Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-12-08
THC "GRAY FOX"
General Charles Kings Reminis-
cences of Major General Crook.

Young officers fresh from West Point
looked az him in wonderment. Instead
of somewhat unapproachable digni-
taiy. in precise uniform and epaulets
and embroidered sash and belt. they
were welcomed by cordial handclasp
from a tall, bushy bearded man, with
twinkllng gray blue eyes, in an old
slouch felt hat. flannel slsEt, rough
canvas shooting coat and trousers and
common soldiers boots.
Generally his beard was, tiea up with
string or red tape. the only use he had
for that usual military indispensable.
He sat at campfire or in the simply
furnished parlor OF his army home lis
tening to the chat about him. rarely
speaking and aSsiduously playing soil
taire with Il pack of cards produced
from an inner pocket. lie could play
capital hand at whist, but fought shy
of a game with carclC or fOrgetful
players He heard everything that was
said and saw everything going on
about him. but seldom gave sign.
From the so called pleasures Of so
ciety. dinners. dances and receptions
ne shrank in diSmay. He ate only the
simplest food. lie never smoked. He
hated wine. He wouldn't touch spir-
its. He marycled that any man should.
1T spoils his shooting said he. And
our general was a capital shot. He
could foot it through an Old fashioned
Quadrille or Virginia reel. but nothing
else, and would always get away on
social occasions into the first obscure
corner he could find. and then out
would come the old pack of cards.
He rarely read anything but natures
books. although he had a mathematical
gift and not only stood well in sci
entifc studies at the Point. as did
Grant, but he helped along his un-
mathematical roommate, Sheridan
Writing was something Crook abhor-
red He could hardly dccipher one OF
his own pages. and his letters and dis
patches. like those Of old Trough and
Ready" General Zachary Taylor, were
generally penned by some brilliant
staff officer.
Children he loved and treated with
a shy tenderness that was sweet to
see. but be had none of his own. His
wife was a Maryland girl who won his
heart during the war days while her
| brother and other entcrprising "rebs'
made way with his body. capturing
him 10y a daring night raid into Cum
/ berland.
Like Grant. he was simplicity itself
in speech. rarely lifting up his voice.
and only once did | ever hear him
speak an inpatient word or one that
family rescmbled an eXpletiye, but
| that was in Tie thick Of the Sioux cam
paien Of 1876 and when he had much
to Try him.
We had 10 eat our horses that year
to keep alive. We had no tents, and
hardly a change Of underwear could
be found in the whole column. We
were wet hodraggled and dirty when
we reached the Yellowstone. but the
general was as badly of as the hum
bleSt trooper and minded it less. There
we met the spruce command Of Gen
eral Terry. and Terry himself, In hand
some Uniform. tie picture Of the gen
tleman and soldier. came over to our
bivouac to call on Crook. l was dry
ing my buckskns at a fire as he ap-
preached ana stepped forward to sa-
lutte him.
"Where shall l find General Crook
said he.
For n moment | could not answer
Then an old trooper grinned and nod
ded toward the river, and there, squat
ted on a rock. well out in the stream
stripped to the waist aud scrubbinl
away at his shirt, was our general
and Terry was too much of a gentle
man even to look amused at the sight.
The Indians called him the Gray
Fox" The soldiers had their PEI
names. but we his officers, who follow
ed him all over the west, from th'
Mexican border to the upper Yellow
stone. spoke of him always as tint
general" our general That meant, o.
course. Crook. the simplest soldier
ever knew. In all the years Ii was ny
fortune to serve under him in Arizona
wyoming. Dakota, Montana or at hi'
headquarters in Omaha or Chicago,
never saw him in the uniform OF M
rank until he lay dead In his coffin, hii
guard Of honor grouped about him.
Youths Companion.
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