Remembering Them Forever (RTF)!

Military Information:

• US Army
• Deceased
• SGT: Sergeant
• QR Code
• Multiple Family Veteran
• PVT (Private)
• Indian Campaigns
• Cemetery: Seminole Indian Scouts, Brackettville, Kinney County, Texas
• 1-Alpha List
• US Indian Scouts

Bio:

The Scout of the Day is Sergeant Elijah Daniels.

Elijah Daniels was a Seminole Negro Indian Scout who was born in Arkansas (Indian Territory). He had black eyes, black hair, and a black complexion. He was 5’10”.

As a private and, later, a sergeant, Elijah Daniels completed nine enlistments, serving from October 7, 1871 to November 22, 1876. He was stationed at Fort Duncan and Fort Clark and served under Major Bliss, Lt. Cranton (or Cranston), Lt. Parker, Lt Bullis, and Lt. Land.

The Elijah Daniels Band of Creek Negro Indians were reported by the Department of Texas as being encamped on the Nueces River in 1870. The commanding colonel tried to encourage a ranger company from D’Hanis to enlist them, but this attempt was to no avail.

Some books would lead you to believe Elijah Daniels’ Band was the first to enlist at Fort Clark; however, please note that, during his second enlistment, he was transferred to Fort Clark, as were other members of his band. While he may have been chief of the Black Creeks, he wasn’t the chief of all those at Fort Clark until, at least, the death of Black Seminole Chief John Kibbetts, who passed away on September 7, 1878.