George
Crook was born on 23rd September, 1829, near Taylorville, Ohio. After
being educated at West Point he was
commissioned as a second lieutenant of the 4th Infantry. His first
post was at Benicia Barracks in California. In 1853 he was moved to
Fort Jones. Later he was sent to Fort Vancouver, Washington where
he saw action against the Yakima. He also fought as a member of the
Union
Army during the
American
Civil War.
On
28th July, 1866, Crook was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel
and was given command of the District of Boise in Idaho. Over the
next five years Crook was involved in action against the Paiute.
In one skirmish in September, 1867, eight of his men were killed at
Pitt River.
Crook
was given command of the Department of Arizona in June 1871. He was
considered a great success in this difficult job and was promoted
to the rank of Brigadier General. During this period he employed Al
Sieber as his chief of scouts.
In
1875 Crook was appointed commander of the Department of Platte and
over the next couple of years was involved in massive operations against
the Sioux
and
Cheyenne.
On 17th June 1876, Crook and about 1,000 troops, supported by 300
Crow
and
Shoshone,
fought against 1,500 members of the Sioux and Cheyenne tribes. The
battle at Rosebud Creek lasted for over
six hours. This was the first time that Native Americans had united
together to fight in such large numbers.
Crook
was seen as America's most successful commander in the Indian
Wars. As well as a good commander of his troops, Crook showed
a genuine sympathy for the plight of the Native Americans. They recognised
this and he was affectionately known as Chief Grey Wolf. In 1882 he
was sent to Arizona to deal with the Apache.
The following year he led the Sierra Madre Expedition in Mexico.
In
May 1885, Geronimo
went
on the warpath. Crook tried to persuade the Apache leader to take
part in peace negotiations. Crook was criticised for the way he was
dealing with the situation and as a result he asked to be relieved
of his command. General Nelson
Miles
replaced
Crook and attempted to defeat Geronimo by military means. This strategy
was also unsuccessful and eventually he resorting to Crook's strategy
of offering a negotiated deal. In September 1886 Geronimo signed a
peace treaty with Miles and the last of the Indian Wars was over.
Crook
was promoted to the rank of Major General, and in April, 1888, was
given command of the Division of Missouri. George Crook died of a
heart attack in Chicago on 21st March,
1890.
(1)
General
George Crook, Autobiography (1889)
I at once commenced reloading
my old muzzle loader, when the guide at the tops of the bluffs yelled,
"Look out for the arrows!" I looked up, and saw the air
apparently full of them. Almost simultaneously one hit me in the right
hip. When I jerked it out the head remained in my leg, where it remains
still. There were a couple of inches of blood on the shaft of the
arrow when I pulled it out. The Indians doing the firing were some
who had previously swum across, and had secreted themselves in the
rocks. They set up a yell when I was hit.
I at once commenced the
ascent through a shower of arrows. The ascent was so steep that I
had to pull myself up by catching hold of bunches of grass, rocks,
and such things as I could get hold of. In one bunch of grass I caught
hold of two arrows that had been shot at me. The wonder was that I
was not hit oftener. By the time I reached the top the perspiration
stood out on me in large drops, and I was deathly sick.
As soon as I was able,
we returned to our camp at the ferry. I had to ride on horseback and
suffered most excruciating pain during the journey. When I reached
camp, my groin was all green.
The nearest doctor was
at Fort Jones, 120 miles distant, but I was in hopes I could get along
without having to send for the doctor, fearing that I would be relieved,
as Captain Judah was inimical to me, and if he found out that I preferred
being in the field to Fort Jones, he would certainly order me back,
for that was just about his caliber.
I stood it for a couple
of days, but my leg got so much worse that I sent Dick Pugh in to
Fort Jones after the doctor. When the news of my being wounded reached
Fort Jones, much excitement prevailed. The whole command was ordered
out, and as usual they got drunk, Judah included, who fell by the
wayside, and Lt. Hiram Dryer, and Dr. C. C. Kearney with all the available
men came out.
By the time they reached
me I was a little better, but the doctor saw nothing to do except
let things take their course. The doctor thought the arrow might have
been poisoned, as these Indians were noted for using poison in their
arrows.
They would poison them
in this way: They would catch a rattlesnake, and when they would kill
a deer or an antelope, they would take the fresh liver, and let the
rattlesnake bite it until it would get full of poison. Then they would
run the shafts of the arrows through it. On the shafts were small
grooves to hold the poison. Under the most favorable circumstances
this poison would retain its strength about one month, but during
moist weather it would not last over a few days.
(3)
General
George Crook, report to General E. D. Townsend (23rd June, 1876)
When about forty miles
from here on Rosebud Creek, Montana, on the morning of the 17th instance,
the scouts reported Indians in the vicinity and within a few moments
we were attacked in force, the fight lasting several hours. We were
near the mouth of a deep canon, through which the creek ran. The sides
were very steep, covered with pine and apparently impregnable. The
village was supposed to be at the other end, about eight miles off.
They displayed a strong force at all points, occupying so many and
such covered places that it is impossible to correctly estimate their
numbers. The attack, however, showed that they anticipated that they
were strong enough to thoroughly defeat the command.
During the engagement
I tried to throw a strong force through the canon, but I was obliged
to use it elsewhere before it had gotten to the supposed location
of the village. The command finally drove the Indians back in great
confusion, following them several miles, the scouts killing a good
many during the retreat. Our casualties were nine men killed and fifteen
wounded of the Third Cavalry; two wounded of the Second Cavalry; three
men wounded of the Fourth Infantry, and Captain Henry, of the Third
Cavalry, severely wounded in the face. It is impossible to correctly
estimate the loss of the Indians, many being killed in the rocks and
others being gotten off before we got possession of that part of the
field, thirteen dead bodies being left.
We remained on the field
that night, and having nothing but what each man carried himself we
were obliged to retire to the train to properly care for our wounded,
who were transported here on mule-litters. They are now comfortable
and all doing well.
I expect to find those
Indians in rough places all the time and so have ordered five companies
of infantry, and shall not probably make any extended movement until
they arrive.
(4)
General
George Crook, report as Commander of the Department of the Platte
(30th October, 1876)
As a soldier the Indian
wears the uniform, draws pay and rations,
and is in all respects on equal footing with the white man. It demonstrates
to his simple mind in the most positive manner that we
have no prejudice against him on account of his race, and that while
he behaves himself he will be treated the same as a white man.
Returning to his tribe after this service, he is enabled to see beyond
the old superstition that has governed his people, and thinks
and decides for himself. It is a measure of humanity, and commends
itself to us, as it shortens the war, and saves the lives of both
white men and Indians.
(5)
General
George Crook, Army and Navy Journal (29th June, 1878)
In regard to the Bannocks,
I was up there last spring, and found them in a desperate condition.
I telegraphed, and the agent telegraphed for supplies, but word came
that no appropriation had been made. They have never been half supplied.
The agent has sent them
off for half a year to enable them to pick up something to live on,
but there is nothing for them in that country. The buffalo is all
gone, and an Indian can't catch enough jack rabbits to subsist himself
and his family, and then, there aren't enough jack rabbits to catch.
What are they to do?
Starvation is staring
them in the face, and if they wait much longer, they will not be able
to fight. They understand the situation, and fully appreciate what
is before them.
The encroachments upon
the Camas prairies was the cause of the trouble. These prairies are
their last source of subsistence. They are covered with water from
April till June or July, and there is a sort of root which grows in
them, under water, which is very much like a sweet potato. A squaw
can gather several bushels a day of them. Then they dig a hole and
build a fire in it. After it is thoroughly heated, the roots are put
in and baked, and when they are taken out they are very sweet and
nice.
This root is their main
source of food supply. I do not wonder, and you will not either that
when these Indians see their wives and
children starving, and their last source of supplies cut off, they
go to war. And then we are sent out to kill them. It is an outrage.
All the tribes tell the
same story. They are surrounded on all sides, the game is destroyed
or driven away; they are left to starve, and there remains but one
thing for them to do - fight while they can. Some people think the
Indians do not understand these things, but they do, and fully appreciate
the circumstances in which they are placed.
(6)
General
George Crook, evidence to Congress on the Indian Bureau (June, 1879)
I have had twenty-six
years' experience with the Indians, and I have been among tribes where
I spoke their language. I have known the Indians intimately - known
them in their private relations - I think I understand the Indian
character pretty well. They talk about breaking up their tribal relations.
The Interior Department have frequently issued letters, etc., looking
to that. It might as well try to break up a band of sheep. Give these
Indians little farms, survey them, let them put fences around them,
let them have their own horses, cows, sheep, things that they can
call their own, and it will do away with tribal Indians.
When once an Indian sees
that his food is secure, he does not care what the chief or any one
else says. The great mistake these people make is that they go to
looking after the spiritual welfare of the Indians before securing
their physical. Of course, that is a thing to come after awhile.
If you will investigate
all the Indian troubles, you will find that there is something wrong
of this nature at the bottom of all of them, something relating to
the supplies, or else a tardy and broken faith on the part of the
general government.
(7)
General
George Crook, letter to General Philip
H. Sheridan (1st April, 1886)
It has been my aim throughout
present operations to afford the greatest amount of protection to
life and property interests, and troops have been stationed accordingly.
Troops cannot protect property beyond a radius of one-half mile from
their camp. If offensive movements against the Indians are not resumed,
they may remain quietly in the mountains for an indefinite time without
crossing the line, and yet their very presence there will be a constant
menace, and require the troops in this department to be at all times
in position to repel sudden raids; and so long as any remain out they
will form a nucleus for disaffected Indians from the different agencies
in Arizona and New Mexico to join.
That the operations of
the scouts in Mexico have not proved as successful as was hoped is
due to the enormous difficulties they have been compelled to encounter
from the nature of the Indians they have been hunting, and the character
of the country in which they have operated, and of which persons not
thoroughly conversant with both can have no conception. I believe
that the plan upon which I have conducted operations is the one most
likely to prove successful in the end. It may be, however, that I
am too much wedded to my own views in the matter, and as I have spent
nearly eight years of the hardest work of my life in this department,
I respectfully request that I may now be relieved from its command.
(8)
General
George Crook, speech in Boston (26th February, 1887)
The Indian is a human
being. One question today on whose settlement depends the honor of
the United States is, 'How can we preserve him?' My answer is, 'First,
take the government of the Indians out of politics; second, let the
laws of the Indians be the same as those of the whites; third, give
the Indian the ballot. But we must not try to drive the Indians too
fast in effecting these changes. We must not try to force him to take
civilization immediately in its complete form, but under just laws,
guaranteeing to Indians equal civil laws, the Indian question, a source
of such dishonor to our country and of shame to true patriots, will
soon be a thing of the past.
(9)
General
George
Crook, speech to
Sioux warriors (October, 1888)
The white men in the
East are like birds. They are hatching out their eggs every year,
and there is not room enough in the East, and they must go elsewhere;
and they come out West, as you have seen them coming for the last
few years. And they are still coming, and will come until they overrun
all of this country; and you can't prevent it, nor can the President
prevent it. Everything is decided in Wash- ington by the majority,
and these people come out West and see that the Indians have a big
body of land that they are not using, and they say, 'we want the land.'
(10)
John
F. Finerty, Warpath and Bivouac
(1890)
I found General Crook
at his headquarters, busily engaged in reading reports from officers
stationed on the Indian frontier. He was then a spare but athletic
man of about forty, with fair hair, clipped close, and a blond beard
which seemed to part naturally at the point of the chin. His nose
was long and aquiline, and his blue-gray eyes were bright and piercing.
He looked, in fact, every inch a soldier, except that he wore no uniform.
At that period General
Crook seemed to be a man of iron. He endured heat, cold, marching
and every species of discomfort with Indian-like stolidity. If he
felt weariness, he never made anybody the wiser. While apparently
frank to all who approached him, he was very uncommunicative except
to his aides. He was also a born Nimrod, and always rode far in advance
of the column, attended by a few officers and an orderly or two, chasing
whatever species of game he might happen to find. Looking back at
his conduct of that time I cannot help thinking that luck was greatly
on his side, because, as we very soon found out, the General might
have run into a strong war party of the Sioux any day, and then nothing
could have saved him and his few attendants. He was frequently warned
of the risk he ran, but paid no attention to the advice.
(11)
Lieutenant
Kennon recorded in his diary a meeting between General George
Crook and Chatto (2nd January, 1890)
We reached the little
station of Mount Vernon just before 8 a.m. Country poor, sandy and
a growth of small pine. A road took us up to the barracks. An ambulance
happened to be at the station, and a sergeant, who resented our getting
in until he found out that the 'old gentleman' was General Crook.
The approach to the Barracks,
with great green trees on either side was very pretty. The post is
walled in by a wall from 12 to 16 feet high, without flanking arrangements.
It is situated on a knoll, and above the 'backwater' of the Tombigbee.
We drove direct to the
CO's house, rang, and were admitted. No one but the servant was up.
Soon Mrs. Kellogg came down, and later the Colonel. There was also
a daughter or niece. They were not expecting us. Did not know we were
coming, apologized, etc., which was not necessary.
A young Indian with long,
black hair saw the General, and before we had finished breakfast.
Chihuahua was outside, waiting. He seemed overjoyed to see the General.
Kaetena joined him, and we walked over to the Indian village, which
was just outside the gate of the fort. They live in little log cabins
which had been built for them. At the gate was a considerable number
of Indians waiting for us. Chatto came out, and went up to the General,
and gave him a greeting that was really tender. He took him by the
hand, and with his other made a motion as if to clasp him about the
neck. It was as if he would express his joy, but feared to take such
a liberty. It was a touching sight.
The Apaches crowded about
the General, shaking hands, and laughing in their delight. The news
spread that he was there, and those about us shouted to those in the
distance, and from all points they came running in until we had a
train of them moving with us.
(12)
Lieutenant
John Bourke, diary entry (6th August, 1890)
General Crook takes his
cup of coffee, soaks in it a handful of hardtack, retires to a nook,
sits down, and gets through his meal in silence. He is remarkably
abstemious, rarely drinks coffee or tea, except when on a trip in
the mountains, can scarcely ever be prevailed upon to touch whiskey,
and then never more than a spoonful - in brief he is the most abstemious
man I have ever been associated with.
We have no books with us
this time, but to him the great book of nature lies always open. He
knows the course of rivers and the trend of mountains as if by instinct,
and can find his way through dark and tangled forests with the certainty
of an aborigine. If there be any game near, his keen eye detects its
track, his steady foot follows it, and his unerring rifle brings it
down. If the stream on which we camp is trout-bearing, his skill as
a fisherman will lure the finny tribe where all others fail.
(13)
General
Charles D. Roberts, diary entry (21st March, 1890)
The General was feeling
about as usual last night, and went to the theater. This morning he
got up as usual, and went into a dressing room, as is his custom,
to exercise with dumb-bells. Suddenly Mrs. Crook was aroused by hearing
him call to her in a loud voice, 'Mary! Mary! I can't breathe!' and
on running to him found him lying on a sofa and gasping for breath.
She raised him, but he only said, 'I am choking,' and quietly, without
a struggle, expired. He was dead before a doctor could reach him.
The cause of his death was heart failure.
(14)
Chief
Red Cloud in conversation with Father craft, a Catholic missionary
(January, 1891)
General Crook came; he,
at least, had never lied to us. His words gave the people hope. He
died. their hope died again. Despair came again.
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