The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-12-19
Remarks from Gen. Crock.

his troops:
In the campaign now closed, L have
been Obliged TO call upon you for much
hand sers ice and many sacrifices OF per-
sonal comfort. At times you have
been out of reach of your base of sup
pile; in most inclement weather you
have marched without food, and slept
without shelter; in your engagements
you have eyinced a high order of dis
cipline and courage; in your marches
wonderful powers of endurance, and in
your d~eprivations and hardships pa
thence and fortitude.
Indian warfare is of all warfare the
most dangerous, the most trying and
the most thankless. Not recognized by
the high authority of the United States
Senate as war, it still possesses for you,
the disadvantages of civilized warfare,
with all the horrible Accomplishments
that barbarians can invent and savages
can execute. In it you are required to
serve without the incentive to promo
ton or recognition, in truth without
favor or hope of reward.
The people of our sparsely settled
frontier in whose defense this war is
waged, have but little influence with
the powerful communities in the east;
their representatives have little voice
in our national councils, while your
savage foes are not only the wards of
the nation, supported in idleness, but
objects of sympathy with large numbers
of people otherwise well informed n
discerning.
We make the subjoined extracts from
Crooks annual report to Gen. Sheridan:
THE BROKEN TREATY.
In fact it was well known that the
treaty of 1868 had been regarded by the
Indians as an instrument binding upon
us but not binding on them. On the
part of the government, notwithstand-
ing the utter disregard by the Sioux of
the terms of the treaty, stringent or
ders, enforced by military power, had
been issued, prohibiting settlers from
trespassiug upon the country known as
the Black Hills. The people Of the
country against whom tlN provisions of
the treaty were so rigidly enforced
naturally complained that if they were
required to observe this treaty, some
effort should be made to compel the
Indians to observe it likewise.
THE REASON WHY.
Knowing as l do from personal knowl-
edge the large numbers of Indians who
require the restraining influence of
troops, l have carefully refrained from
embarrassing the Division Commander
by calls for reinforcements. l have
rather left that matter entirely to him,
satisfied that he understood the neces-
slties of the case, and would send me
troops as fast and as early IS he could
get them. 1 mention this simply from
the fact that there has been much of an
unpleasant nature said in regard to the
matter. l repeat that l did not ask for
reinforcements because l felt that we
were abundantly able to take care of
ourselves until they came, and that
when they could be sent they would be;
and they were.
THE RECOGNIZABLE REDSKINS.
With the improved arms, 1 have seen
our friendly Indians, riding at full
speed, shoot and kill a wolf, also on the
run, while it is a rare thing that our
troops can hit an Indian on horseback
though the soldier may be on his feet at
the time. The Sioux is a cavalry SOL
der from the time he has intelligence
to ride a horse or fire a gun. If he
wishes to dismount, his hardy pony,
educated by long usage, will Craze
around neal where he has been left,
ready when his master wants to mount
either to move forward OIL to escape.
Even with their lodges and families
they a move at the rate of fifty miles
per day. They are perfectly familiar
with the country, have their spies and
hunting parties out all the time at dis
tances from twenty to fifty miles each
way from their villages, know the num-
ka- o-J ,ovnp.aDfo &c oil tho frNAt,c thaf
may be operating against them, just
about what they al probably do, and
hence can choose their own time and
places of conflict or avoid it alto
gether.
THE BLACK HILLS -ROORBACK.
The occupation. by the settlers of the
Black Hills country had nothing to do
with the hostilities which have been
in progress. In fact by the continuous
violations by these Indians of the treaty
referred to, the settlers were furnished
with at least a reasonable excuse for
such occupation, and a treaty so long
and persistently violated by the Indians
themselves should not be quoted as a
valid instrument for the preventing of
such occupation. Since the occupation
of the Black Hills there has not been
any greater NUMBER OF depredatl0nS
committed by the Indians than previous
to such occupation; in truth, the people
who have gone to the Hills have not
suffered any more and probably not as
much from Indians, as they would had
they remained at their homes along the
border.
DIsLoYAL SAVAGE WARDS.
What is the loyal condition of mind
Of a lot Of savages, who will not allow
the folds of the flag of the country to
feat over the very sugar, coffee and
beef, they are kind enough to accept at
the hands of the nation to which they
have thus FAR dictated their own terms?
Such has been the condition of things
at the Red Cloud Agency. The agents
have informed us that the hosting of a
flag over the Agency, or a persistence
in the determination to find by actual
count the number of warriors out on
the war-path, would result in their
massacreing all the people there. When
therefore the present campaign was
inaugurated against the hostile bands,
it vas impossible to find out what force
we should probably meet. 1t has trans
IL