Hired Indian Scouts Index to Scouts Mentioned in Reports

In addition to enlisting Indian scouts, the U.S. Army also hired them. Hired scouts were typically paid a monthly wage and could be rehired after their contract expired.

Please note: these records have not yet been digitized.

Index to Scouts Mentioned in Reports of Persons and Articles Hired, 1861–1891

The index provides the scout's name and file number. If a scout was hired for multiple contracts, he will have multiple file numbers. The file number(s) can be used to access the Reports of Persons and Articles Hired, which include information about a scout’s service and pay.

Visit the National Archives Catalog for the full archival records description and contact information: National Archives Identifier 656479.

Reports of Persons and Articles Hired, 1818–1905

These records contain information on Army quartermasters who hired scouts, guides, interpreters, and other individuals for specific jobs, including non-American Indians. For hired Indian scouts, the information includes:

• File numbers
• Names
• Dates of their contracts
• Salary
• Locations where they were hired
• Remarks

A file number from the Index to Scouts Mentioned in Reports of Persons and Articles Hired is required to search these records. Visit the National Archives Catalog for the full archival records description and contact information: National Archives Identifier 656447.

This sample includes both an original and an annotated copy.