In 1891, the War Department formed an Apache Indian Troop — Company I, Twelfth Infantry. 55 men enlisted, including Naiche, other resisters, and former scouts.

“An order has been recently promulgated ordering the enlistment of … Indians in the regular army.…  I am now doing what I can under the law and appropriation to make them self-supporting…. We want to lead the Indian from the … idle life they are now pursuing and endeavor to civilize them.”  (Redfield Proctor, Secretary of War, Mobile Register, March 21, 1891. Quoted in Skinner 1987:308.)

Apache soldiers were ordered to build houses for the POWs.

Geronimo was not a member of the Indian troop. He was Justice of the Peace and school disciplinarian.

When men from Company I finished their tour of duty, they were returned to POW status.

Previous Page Life and Conditions at Mount Vernon Barracks

• Good Indians at Mount Vernon Barracks
• Life and Conditions at Mount Vernon Barracks
• A U.S. Calvary Troop of Apache POWs at Mount Vernon (1891)