Arizona citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Pima County, A.T. [i.e. Ariz.]) 1870-1880, 1876-04-29

As our readers are more OF less in
teres:ed IN any thing concerning Gen
eral Crook and his military operations,
and as there have been scattering and
broken reports Of rumored failure OF
his late Sioux expedition. we publish
the annexed account thereof taken
from the Cheyenne Leader:
BY way of premise, and to correct
in advance any false opinion which
may be formed upon reading this state
ment, We will say that the information
here given has not been obtained from
any person who was sworn to secresy-
meaning by this the officers of General
Crooks command, all of whom have
been entirely too reticent concerning
the campaign TO suit our reporters.
The facts herein made public for the
first time have been furnished us by
scouts and other employees of the ex-
petition, and not single one having
been divulged by any officer of the
command
General Crook evInced dissatlslac
ton with his command when leaving
here, and although he said little, ii waE
easily seen that he was not at all pleas
ed with the prospects tor the success of
the expedition. SOldier-like, however,
he bravely undertook the campaign,
though he undoubtedly knew that there
were big chances for failure and but
slim ones for success,
When he had reached the heart of
the Indian country, and word was
brought him by his scouts of the dis
cOvery OF the large Indian village OF
Crazy Horse, and also the location OF
Sitting Bulls camp, he detailed the
next officer in command, with all the
troops save two companies, for the at
tack on Crazy Horse, and with the
pack train and handful of men, him
self started for Sitting Bulls trail Or
ders were given the officer sent to at
tack Crazy Horse to destroy his village,
capture his ponies, and intiict upon
him and his murderOus band the sever
est punishment possible.
Crazy Horse was surrounded and
completely surprised, and had General
Crooks orders been Obeyed, the band
Of this predatory chief would now be
scattered to the four winds. But dis
obedience and incOmpetency character
lied the actions of the commander of
the detachment Col. J. j. Reynolds
and he thus baked General Crooks
well laid plans, covered himself with
disgrace, and filled his superior'S heart
with such chagrin rs only the brave
soldier can feel when he himself is do
ing his duty, but, from force Of cir
cumstanceS, can neither prevent the
acknowledgement nor retrieve the errors
Of others, upon whose success and de
vOtiOn his own efforts and achievements
depend.
Captain Egan, with his gallant Grays,
was ordered tn charge through the Ind
ian village, and another detachment
was ordered 70 meet HIM halfway,
charging from the opposite direction.
Brave Egan did his duty, forcing his
way through the village. But be was
not sustained, the detachment ordered
To meet him, which was commanded
by an officer of the Third Cavalry,
sitting quietly on their horses in plain
sight of the village, though at Il safe
distance, during the whole night, which
lasted four or five hours. This was the
first, and probably the worst blunder-I
mildly speaking-Of the expedition,
as, had Egan been supported, many
Indians would have been made truly
e oil and the band completely broken
up.
As it was, however, q number of Ind
ians were killed and some soldiers
killed and wounded, though we can
not learn the exact extent OF the losses
of the command. Over seven hundred
Indian ponies were captured, and these
were turned over To- the officer com
handing the Crazy Horse expedition.
General Crook, as has been stated,
was twenty-five miles away during the
fight.
On the following morning, in dis
obedience of Crooks orders the cap
tured ponies were allowed to be driven
off by the Indians, it being done in
plain sight of the commander. who
made no effort to prevent ii, although
u dozen men could easily have held the
ponies had he so ordered.
Immediately upon learning of the
manner in which his subordinate had
conducted the affair, General Crook or
dered a retreat, and the Big Horn eX-
pedItion at once returned to Fetterman
and thence to this city.
Had there been no disobedience of
orders, Crook, upon the defeat of Crazy
Horse, would have Immediately march
ed upon Sitting Bull, and, in our opin-
ion, the Sioux question would have
been settled, or very near SO, by this
time Instead, he was obliged to aban-
don that idea and return.
Another expedition, with experienced
officers and men, probably from the
Second and Fifth Regiments, is now
being organized by General Crook, and
within month will be en- route To Sit.
ting Bulls headquarters. There will
be no more fOOlIshness" about the
business, and we expect TO see grand
and beneficial results attained by the
second expedition.
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