The Diaries of John Gregory Bourke Volume 1

maps of camps upgraded to forts in 1879-81

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pp. 16-

Background

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pp. 17-26

Apacher�a is the vast area encompassing what is now Arizona, most of New Mexico, and portions of the Mexican states of Sonora and Chihuahua. It is so called because it is the traditional land of the Western Apaches. For centuries, the Apaches had fought the people of the south, first the Spaniards, and then the Mexicans. Their initial contact with U.S. soldiers in 1846, however...

Chapter 1 • Crook’s Offensive

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pp. 27-54

Left Beaver Creek northeast along the Creek until we joined the New Mexico Road at the cross[in]g—then north x east for 15 miles passing through a juniper country and up grade all day—passed over an open grass country about north—then rather more east for 2 miles up grade and in pine woods. Camped at Stoneman’s Lake on left side of...

Chapter 2 • Meeting Cochise

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pp. 55-66

twenty days’ Rations. Left Camp McDowell, A.T., Monday, January 6th 1873 travelled South South East x South for 2 miles, South South East x East for half a mile, crossed Rio Verde, flowing at this point South South East, passed down the river and camped on its right bank in an open flat. Country passed through today was an open plain, covered with brush. We brought with...

Chapter 3 • Mopping Up

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pp. 67-82

Thursday Feb 27th. Moved back on our trail, going West North West for (12) miles, when we halted for a few moments at entrance of a little ca�on on left, which had water. This day we marched up West branch of Disappt Creek. Arroyo now turned rather more to North, went about 2 miles struck trail coming in on our Left (running from South South East, our trail of Jan 22) Mountains...

Chapter 4 • Reservation and Ruins

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pp. 83-100

On October 29, 1873, Lt. Col. Crook was jumped two grades and appointed to the active rank of brigadier general, at the behest of President Grant. Up until this time, he had held command by his Union Army brevet of major general, but with the active rank of lieutenant colonel of the 23rd Infantry. The appointment created hard feelings in the army...

Chapter 5 • The Hopi Villages

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pp. 101-122

Monday, October 12th, 1874. Camp aroused before dawn, but as two of our pack mules had wandered off during night, search for them retarded our departure until after day break. Left camp about 5.45 a.m. Trail 347�. After marching two miles had San Francisco Mtn. on our Left 247�, Spring Butte on our Right...

map of departments

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pp. 124-

Background

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pp. 125-132

In March 1875, General Crook was ordered to relieve Brig. Gen. E.O.C. Ord as commander of the Department of the Platte.¹ The department was headquartered at Omaha Barracks, Nebraska, and included that state, Iowa, Wyoming, Utah, and southern Idaho, and was one of four departments within the Military Division of the Missouri, a vast jurisdiction...

Chapter 6 • Farewell to Arizona

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pp. 133-144

General Crook received telegraphic notification from Adjutant General Townsend,¹ of his assignment to duty as Commanding General of the Department of the Platte, with Headquarters at Omaha: also congratulatore [sic] telegrams from Maj. G. M. Randall, Colonel Coppinger and other officers of his old Regiment, the 23d Infantry. Colonel A.V. Kautz, 8th Infantry...

Chapter 7 • Southern California and the Mormon Zion

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pp. 145-157

Sunday, April 4th. When we awoke this A.M., a heavy sea-fog overspread the whole face of the country, obscuring the Cucamongo and San Bernardino Mountains nearby which we saw yesterday covered with snow. The pass in which this ranch is situated is called Cajon Pass and through it the R.R. to Arizona is to be built. Passed along through a territory, gorgeous in emerald green...

Chapter 8 • A Scientific Expedition

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pp. 158-174

Thursday, May 13th, Left Omaha at midday, in the Pullman car “Wyoming”, with the following party bound for Cheyenne: General Crook, Captain Nickerson, General Perry and Lieutenant Stevens. Mr Chico Forster also was one of the party. Reached Cheyenne, the next day at 1.30 P.M. and proceeded to Fort Russell,¹ about 3 miles out from town, where we passed...

Chapter 9 • Into the Black Hills

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pp. 175-192

June 1st. Opened cold and damp with dark clouds obscuring the sky. A short journey of 9 1/4 miles, over ground demanding little or no labor in road making, brought us to the Beaver Creek, a stream about 30 feet wide, of turbid water, one half sediment, besides being so salty and alkaline as to almost occasion nausea. Grass good...

Introduction

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pp. 195-205

The remaining Bourke manuscripts in this volume deal with the Great Sioux War of 1876-77, a brutal conflict most famous for the destruction of Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and five companies of the 7th Cavalry at the Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876. The war was an outgrowth of many factors. The Indians were increasingly disillusioned with reservation life,...

Chapter 10 • The Big Horn Expedition

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pp. 206-215

Found the pack-train of the Expedn. ready to take the field, and well equipped under the experienced management of Tom. Moore. The proposed expedition is to consist of ten (10) companies of Cavalry, five of 2d and five of the 3d under the command of Gen. J.J. Reynolds, Colonel of the 3d Cavalry. Those to start from Fort Russell...

Chapter 11 • The March North

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pp. 216-230

March 1st. The command moved off in fine style this morning, officers and men in good spirits and horses champing on their bits as if eager for the journey. The snow storm of last night has ceased and upon the serene sky not a trace of cloud could be seen. The weather promised to be all we could desire; perhaps if it were a little bit more severe our purpose would be better served. Last night,...

Chapter 12 • The Soldier's Routine

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pp. 231-244

.Remained in Camp all day, busy in writing up notes and making the necessary preparations for our movement. At night, about 7 O’clock, by the light of a very fine three quarters moon, commenced our march, which lay to the West for two miles and then moved towards the North star for the remainder of the distance which summed up thirty-five...

Chapter 13 • The Powder River Fight

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pp. 245-262

Slept very comfortably[.] Our animals enjoyed very superior grazing on the foot-hills overlooking camp. Breakfasted at 5 a.m. this morning under a clear bright sky filled with bright stars. Mercury standing at 7 a.m. at (-8� F.) Broke camp at 8 a.m., moving Eastwardly, up valley of Pumpkin Creek, a little stream which from hasty inspection, I should say is finely adapted for...

Chapter 14 • A Trip to the Indian Agencies

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pp. 263-283

I. By direction of the Department Commander, the Big Horn Expedition organized by General Orders, No. 1. Fort Fetterman, W[yoming].T[erritory]., February 27th, 1876, is hereby dissolved. The companies comprising the expedition will return to their posts, by easy marches, under their respective Company...

Chapter 15 • The Big Horn and Yellowstone Expedition

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pp. 284-299

We camped by the springs on White Earth shortly after passing the mail wagon and remained long enough to partake of a cold lunch; had our sense of hearing been a little more acute, we might have heard the death cry of the poor mail driver. That night we reached the ranch on the Niobrara. It surprises me to think that the Agent would suffer these ranches to be constructed...

Chapter 16 • Camp Life

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pp. 300-318

June 6th. Our camp to-night is on a tributary of Goose Creek,* one of the head waters of the Tongue river, 17 3/4 miles from the site of last night’s bivouac. Owing to the sultriness of the day and the bad road running over steep grades, this march has told upon both men and animals. Country during morning was extremely well-grassed, the...

Chapter 17 • The Battle of the Rosebud

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pp. 319-335

The tribal hatreds rampant among Plains Indians, that long predated white contact, are evident. The Crows and Shoshones, ancient enemies of the Lakota, served as scouts, and were active and ruthless participants in the battle. These Indians were useful, but exasperating. They knew the country, and they knew the enemy. Often, however, they appeared to be more interested in hunting buffalo, and...

Chapter 18 • Hunting and Fishing on the Tongue

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pp. 336-356

This chapter is the chronicle of a camping trip. Indeed, it hardly seemed like a war zone, and if there was any concern over the possibility of Indian attack, Bourke did not mention it. The reader might well wonder how they felt they could spend this time in the mountains with their attentions devoted almost entirely to...

Chapter 19 • The War Resumes

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pp. 357-372

July 7th. Gen’l Crook, accompanied by Lieut. Schuyler, Maj. Burt. Col. Van Vliet, Major Wells and others started for the summit to hunt, expecting to be absent four days. Major Randall, Lieut. Bubb, Mr. Stevens and self arranged a fishing excursion. The site selected was not much over a mile from camp. There we found all that fishermen could desire: shady pools, cool water...

Chapter 20 • A Case of Nerves

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pp. 373-388

Much of this chapter contains copies of dispatches between Crook and other officers, and copied by Bourke into the diary. These dispatches, the originals of which can be found in the Special File, Military Division of the Missouri, Sioux War, in the National Archives, show a different Crook from the man commonly perceived...