Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-12-28
THE "GRAN EOx.n
Cen. Charles Kings "Reminiscences Of
Major General CrO0k-The simplest
Soldier He Ever Knew.

Young officers fresh fom West
Point looked at him in .serment.
Instead of somewhat unapproacha-
pie dignitary, in precise uniform and
epaulets and embroidered sash and
belt, they were welcomed by cordial
handclasp from q tall, bushy bearded
man, with twinkling gray-blue eyes,
In an old SLOUGH hat, flannel shirt,
rough canvas shooting coat and trous'
ers and common soldiers boots.
Generally his beard was tied up with
string or red tape-the only use he
had for that usual military indispensa-
BILE. He sat at camp fire or in the
simply furnished paror of his Army
home, listening to the chat about him,
rarely speaking, and assiduously play
In olitaire with pack of cards pro-
dced from an inner pocket. He could
play capital hand at whist, but
fought shy of game with careless or
forgetful players. He heard every
thing going on about him, but seldom
gave sign.
From the so-called pleasures of So
ciety, dinners, dances and receptions
he shrank in dismay. He ate only the
simplest food. He never smoked. He
hated wine. He wouldn't touch spir-
its; he marvelled that any man should.
ut spoils his shooting" said he; and
bur general was capital shot. He
could foot it through an old-fashioned
quadrille or Virginia reel, but nothing
else, and would always get away on
Pocial occasions in to the first obscure
corner he could find, and then out
would come the old pack of cards.
He rarely read anything but ma.
lures books. although he had mathe.
NAUTICAL gift and not ONLY stood well
In scientific studies at the Point, az
Did Grant. but he helped along his un.
mathematical roommate, Sheridan.
Writing VS. something Crook abb
horred. Ie could hardly decipher one
pf his own pages, and his letters and
dispatches, like those of old Rough
and Ready General Zachary Taylor,
were generally penned by some bril-.
liant staff officer.
!! Children he loved and treated with .
shy tenderness that was sweet to see,
bht he had none of his own. His wife
las a Maryland girl who won his
0eart during the war days, while her
brother and other entcrprising "rebs"
made way with his body, capturing
him by daring night raid into Cum.
berland.
Like Grant. he was simplicity itself
In speech, rarely lifting up his voice,
and only once did hear him speak an
impatient word or one that fairly re-
sembled an expletiye, but that was in
the thick of the Sioux campaign Of
1876, and when he had much to try
him.
We had to eat GU horses that year
to keep alive. We had no trusts, and
hardly change of underwear could
be found in the whole column. We
were wet. bedraggled and dirty when
I'VE reached the Yellowstone, but the
general was as badly Off as the hum
blest trooper, and minded it less.
There we met the spruce command of
General Terry. and Terry himself, in
handsome unifom. the picture Of the
gentleman and soldier, came over to
our bivouac to call on Crook. l was
drying my buckskins at a fire as he
approached, and stepped forward to
salute him.
"Where shall find General Crook?"
said he.
For a moment | could not answer.
Then an old TROOPER grinned and nod.
ded toward the river, and there,
squstted on rock. well ont in the
stream stripped to the waist and
scrubbing away at his shirt, was our
7eneral. and Terry was TOO much Of