Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-04-07
WORTHILY BESTOW ED.
GEN. CROOK GIVEN AN HONOR HE
HAS WELL EARNED.

Sketch of the Work the Veteran ofiicer
Has Done--No Sign of Break in the
House DeadLo on the Contrary, Quite
the Reverse-Itapid Work on Pension
Bilis--Dr. Mary Gets There.
WASHINGTON CITY, April THE nomina-
ton Of Brig. Gen. George Crook to he ma ior
general vice Alfred H. Terry, retired, gives
general satisfaction, and nothing but words
of commentator can be heard in regard to
the course of the president, who was guided
solely by the record of this distinguished soldier
Gen Crook, a native of Ohio, graduated from
the military academy at West Point in 1852,
and was assigned to duty in the Fourth in
fantry, then serving in California and Ore
gon. He soon became noted for courage,
GOODNESS, and skill in Indian warfare, and his
name has since become a household word in
every state and territory west of the Missis-
sippi river. During the war of the rebellion he
became one of the prominent commanders of
the national forces, reaching the command of Il
separate army, and at the close Of the war
was in command of Sheridans cavalry in
Virginia. With the surrender Of Lee he was
promptly ordered back to his old field of duty
in northern California and eastern Idaho to
quell the Piutes and Cannocks, then in those
territory He pursued them during the
worst winter ever known in that region, and
at last brought them to bay in the Internal
Caverns in the lava beds of Idaho, killing a
great number, and reducing the remainder to
submission
This success induced President Grant to
order him to Arizona territory to quell the
Apaches, who had been at hostility since
the first coming of the Spauards Crook
endeavored to secure peace by gentle means,
but these failing he began his operations with
startling energy, attacking the hostiles in
their strOngholds. AT the head of the Santa
Maria at the canyon of Salt river, at Turret
Butte, at Superstition mountain and dozens
of other places, the Apaches were surprised
by forced night marches, thoroughly whipped
and forced to surrender to the number of
5 900 They were not permitted to live in
peaceful idleness, but were compelled to farm
for their living Only one band was ex-
empted by name from Crooks control--the
ChiricahuaS--who afterward gave the au-
thorities so much trouble.
Promoted to the position of brigadier gen
eral, Crook was transferred to the depart
ment of the Platte, where the Sioux, Chey
ennes, Bannocks and Utes were elements of
danger 10 the public peace In his cam
paigns against the Sioux and Cheyennes in
1875 and 1877, he led his troops for two win
tiers in the face of billiards i'll Dakota, Wyo-
ming and Montana, at a temperature of 40
degrees below zero, and through summer of
unusual heat and unprecedented rains. The
entire command narrowly escaped starva-
ton, being reduced for eleven days to diet
of horse meat and water. His troops
fought the hostiles on Powder riv-
er, Wyoming, in February 1876; at
tackled and destroyed the village
of Crazy Horse, ON the Lower Powder, in
Montana, in March; again met and defeated
them on the Tongue river, Montana, on June
8, 1876 whipped Crazy-Horse and Sitting
Bull on the Rosebud, June II, 1876; again on
Goose creek, Montana, August, 1876 again
at Slim butte, Dakota, Sept. 9, 1876, and to-
tally destroyed the village of the Cheyennes,
on Willow creek, Wyoming, in the arctic
weather of Nov. 25, 1876. This last blow
proved to be too much, and the hostiles sent
in runners begging for terms.
In subsequent operations against disaffected
Utes and Bannocks Crook showed the same
energy, skill, and courage. Recalled to Ari-
iona in 1852 to subdue the Chirisahua Apaches
who were again on the war path, he made the
memorable march against them into the heart
of the Sicrre Madre, 800 miles across the
Mexican border, surprised Geronimo's strong
hold, killing nine and inducing the others to
surrender. Five hundred and twenty-tiy
Chiricahuas returned to the agency, being
every soul of the hostiles, and seventeen
white captives were restored to freedom.
Gen Crook is known to the country at
large as IA firm friend to all Indians anxious
to do right and live at peace. His firm adj
vocacy of the cause of the Dakota Poncas in
1881, and his answering friendship for such
of the Apache bands as have kept faith with
the whites has attracted favorable attention
throughout the country. He will hold his
new position for six seven years. retiring
in 1894. His headquarters will, in all proba-
biljty he CHICAGO