Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1888-04-12
GENERAL TERRY's SUCCESSOR.

Brtgsdier-G~n~rst George Crook. th.
Famous Indian Fighter. Nominated by
the President for the Vacant MsIor-,sen-
rrsishIp Caused by the Retirement oi
General Terry.
WASHINGTON. April The nomination
0f Brigadier-Gencral George Crook 10 be-
Major -Ceneral. vice Alfred II. Terry. re-
tired, gives general satisfaction. and MOTH
ing bat words OF commcndetion can be
heard in regard To the course of tho PreSi-
dent, who was guided solely by the record
Of this distinguished soldier. General
Crook, native Of Ohio, graduated from
the Military Academy Mt West Point In
is1s, and was assigned to duty in the
Fourth infantry, then serving in Califor-
MIA and Oregon. He soon became noted
for courage, coolness and skill in Indian
warfare, and his name has since become
household word in every State and Terri
tory west Of the Mississippi river. Dur
ing the war OF the rebellion he became
one of the prominent commanders OF the
National forces, reaching the command Of
separate army corps, and at the close Of
the war was in command of Sheridsn's
cavalry in Virginia With the surrender
of General Lee, he was promptly ordered
back 10 his old field OF duty in Northern
California and Eastern Idaho, to quell the
Piutes and Bannocks, then in those States,
as well as Nevada and Washington Terri
tory. 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
great number and reducing the re-
mainder to submission.
This success induced President Grant
10 order him to Arizona Territory to quell
he Apaches, who had been Mt hostilities
since the first coming of the Spaniards.
General Crook endeavored 10 secure peace
by gentle means, but these failing, he be-
gan his operations with startling energy,
attacking the hostiles in their chosen
strongholds. At the head OF the Santa
Maria, at the canyon of Salt River, at Tur-
ret Butte, at Superstition Mountain, and
dozens of other places, the Apaches wer
surprised by forced night marches, thor
oughly whipped and forced to surrender
to the number of five thousand. They were
not permitted TO live in peaceful idleness,
but were compelled to farm for their liv-
ing. Only one band was exempted by
name from Crooks control-the Chiric-
huas-who afterwards gave the authori-
ties much trouble.
Promoted to the position of Brigadier-
General. Crook was transferred to the
Department "f the Platte, where the
Sioux, Cheyennes. Bannocks and Utes
were elements OF danger to the public
peace. In his campaigns against the
Sioux and Cheyenncs in 1876 and 1877, he
led his troops for two winters in the face
Of billiards. in Dakota, Wyoming and
Montana, at temperature of forty de-
grees below zero, and through a summer
OF unusual heat and unprecedented rains.
The entire command narrowly escaped
starvation, being reduced for eleven days
to u diet OF horse meat and water.
His troops fought The hostiles .n Pow
der river, Wyo., in February, 1876: at
tackled and destroyed the village of Crazy
Horse. on the Lowder Powder. i'm Mon
tana, in March; again met and defeated
them on the Tongue river, Montana, on
June .. 1S16; whipped Crazy Horse and
Sitting Bull ON the Rosebud, June II, 1876:
again on Goose creek, Montana. August
Is, 1876; again at Slim Butte, Oak, Sep
,ember .. 1876, and totally destroyed the
village of the Cheyennes on Willow creek,
WyO., in the Arctic weather of November
25, 1876. This last blow proved too much,
and the hostileS sent in runners begging
for terms.
III subsequent 'ptIhtinilS t-dlust uiNtt-
fected Utes and Bannocks. Crook showed
the same energy, skill and courage.
Recalled to Arizona, in 1852 to subdue
the Chirichua Apaches, who were again
on the war-path, he made the memorable
march against them into the heart OF the
Sierra Madre, three hundred miles across
the Mexican border, surprised Geronimo's
stronghold, killing nine and compelling
the others to surrender. Five hundred
and twenty-five Chiriehuas returned to
the agency, being every soul Of the hos
tiles, and seventeen white captives we're
restored to freedom.
General Crock is known to the country
at large as firm friend to all Indians
anxious to do right and live at peace. His
firm advocacy of the cause of the Dakota
Poncas, in 1881, and his unswerving
friendship for such OF the Apache bands
as have kept faith with the whites, has at
tracted favorable attention throughout
the country. He will hold his new posi-
ton for six or seven years, retiring in
1894. His headquarters will in all proba-
bility be Chicago.