Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-15
CROOKS CAMPAIGN.
Interesting Stories Of His Last Ex-
petition,
AS TOLD BY A STAFF oFFlcEF
Captain CIark's Recollections Of Indian
Fights Under Gen. Crook in
l876-7-Horse Flesh and Hard
Bread for Soldiers.


CHICAGO, May l4.-General Crooks ex-
staff officer, Capt. W. P. Clark, who fought
in the campaign against the Sioux and
Cheyennes after the Custer massacre, was
recently ordered to military headquarters
in this city. Hard service on the plains
has left its marks on his face, and they
were visible to q reporter OF the Inter-
Ocean, who visited him recently. Captain
Clark talked enthusiastically Of General
Cooks Arizona campaign. 1t was, he said,
quite as
Difficult and Dangerous
an expedition as that of 1867. "In that
campaign" said Captain Clark, I'VE start.
ed about August from the mouth OF Pow
der river, General Crook in command, and
with twenty. five companies OF cavalry and
ten OF infantry. We took fifteen days ra.
tions on pack animals. We cut loose en-
tirely from the base of supplies and did
not get within reach again until Septem-
Der Is.
We went across Powder river and some
distance east, following the trail OF the
hostiles who had moved eastward from the
Big Horn mountains, and after going east
some distance the trail separated and be-
came indistinct, part of it going toward
the Black Hills and the agencies. We then
marched southwark in the direction of the
Black Hills, meeting only scattering To-
dians. The official record speaks as follows
OF succeeding events:
On the Trail.
September 0 battalion consisting Of $50
men OF the Sd cavalry, under Captain An
son Mills, after very trying night march,
succeeded at day break in surprising the
village Of American Horse, at Slim Buttes,
ID. T., capturing the entire village of about
thirty.seven lodges, with quantities OF sup.
plies, arms and ammunition. and ABOUT lI5
ponies. Among the articles taken from
this village were guidon OF the 9TH cayal-
~, pair of gloves marked with the name
Of Colonel Custer, Snd many other things
which were recognized as belonging TO
that command. The battalion OF Captain
Mills
Suffered n L0ss
of one enlisted man killed, six wounded.
and Lieutenant A. II. Won Luettwitz, Sd
Cavalry, so seriously wounded in the legas
to REQUIRE amputation. The loss of the In
dians was American Horse ,mortally wound
ed four Indians killed, and about dozen
captured. The village OF Crazy Horse was
only short distance away, and after the
first flight from camp, the Indians returned
in increared numbers and attacked Mills
command, but the main column Of General
Crook having arrived, the Indians were
worsted in several encounters which took
place force under Lieutenant Colonel w.
B. Royal, Sd Cavalry, consisting OF battal-
ions Of the I'd and Sd Cavalry, having one
man wounded.
The Indians Continued HOyerIng
around the command, taking positions in
ravines from which they had 10 be dislOdged,
with much patience, and exposure 10 the
troops. In the several fights which oc.
Cured the 9th Cavalry, under General Carr,
lost one enlisted man and one white scout
killed, and five enlisted men wounded, the
loss inflicted by his force upon the Indians
being estimated at seven or eight killed.
Major Chambers, 4th Infantry, with the in
iantry battalion, consisting OF three COM
panies of the 4th Infantry. three OF the 9th
Infantry, and four of the l4th Infantry,
drove of from the bluffs parties OF Indians
HAaF, Ole enlisted man OF the 9TH Infantry
being severely wounded in these operations.
On SeI 'Nmbcr -, Major tpham, with
80 men the 5th Cavalry, was sent by
General { Ook 10
Follow Trail
leading down Owl Creek, but returned on
the 18th without having found any village.
One private soldier Of his command was
killed by Indians on the Belle FourChe.
During the later operations OF General
Crooks column. the troops, being without
tents, Uttered not only from the incessant
cold rains prevailing, but were wholly
without regular food. Having met with
General Terrys column, the latter had
shared its supplies with General Crook,
but these became exhausted, and for days
General Crooks troops were Obliged to
subsist principally upon horse flesh.
A Military Menu.
How do you like horse iiesh?' asked the
reporter.
"Oh, it goes pretty good, If the animal
isn't too old. September horse meat was
issued The command had been on half
rations for the same time. On the even
ing of the day mentioned there were is
sued eight boxes Of hard bread and six
horses for the entire command. After the
capture Of the village We had q little more
to eat, and we got 5000 pounds OF meat and
a little -four, and young ponies were issued
10 the troops to eat, instead OF the worn
out horses of our commanC.'
GLOW many horses were eaten in all"
IL think sixtytwo."
"When did you reach the Black Hills"
September l5 Or rather we got to
point about twenty-five or thirty miles
from Deadwood, where supplies were sent
TO US.
This was Immediately followed bya
Winter Campaign.
| We marched TO Red Cloud Agency and dis:
| mounted some of the Indians who had
come in after the Custer fight The Powder
| River Expedition was composed Of General
Crooks cavalry and Indian scouts
under General Mackenzie. Nov. ., 1879,
they struck village Of lS0 lodges ia the
| Big Horn Mountains, capturing the entire
! village and some 700 ponies. After this
| the command went owe! to the head oil the
Belle Fourche, and the Indians began TO
| come in.
General Crook went over in person TO
the Spotted Tail Agency, and sent that
| chief TO
The Hostile Camps,
and he succeeded in brining a large num-
Der OF them. General Crook also organ
lied a battalion OF Indian scouts; and be-
fore Spring the hostiles had all surrender
ed or gone North to the British line"
General Crook is an able Indian fighter,
is he mott"
"Yes. He had a long experience in Ari-
zona, in command OF that department.
| There is no one who stands higher. He
has made life study OF the Indian habits,
customs and ways Of living. Before the
war, as lieutenant. he was stationed IN
Arizona and had quite an experience.