Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-22
CROOKS CAMPAIGNS.
Capt Bourke's Recollections Of the
Great Indian Fighter.

Capt. John G. Bourke. in dwelling upon the
many achievements of Gen. Crook in the Indian
country. said to 4 STAR reporter that in the
drawn battle fought June II. 1876, in the
Tongue river country against 5000 Sioux and
Cheyennes, Crooks command all told did no,
number over $50, and yet these same Indians
week later met another command of the
SAME size and nearly wiped it out. 1 refer, "
he said, ito the Custer massacre. On Sep
tember Crook fought the enemy in Slim
Buttes. Oak, and OH November Is his cavalry
pushed out under the late Gen. Mckenzie, and
with mounted Indian scouts destroyed root
and branch the opulent Cheyenne village of
the chiefs Dull Knife and Little Wolf. consist
ing of over 200 lodges that were packed with
the spoils of war, including hundreds of arti-
Giles that belonged to Custer s command. The
result of this constant hammering at the hos
tiles was the surrender of $500 at Red Cloud
and Spotted Tail agencies in Nebraska i'll May,
1877.
Crook was engaged against the Neg Perces
in 1877, the Cheyennes and Bannocks in 1878
and the Utes in 1879 and 1880. In 1882 Presi-
dent Arthur sent him again to the Apache
country to take hand in the subjugation Of
the Chiricahuas. who. during his former CAM
paigns i'll Arizona. were especially exempted
from fear of his operations The story OF the
things there is too long to tell. Apaches who
were trying to live on the reservations were
robbed by the agents and the public well re-
members that the Indian commissioner, the
principal inspector and the local agent were
peremptorily requested to resign by Secretary
Carl Schurz or to be impeached.
The Chiricahuas were fortified in the
Sierra Madre, 800 miles beyond the Mexican
border and on the line OF the states of Chi
huahua and Sonora. BY permission Gen. Crook
crossed the border and with force of forty
six white officers and soldiers OF the sixth and
third cavalry and 200 Apache scouts surprised
the hostiles by series of night marches. killing
n number and capturing all raiding bands as
fast as they came i'll. The result was that SIP
hostiles. the whole number in the tribe. we're
set at work Oh the White mountain reservation. ~
AS A DIPLOMAT.
''Gen. Crooks later history. said Col Bourke
must be familiar to all. Several times he has
been a member of commissions to treat with
Indians, the most important treaties being that
with the Poncas in 1881 and the recent one
with the Sioux by which. through Gen. Crook 8
wise counsel and personal influence. IL ZOO, 900
acres of land were opened for settlement He
stood high as man of broad philanthropy,
and was recognized as the best friend the In
dams ever had in this country. His entire
Indian policy can be told almos. in line: If
you don't behave yourself IN follow you up
and whip you till you do. but if you do behave
I'll be your friend; allow no one to lie to you.
to steal from you nor to abuse you, and I'll
find you the means to work for a living as white
men have to do
AS soldier in his military campaigns Gen
Crook has had no equal i'll practical experience
with the Indian or insight into the aboriginal
character. The army owes to him the org ami
cation OF military pack trains, which he had
made the study of a lifetime. He carried the
organization and employment Of Indian scouts
beyond imitation and was noted for unfalling
discerLment in the selection of officers. In
many cases he assigned to important functions
youngsters who had hardly worn out their first
shoulder straps, but he seldom erred. He was
slngularly modest In personal demeanor, never
wore uniform when by any. excuse he could
avoid it and was fond OF brown orwhite canvas
on marches. His character can be told in a
few words: He never ordered an officer or man
to go anywhere where he would not go first
HIS RECORD IN THE WAR
Il have confined myself said Col Bourke,
Ito Gen. Crooks Indian experiences. because
of those l had an intimate personal knowledge,
but he was equally renowned in contests with
white troops and during the rebellion rose sue
cessively from the command of the thirty-sixth
Ohio volunteer infantry to the command of a
brigade, of a division, of corps and OF Il sepa-
rate army winning distinctions in each posi-
ton. He was several times wounded and car
ried in his body bullet and an arrow head
which could never be extracted. He was a
warm personal friend of ex-President Hayes,
who commanded a brigade in his division, and
spoke admiringly of Gen. Hayes courage in
battle. He was warmly attached to Mai Nc
Kinley and Kennedy of Ohio. who were on his
staff and terms of friendship with
Grant. Thomas. Halleck. Candy, Sherman and
Rosecrans, all OF whom except the last two
have succeeded him i'll the final surrender.