Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-21
THE GERONIMO CAMPAIGN.
Correspondence Between Gems. Sheridan
and Crook sent to the Senate.

The Secretary of War transmitted to the Sen
ate yesterday, in response to resolutions OF
March IL, copies of correspondence held be-
tween Gen. Sheridan and Gen. Crook regarding
Apache Indians between March 26 and April s.
1856. This correspondence relates to the cam
paign against Geronimo. which resulted IN
Gen. Crook being relieved. at his own request
from the command of the department OF
Arizona and the appointment Of Gen. Miles to
succeed him. Accompanying the correspond
ence is a history of the negotiations between
Geronimo and the Apaches, but the whole
affair is summarized in the kilograms which
passed between Gen. Crook and Gen. Sheridan.
Gen. Crook wired On March &c that he had met
the hostiles the day before at Lieut. Mans
camp: that he had found them very independ-
ent and
As FIERCE As so MANY TIGERS.
II seemed impossible. he said. to get hold of
them except on condition that they be allowed
to return to their reservation on their old
status
On March 90 Gen Crook wired Gen. Sheri-
dan confidentially that the Indians would ac-
cept one of only three propostions-to go east
not exceeding two years. to return to the
reservation on their old status. or TO return to
the war path. As / had to act at once" said
Gen. Crook, Il have today accepted their sur
dams, the general said. would start for Bowie
the following day with the Apache scouts under
Lieut.. Mans.
The EsCArE OF GERONIMO.
March 80 Gen. Crook telegraphed from Fort
Bowie that courier just in from Lieut. Mans
reported that during the night Geronimo and
Natchez with twenty men and thirteen women
had left the camp. apparently without cause;
Chihuaohua and twelve men remained behind.
Lieut. Mans and some of his scouts had gone
in pursuit.
While this message going over the wire a
message from Gen. Sheridan was ira Yelling i'll the
opposite direction telling Gen Crook that the
President could not assent to the surrender ac-
cepted by Gen. Crook and that his instructions
were to enter into negotiations for uncondi-
tional surrender, sparing only the Indians
lives.
This was followed March 81 with dispatch
from Gen. sheridan saying: Your dispatch of
yesterday received. 1t has occasioned great
disappointment. 1t seems strange that Geron-
limo and party could have escaped without the
knowledge of the scouts"
10 this Gen. Crook replied that there was no
question that the scouts were thoroughly loyal
In later messages he claimed that the Indians
had been drinking mescal freely and that bad
liquor was at the bottom of Geronimo and
NatcheZ leaving"
GEN. CROOK ASKS TO BE RELIEVED.
March 81, in response to the dispatch convey
ing the Presidents instructions, Gen. Crook
telegraphed that to inform the Indians that
the terms of their surrender had been disap-
proved would make it impossible to negotiate
with them further.
To this Gen. Sheridan replied April 1: AS
the offensive campaign against him Geronimo y
with scouts has failed would it not be best to
take up the defensive and give protection to
the people and business interests OF Arizona
and New Ncxico!"
On the same day Gen. Crook telegraphed
briefly defending his course and saving In con-
clusion: 1t may be, however, that / am too
much welded TO my own views on this matter.
and as have spent nearly eight years of the
hardest work of my lite i'll this department
respectfully request that may now be re-
heyed from Its command"