New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-20
WESTERN CAMPAIGNING.
CAPTAIN DoURKE's EXPERT ENcEs

Washington. Jan. ls.-My friend. Captain John q.
BouIke OF the ID Cavalry, after having served with
distinction in more than campaign against the
Indians. has, in the leisure moments which his
present occupation-that Of diplomat attached TO
the International American Conferenee-gives lin,
turned TO oycrhauling of his Interesting note
books and written an article for The Journal Of the
Military Service Institution regarding what he calls
" MaCkenze's last Eight with the Cheyennes winter
campaign in Wyoming and Montana confess
that quite independently of my personal acquaintance
with the author, Whose sterling qualities ard genial
cOmpaniOnshp learned To esteem and appreciate
during a forty days trip around the country, and
which might naturally prejudice in his behalf. I
have rarely read an article about Western campaigning
which interested me more, or which consider 10 be
better written and written with less pretencc with
greater modcsty than is this article by Captain
Bourke The CaptaiII-and by his name you VIII
at once observe that he is descended from Brian
Eorou-has all of the good qualities Of ms race. he
is the tyne of good sodicr-brave fearless. modest
and always good -humOred. As ] think Of him under
many of the most trying circumstances cannot but
compare him the best Of irish dragons In the pages
of Charles O'Malcy." surely / cannot pay him
higher compliment, though I doubt not that he
would have put down the rebellion II ne had had
chance to.
The article abounds in happy references and char
acterizations Of men and things. Speaking for In
stance Of Lieutenant Charles Rockwell, who was tic
commissary Of the expedition, Captain Bohrke says
that the Indians plainly that man WHO had
absolute control over such immense quantities Oh
bacon and sugar and coffee must rank very cpse
up 10 the Great Father himself Describing tho
bleak and wrcched cantOnment at Reno, he says NAV
the officers and soldiers Of the garrison were taking
things philosophically and there no growing or
complaint Of any kind still, an order 10 report LOT
duty at West Point, Ncw-York Fort Monroe or Wash
ington would, fancy, have been received with glad.
ness and obeyed with alacrity by most OF them' of
General Crook, who has given more attention, per-
lars, than any other officer in the Army To the sub
jet Of pack-mue transportation, Captain Bourke
speaks a. the opposite OF the military pack-traln'
With a lively recollection. doubt, of the fare during
many an Indian campaign, Captain Bourke declares
that the American j. cquaed by no people IN tho
world for his ability 10 comprehend questions OF Con-
-ttutonal law, 10 lay and construct railroads ana
to organize and manage, sometimes to wreck, great
banking Institutions but when it to the bust
ness of catering 10 the inner man, he - as stupid ana
HELPLESS a. baby These, too, are happily turned
phrases: "sentines paced with monot1nous cadence
their weary posts Of duty and companies Win
their wclldressed alignment Of disciplined stoldity.'
Here is a picture Of the scene Immediately oeiof"
the start
At Last all ready; the last ration had 9een
pao kcd away the last cartridge issued and stored IN
belt, the last mule shod The last Official commune
lion had been written the last report eAaccd by req
tape had been consigned 10 the postohce Tor trans.
INITIAL the mausOeum IN tie PIC NOES Oh ,ne
War Department. Tie lat rOq.u'ltVn hdu Dc,n
signed. Cuuntc' signed, or returned TO be properly
hreicd. For the last time weary an. eNesore aid''.
de-camp had had the honor !" s'AnoS legsC reps and
captain G.. and To assure tlon. e9tnao, d Gov
that they their very oDcdieht servants anu pr
the lat time the combined and pent up ilhumor 81
the whole military c'tahil'ment nag , DuIs' viii WIZ
cyconc wrath upon the devoted hcad OF MAJOR tuleS,
our efficient and amiablc-thdt H., usually amdDe--
uuartcrmaser lie had been hauled over The coal. by
the general COMMANDING grower az Dy 'ne oddot
commanders. sneercd ~ by The captain ana dainhch
bv the cutenant9 until patience had ce,>ed 10 , Dc
the storm Of obui cation, about midnight, WINE
was mixing him little paregoric and h2t water; o.
ms point and can't clearly make ont what II wa,
that if he ever lived throush the campaign ne m
tended TO resign from tho service and 'et up IN bill
ness as Il prba-anythins, rather than be quarter
master another day.
once in awhile the Captain becomes philosophical;
for instance, when he refers 10 the hospitality eX'
tended to visitors by officers the frontier. says he:
More unafe ted hospitality couldn't be found any
whore in the world. II, strange phenomenon
I'm human nature that Lieutenant who hA, only Two
iaukets and neither of them any too Good VIII be-
come lighting mad and want L. ,ho9t the t'ito H., 20
hi, pos vino will not accept the IL, Of one but LEI tls
Same fellow marry rich giI ana go i've IN COZ
and h, brother may make himself a comioriaDla,
he can in the gutter II may he nc Laum ~
human nature. or il may be the fault Of the gri
perhaps Of both. but it,, queer thing, anyway ana
]. for one. can't understand IT,
Asa last sample Of the Captains breezy style, the
following chara~tcr-skctch OF an old pack'riin VET
uCe DICK klO,ter. long since uedu
lie believed | wa, going To- write book. las big ~
that thar Wcbstcr's Dictionary | seed down q Luxe
Nurrn'~ s'llOn in ~hyau", no man could De- taNlS al
those note, f,r nothing. and poor " lncle DICK Ihe
many of better education. mixed up the two idet> OF
ouiqtty and quality. lie had be on the Paclho
Slope. i'm the Rocky Mountains, m Brush America
nnd nm Mexico since l-i9 had had hi. share ot ups
and downs but had never yet " seed his name IN
print Could would I-put his name IN " the
Wien told the dear old soul that not his name
alone hut fun reference 10 his valuable kindness as
well. should appear In prominent page the sn.le
that spread over his face cracked the frost on Ms
beard.
Look, Uncle Dick. here's your NAME see for your
self
This recognition reused his generous good nature 20
a parOXysm ~ enthusiasm. he multiplied his efforts
and venturcd now and then % profer bits Of lnior
All received most gratefully. | overheard him once
couHding To an open mouthcd packer that men the
Cam air gctin up a book bout luunS N mos every
thin and my last parting word from the old man
was:
cap. don't forgIt that thar book outfit
No. Uncle Dick | have not forgotten, ana hope
YOU may he able read these lines from the Packers
paradis" which am SIRE YOU have gone ana where
Your honest old soul would be grieycd dd You hot
find am abundance ~ gru,- and water Tor Your hule>
no Ne~ To bother them. and the very best OF raons
for yonr mer-heans and bacon. yeast powder bread
dried apples, coffee and chocolate. ana an occasional
" >uOotul7 OF suncthin TO drive away malaria
FrNERAL or SEARLE. THE OARSAAN.