Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1886-03-27
cApr.oeaaweoap.s CAREER.
His Prominent Part In the Sioux
xar of 1876.


war of 1876.
The loss to tle army in the death Of
Capt. En,n,eli Crawford is not an ordin-
airy one. lie was an officer. of remark
able. merit, a man of heroic tempera-
ment, alcilivalric gentlemen. and a COM
panion to be respected and loved.
HIS career as soldier began at the
of 22 years. when, at the outbreak
of the war of secession, he enlisted as
private in the Pennsylvania infantry.
Until the final surrender of confederate
troops he served continuously. and for
gallantry in battle was repeatedly pro-
noted When he was mustered out OF
the volunteer service in 1867 he was
second lieutenant in the regular army.
with the brevet rank of major.
He was assigned in 1867 to the 7th
infantry. and In the same year received
his commission as first lieutenant. He
was transferred in 1871 to the Sd caval-
nv. This regiment is one which has
seen since that period most varied and
arduous service in the Indian country,
both north and south Of the Platte river,
and in all of its many and honorable ex-
PLOTS Capt Crawford had part.
He was stationed in the Sioux coun-
try IN 1875 at the time of the memora-
BILE grand council at Red Cloud agency,
when Gen. Terry and the other treaty
commissioners were in danger OF being
murdered in cold blood by wild braves
from the north, who with brandished
arms and in naked war paint, surround
ed the tent in which the deliberations
were held. In anumber of scouting ex-
petitions Capt Crawford kept the
agency tribes in wholesome awe OF the
military power, and contributed TO delay
the beginning of hostilities by anticipat-
ing raids that the Indians were eager to
make at every opportunity upon the
ranchmen in Dakota, Wyoming and
northern Nebraska The next year he
commanded a company in Gen. Crooks
army, and was one of the most valued
officers.
Herwas In the hot fight Of June
II, nesrgthe headwaters of the Rose
bud, eight days before Custer met his
fate on the Little Big Horn. On this
occasion Crook deliberately subjected q
large part of his force to the risk of be-
ing cut off from the central column by
the savages. and he was only saved from
complete disaster by retreat The
troops, however. did their best, and
we've only too erger to be led forward
to apeoper attack.
Later in the campaign, after . long
chase after the .hostiles," which was
full.of unprecedented hardships, an ad-
vance column of Crooks force, $50
strong. surprised an Indian village near
Slim Buttes, of which American Horse,
otherwise known as Roman Nose was
the chief The attack was made in the
midst of q dense fog and drizzling mist
before daylight, the troops having
camped IN a neighboring ravine, deep
in the mud, during the night. Craw-
ford led one division Of the party, and
made most furious charge. The
darkness was so great that no one knew
with certainty the strength Of the In
dams, but they fed to the hills at the
first crack of a rife. When daylight
came Lieuts. Crawford and Schwatka
were given the ticklish task of dislodg-
ing thsm from neighboring ravines and
rocks which commanded the village
now occupied by the troops. Each Of
these officers took . mere handful Of
men and secured the hills most intrepid
ly, a hundred times running imminent
risk of being shot down ut short range.
In spite of their small numbers, tho
troops held their position all day, until
the main column came up in the evening.
just in time TO support an attack by
Crazy Horses entire band.
In the remainder of the campaign
and in that of the following winter
Crawford distinguished himself by his
daring and his vigor as q scout, and no
one was more deserving of laurels for
the final suppression of the Sioux war.
After the Sioux war Lieut. Crawford
was stationed near large and trouble
some band Of recently-subdued Sioux.
One buck Of particularly desperate
character was denounced to the soldiers
as murderer by some Indians, who
said they were unable to deliver him up,
and that he and some comrades had
declared that even the soldiers could
not capture him. Capt. Crawford took
one man with him, rode out to the In
dian camp, and single-handed, captured
the murderer. The perilous act was
performed with such cool daring; such
entire unconcern of danger, that the
Indians were unable to understand what
the brave officer was about until he had
secured his man.
He succeeded to grade of captain in
1873. In the two following wears he
did recruiting duty at Baltimore. In
1882 Gen. Crook placed him in charge
of his Indian scouts. In all the actual
warfare; that had been carried on against
the Apaches since then his bravery and
untiring energy have been conspicuous
h - She Knew IL.