how each regiment is officered.
HDQRS.3d Brig., 1ST DIV., ARMY OF THE FRONTIER,
Camp Curtis, January 19, 1863.
Maj.-Gen. CURTIS,
Cmdg. Department of the Missouri:
SIR: I desire to report the peculiar features, character, and present
condition of the three Indian regiments. My close connection with them
in active service during the past nine months has given me opportunities
to judge, and I submit a report as brief as it can be made, believing it
is necessary to give the Government a clear idea of the nature and wants
of this branch of the service.
1st. The First Indian Regt. is of Creeks, mustered at Leroy. The
only white officers at first were field officers. The regiment did some
service in June and July; it became badly demoralized for want of
sufficient and competent officers; partially broke up in August; was
collected in October, and had white first lieutenants mustered, under
Gen. Blunt's order. Some 300 or 400 of the regiment, who had gone
to Leroy in August, and who had refused to leave it, got down with the
train just at the time the Army of the Frontier was rebrigaded. The
regiment had drilled very little; are indifferently informed as to their
duties.
These Creeks are about equal in scale of intelligence to the Delawares
of Kansas; they are inferior to the Cherokees. They are in bad shape,
get out their details slowly, sometimes desert a post, or a party when
sent on duty; yet I would be lacking in my duty to them or the
Government if I failed to say that, with one or two good field officers,
military men, and two, or even three, company officers, they could be
made very effective. No party of them should be sent without a
competent officer. Their own officer are, with few exceptions, useless,
but there are one or two men of influence amongst the captains, brave
fighters in the field, and of influence not be overlooked. This Creek
regiment gives me much more concern than either of the others.
2d. The Second Regt. originally consisted of Osages, Quapaws,
&c., and, when it got into the Cherokee Nation, finally of Cherokees.
The Osages, who were neither more nor less than savages and thieves,
who brought the whole Indian command into disgrace, were finally
mustered out during one of their periodic desertions, which fortunately
happened at pay time. So of the Quapaws and other broken fragments
of tribes that were little better. Under Gen. Blunt's orders, I recruited
for the Second Indian Regiment, and its numbers have been brought up
to its present status (see reports) from Cherokees, half-breeds, and
whites. Last summer to regiment drilled but little; lately it has improved
in that respect. It still lacks necessary officers, but is in a fair way to
make a useful force.
3d. The Third Indian Regiment, which was my own, rejoined after its
organization, was literally taken from the enemy, and was the heaviest
blow dealt in the Southwest last summer. Profiting by the experience of
the first two regiment, it was organized by Gen. Blunt's orders, at
my suggestion, with first lieutenant and orderly sergeants picket out of
the white regiments in the field. I endeavored to secure active,
intelligent men, conversant with their duties as soldiers, or
non-commissioned officers, and just so far as I succeeded in this the
result has been favorable. Unless when on actual march, the regiment
had dress parade every evening, and drill and officers' schools every
day. The result is that it is as well drilled as many white regiments that
have been a longer time in the service. The regiment has done a great
deal of active service, besides innumerable scouts and skirmishes. They
were for two hours and forty minutes under his musketry and finally
artillery fire at Newtonia. They participated at Fort Wayne, Cane Hill,
Dutch Mills, Prairie Grove, and other engagements. This is the only
Indian regiment that is really so far, although the Second undoubtedly
will be, but there are several errors in its organization, and some few
of this command and also the Third absent themselves without leave,
which is a chronic Indian weakness.
The error in all the Indian regiments has been in not mustering the
captains or white officers to be fully responsible for property, and to see
orders carried out. I take the liberty of suggesting that the necessary
officers for an Indian company are, the captain (first lieutenant might be
an Indian) and second lieutenant white men; or, better yet, the captain
a white man, first lieutenant a white man, second lieutenant an Indian,
an orderly sergeant a white man. The white men to be selected from the
volunteer army, or from men who thoroughly understand military duties,
and who will work hard. It is a blunder to put men of poor ability in an
Indian regiment. It requires character, so that the Indians will respect
him, and a through knowledge of military duties. In a white company,
if the captain and lieutenants are ignorant, perhaps some privates in the
company can run it, but an Indian company improperly officered is in
a frightful mess.
The officers in an Indian regiment have to work very hard to get things
in shape. The besetting sin of Indian is laziness. They are brave as
death, active to fight, but lazy. They ought invariably to be mounted;
they make poor infantry, but first-class mounted riflemen.
The Third Regiment, most of the Second, and half of the First entered
the service with their own horses; were paid as infantry, but foraged and
shod by department order of Gen. Blunt. Their horses have nearly all
been used up in the service. At this time the stock is very poor.
The Third Indian Regt. is of twelve companies mounted riflemen,
and has two howitzers attached. They are only paid as infantry, but used
as mounted men. About 100 of them are on foot, as their horses have
died in the service. To be efficient they ought to be mounted on
Government horses in the spring. The Third is armed with Mississippi
and Prussian rifles. The Second, Prussian rifles and muskets, and the
First with hunting rifles, and have to mold their bullets.
Nothing but active steps to supply necessary orders can save to First
Indian Regt. from utter demoralization. My orders to drill are
disregarded. As I compel the regiments to draw on consolidated
provision returns, I have difficulty in getting reports from them. I am
much embarrassed, as arresting all the officers of a regiment is not to
be thought of, and permitting it to run loose has a bad effect on the rest.
I earnestly desire instructions and necessary authority to myself or some
others. In the mean time I shall do the best I can.
With great respect,
WM. A. PHILLIPS,
Col., Cmdg. Third Brigade.
<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>
SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 12., HDQRS. THIRD BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION,
ARMY OF THE FRONTIER,
Camp Curtis, Ark., January 15, 1863.
I. It is ordered that the senior white officers in any company of an
Indian regiment be held fully accountable for the getting out of details,
roll-calls, drills, and for the performance of every other duty as
commanding officer; and each company of such regiment shall at once
be put in such a condition as shall insure greater promptitude in
reporting details. This order is not be constructed as relieving any Indian
officer of any duty is capable of performing.
II. Details, when "immediately," must take no longer time to get out the
men than five minutes for footmen and ten minutes for mounted men
from the moment the order is served on the officer, which may be
verbally or in writing by the adjutant, sergeant-major, or on order of a
commanding officer.
III. All details must be made impartially, or in order, from those
reported for duty, and those reported not for duty shall draw only
hospital rations by a medical officer, in such amount as may be allowed
by the colonel commanding. It shall be the duty of the senior white
officers of the company, when a man detailed for duty has not reported
promptly, to put him on a list, which must be handed each time a
consolidated provision return is sent up, and such parties shall draw no
coffee or sugar for such term of days as in return; and such persons
shall go in a mess by themselves, and this punishment not relieve them
from other punishment or the necessity of doing extra duty.
IV. Whenever an Indian officer, lieutenant or captain, refuses to obey
the order of the senior white officers in getting out details, or doing any
necessary or legitimate duty, he will be reported to his regimental
commander, and through him to these headquarters.
V. And it is further ordered that whenever any Indian captain or senior
officer shall notify the commander of his regiment that he is competent
for the business and responsibility of his company, and is desirous of
fully assuming it, he shall be authorized to do so, and that he shall after
such time be so held accountable.
By order of William A. Philips, colonel commanding Third Brigade:
WILLIAM GALLAHER,
First Lieut. and Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.