Soldier, Scholar, “Noble Enemy”

A renewed interest in the American Civil War led me to review Charles M. Robinson’s biography General Crook and the Western Frontier. Histories of the American West was his life’s work, the subject of 20 of his 23 books. His is the first modern biography of Crook, who has eluded the "star" status despite a strong influence on the closing decades of America's frontier.

Robinson is a historical writer of the highest order. His early career as a newspaperman likely accounts for a very efficient writing style, which I found effortless to read. How many times have we eagerly started a book on an intriguing topic, only to find it marred by impenetrable writing?

Robinson describes Crook as a spartan yet complex man. Like any good general of his day he was ambitious, egotistical, vindictive. He was not a military genius as personified by Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan. What defined Crook was the strong “fundamental humanity” he felt towards American Indians. This in an age when generals (e.g., Sherman, Sheridan), politicians, journalists, and even church leaders called openly for their extermination.

Crook’s personal feelings aside, he used both violence and diplomacy, vanquishing hostile tribes and then immediately seeing to their relocation and protection. Later in his career, with greater rank and influence, the general underwent a transformation into an Indian fighter of a different sort, devoting all his energies to fight for their humane treatment.

Graduating below the middle of his West Point class, in 1852 the native Ohioan was posted to California. In nine formative years he saw all aspects of the frontier: widespread killing between Indians and whites, dreary military posts, alcoholic commanders, and corrupt Indian Bureau commissioners. Despite these intractable problems, the energetic young officer made his mark on every staff, expedition, and post to which he was assigned, while rising to captain by 1861, when he was called East.

Crook’s record in the Civil War had highs and lows. Rising to brigadier general, his experience fighting Indians with small mounted units paid off when fighting Confederate irregulars, and Crook proved he was equally able in conventional operations. He served variously under Rosecrans, Grant, and Sheridan. Robinson describes his Civil War record as "no better or worse than that of many other Union generals." Poor performances such as at Cedar Creek and Kernstown blemished his record, but he was nonetheless adequate at division and corps command. He was a major general by the war's end.

In 1866 Crook was sent back West to continue the government policy of forceful relocation. He made extensive use of armed Indian scouts, for their knowledge of tribes and terrain was without comparison. Robinson deftly summarizes the complex antagonisms between and within the army, Indians, scouts, settlers, traders, civilian administrators, and increasingly, Crook’s own morality. He expressed disgust at the innumerable broken treaties and incompetently managed reservations. Always keeping newspaper reporters in his entourage, he became increasingly known to the public for his Indian fighting exploits as well as his criticisms of government and military policies.

Despite these feelings, Crook knew the shortest path to peace was to swiftly crush bands of hostile fighters and destroy their villages and food stocks. Victory was attained when often emaciated survivors emerged from the wilderness to surrender. Robinson gives numerous examples of Crook’s practicality and humanity as he turned many tribes’ defeat to their benefit, by recruiting its warriors as scouts and settling the families onto reservations. Crook triumphed against the Apaches in the Southwest, but his biggest failures were against the Sioux and Cheyenne of the Great Plains, who were more numerous and better armed. The June 1876 Battle of the Rosebud saw Crook tactically defeated, withdrawing his forces to camp where he remained for an entire month. During this time George Custer’s command was destroyed at the Little Bighorn. The author plainly states that Crook cannot escape blame for Custer’s disaster.

Crook’s greatest moments were to come. His cultivation of the press corps had its most sublime payoff during the 1879 Ponca Affair, when Chief Standing Bear illegally left a reservation to bury his son in ancestral lands. Sympathetic to the Indians’ cause and knowing that public support was vital, Crook called upon influential reformer Thomas Henry Tibbles of the Omaha Daily Herald, who brought public attention to the case. Crook himself represented the government. The outcome resulted in Indians at long last gaining legal personhood equal to whites. Until his death in 1890, Crook toured the nation with other advocates for the fair treatment of Native Americans.

The highest tributes could only come from his former enemies. Often leaders such as Crazy Horse and Geronimo surrendered only to Crook, considering him a noble enemy whose concern and promises were genuine. Sioux chief Red Cloud said “He, at least, never lied to us. His words gave us hope.”

I must give Robinson a special credit in that he does not “befriend” his subject. He includes extended quotes by Crook’s many detractors, and his own blunt criticisms.

Crook “ages” very well in the morality of modern times, especially compared to other better known names of his era. I challenge anyone who reads General Crook and the Western Frontier to ask themselves: How many more Indians would have died or lived in squalor, if Crook had not lived, and the cruel-minded commanders such as Sheridan and Sherman had their way? Robinson shows that Crook was not the only reform-minded commander of the Indian Wars, but he was the most influential.

Robinson includes extensive documentation*, and numerous images of persons he mentions, but only three vintage maps, although these are taken from Crook’s incomplete autobiography.

I fully recommend General Crook and the Western Frontier for anyone interested in the final decades of the 19th century Western frontier.

Note: General Crook and the Western Frontier is also available in hardcover.

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