Camp Supply served as the base for two companies of Indian Scouts: Company C commanded by 2nd Lieutenant John A. Rucker, and Company D led by 1st Lieutenant Austin Henely. Each Company included between 32 and 40 Scouts who enlisted for 6 months at a time. During the first few months of the Camp's operation the nighttime chanting and singing of Henely's Scouts resulted in complaints by enlisted soldiers. An order to relocate the Indian Scouts at least ? mile from Camp was subsequently issued.
The Indian Scouts and enlisted men worked on guard and escort assignments along major travel routes, or tracked down Indians who had not settled on reservations. One order read:
"2nd Lt. J.A. Rucker, 6th CAV, with twenty enlisted men of Cos. H & L, 6th CAV, mounted, armed and equipped, and all available men of Co. C Indian Scouts will proceed in search of the party of renegade Indians who are reported to have attacked the mail courier on the 3rd instant, near Silver City, New Mexico."
In another telegram, Lt. Rucker was ordered to search the surrounding country with 16 enlisted men and Company C, Indian Scouts. The order read:
"Lt. Rucker will provision his entire command for forty days. Cavalrymen will be furnished 100 rounds of carbine ammunition per man."
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