The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-18
War Path and Bivounc.

The campaign against the Sioux Indians
in the summer OF 1876 afforded incidents OF
such picturesque and tragic interest that de-
scrption OF It seems hardly likely to be over
done. For the narrative OF an eyewitness who
rode with Crooks command. and who bore q
part in tho fighting on the Rosebud and else
whore under that active and daring command
err there Is certainly room. In Hdr Path and
Birouac. or the Conquest Of The Siotr- JOHN F.
F1NERTY tells an easy. of hand. readable story
OF the experiences of civilian and q novice in
tho business of war In that memorable eSpedi-
tion Mr.. Fnerty went out with Gen. Crook
as the correspondent OF the Chicago Times.
He supposed he was going with Custer. and
was only prevented by Mr.. Storey's desire that
his correspondent should 90 where there was
the strongest likelihood OF fight TERRY
commands over Custer" said Mr.. Storey. and
Crook. who knows more about the Indians. is
likely to do the hard work" So tho author OF
War Path and Bivouac" went with Gen. Crook.
and. in pursuit OF the desire to see the hottest
lighting escaped the fate of Mark Kellogg, the
correspondent who was killed with Custer in
the battle on the Little Big Horn.
Mr.. Fnerty. bearing a letter OF introduction
from Gen. Sheridan. applied to Gen. Crook in
Omaha He describes the Indian fighter as a
spare, athletic man OF forty. With fair hair.
clipped close and q blond beard which seemed
to part naturally at the point Of the chin. His
nose was long and aquiline. his blue-gray eyes
bright and piercing. The General received
him pleasantly. instructed him to buy orse.
and sent him or to Join the expedition at Fort
Russell On the way Mr.. Finerty met several
OF tho officers who were to engage in the
coming campaign among them Lieut. Won
Leutwitz, q German veteran addicted to war,
who had passed unscathed through score Of
battles in Europe. few weeks later the lieu
tenants knee was shattered by an Indian
bullet and tho surgeons were constrained to
cut his leg of.
Theinterest in Mr. Finerty's book lies largely
in his narration Of the minor incidents of camp
and battle. The hardshps endured by the
troops. their recreations. the stories told over
tobacco. instances OF personal prowess;
hundred matters OF tho sort receive the
attention OF the author. He has the re-
porter's eye and the reporters skilful
pencil. Some OF his pictures are sufficiently
realistic. as. for instance, his account OF the
wounding OF Col. Guy Henry in the battle on
the Rosebud. In repellng q charge that brave
officer was =" struck by a bullet which passed
through both cheek bones broke the ridge OF
his nose. and destroyed the optic nerve in one
eye. Temporarily blinded as he was. and
throwing blood from his mouth by the handful.
Henry sat on his horse for several minutes in
front Of the enemy" He finally fell and the
Sioux charged over his body; but they were re-
PEELED. and he was rescued. Several hours
later Mr.. Huerty saw him lying on q blanket,
his face covered with n bloody cloth, around
which the summer files were buzZinR 1ercely.
and soldier keel ping the wounded mans horse
IN such a position 8s to throw the animals
shadow upon the gallant sufferer SUI When |
Nnerty adds, he merely said. in low but
soldiers: and forthwith he did me the honor
OF advising me to join the ARMY"
Mr.. Finerty intimates that Gen. Crook was
lucky to come out from the battle on tho Rose
bud as he did, although his. coming out was q
retreat II circumstances had not upset the
Generals original plan Of falling upon the In
dian village. his entire force OF LOO men. Mr.
Finerty thinks. would have been annihilsted
by the 5000 warriors who were prepared to
hunt. and was accustomed on march to ride
far In advance Of the column. That the enemy
did not swoop down and capture him on one OF
these occasions was due TO the Generals good
luck, Finerty suggests. rather than to his good
management.
A dangerous scouting expedition under
Lieut.: Sibey. starvation march In the course
OF which the troops ate their own horses. and
the killing OF several women and a pappoose in
the fight at Slim ,Bpttes are described with
graphic detail. and there is a good deal beside
In regard TO the ultimate conquest OF Sitting
Bull and his formidable people. Tho first aim
Of the author evidently was TO produce an in
book. This he has done 1t is reada-
Bile and spirited. and there is much TO learn
from it in addition to the entertainment which |
1t provides.