The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-31
An Interview with General Crook.

An Interview with General CrOok.
There is perhaps no officer of the army
who has had better opportunities for a
close study Of the Indian character or who
is more intelligent and competent OBJ
server than General Crook. His interest
ing conversation with HERALD correspond
ent which we print this morning is a valu-
able addition TO our means of judging OF
the latest phases of the Indian question.
General Crook thinks that the recent
bloody affair with the 'Cheyennes was un-
avoidable from the moment when they de-
cided to die rather than be sent back to the
reservation. sit was only" said he, ''what
all who are familiar with the Indian charac-
ter would have expected after the Chey-
ennes had decided not to return. There
was not military force enough in the de-
partment to- have taken them back alive"
General Crook thinks that this kind Of
Cheyennes, but is characteristic of the Ind
ian nature. Assuming this view to be
correct it is clearly inexpedient to push
other tribes into similar state Of despera-
ton. General Crook thinks the Sioux
would unquestionably have acted like the
Cheyeunes under similar circumstances.
General Crook is reluctant to express any
opinion of the causes which drove the
Cheyennes to take SO desperate resolve,
but he says enough to indicate his belief
that their dogged refusal to go back was o
consequence of i'll treatment on the reserva-
ton. "The Cheyennes," he says, ''went to
the south voluntarily and with good feeling
would prefer to die rather than return
toward the south without some good rea-
son. They were neither fools nor lunatics,
and in deciding upon their course they
knew as we'll as we the probable result"
When the order came to conduct them back
an attempt had to be made to obey it, and
the soldiers are not responsible for the re-
suit.
General Crook does not anticipate new
Indian troubles. He says the Indians at
the Red Cloud and Spotted Tail agencies
are at present quiet and contented, and
that ''they have an honest and capable
agent" The honest and capable agent is
AoSt ILL POACsAV S4CAACAAs IL IAC CuACOAutAOA.
"If the promises made to them are kept"
says General Crook, 81 see no prospect Of
trouble with them. Any apprehensions of
trouble at the Red Cloud or Spotted Tail
Agency, under existing circumstances.
are groundless" He thinks there is
great deal Of ..bosh". -in---the--ac
p.A---i-.~.--ro ltting Bull, but does
not know whether this chief has
crossed the Dortcr anu ~ coming SOUTH.
But with regard to the Indians in general
he thinks ''all the signs are more indica-
tive of peace than for several years pro-
vided, of course, that they are properly
treated and that all promises are kept with
them" This opinion, coming from such O
source, is hopeful and reassuring
There is another point in the interview
which deserves attention. The power of
the Indians and their confidence in them
selves is greatly increased by the possession
of breech-loading rifles. ''The time when
it could be said that one soldier was equal
to several Indians has gone by. The re-
verse is now nearer the truth" The whole
Indian problem has changed within the last
five or six years, and it is absurd to go
blindly on in accordance with the old
IN ethods