On the Border with Crook

by John G. Bourke

From 1870 until 1886 Captain John O. Bourke served on the staff of General George Crook, who Sherman described as the greatest Indian fighter the army ever had, a man whose prowess was demon-strated "from British America to Mexico, from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean." But On the Border with Crook is far more than a first-hand account of Crook's campaigns during the Plains Indian wars and in the Southwest. Alert, curious, and perceptive, Bourke brings to life the whole frontier scene. In crisp descriptions and telling anecdotes he recreates the events and landscapes through which he moved; he sketches sharp action-pictures not only of Crook and his fellow cavalrymen but also of such great leaders as Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and Geronimo. Perhaps most important, Bourke shows us how General Crook was able to achieve his most remarkable victory—how this man of war won and deserved the trust of the tribes he had subjugated.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, American History, Adventure, Memoir, Westerns

491 pages, Paperback

First published March 2, 1891

About the author

John Gregory Bourke was a captain in the United States Army and a prolific diarist and postbellum author; he wrote several books about the American Old West, including ethnologies of its indigenous peoples. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions while a cavalryman in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Based on his service during the war, his commander nominated him to West Point, where he graduated in 1869, leading to service as an Army officer until his death.

Reviews

[Chrisl · Rating 4 out of 5]

To learn more about Bourke, I suggest 'Paper Medicine Man.'
Paper Medicine Man: John Gregory Bourke and His American West
"The Apaches, intrigued by this strange white soldier who always seemed to be writing, began calling him 'Paper Medicine Man.' To the Sioux he was 'Ink Man.'"
***
Another to re-read ... too long since I took Bourke's tour of Apache southwest, wonder if could be considered classic. Would like to ride mules then with John and the General.
***
For a well written fiction perspective to 'On the Border,' Forrest Carter's "Watch for Me ...," is a noir Apache novel, one that could also provide an introduction to General Crook.
Watch for Me on the Mountain

For more about Crook, see Magid
George Crook: From the Redwoods to Appomattox

[James Prothero]

Great first hand account from the Army pov of the Apache and Sioux/Cheyenne wars. George Crook was a rare leader of honesty and character. Good material on early days in Tucson, AZ in there. The thing I picked up, after having a minor in Native American Studies and History of the American West, is that "scout" Indians turned on their own tribes and helped Crook and the Army. You won't find that fact in Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, which portrays Indians as being in total solidarity to white advance. But then one always gets a more accurate view reading first hand sources like this one over interpretations like Bury My Heart . . . The coverage of the second Apache campaign against Geronimo is a little weak, as Bourke covers the surrender and the politics and not much more than that. But what rings through is Crook's character and integrity.

[Clay Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned much about life on the frontier in the American west.

[A.L. Means · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not just a classic historical reference, it is also a gem in terms of eloquent descriptive style.
As a staff officer with General Crook during the Indian wars of the late 19th century, John Bourke was perfectly placed to observe the transformation of the West. Within three or four decades, the Rocky Mountains and Plains changed from the largely untrammeled terrain of itinerants and Native groups to a promised land for settlers, dreamers and opportunists of every stripe. Campaigns and policies developed by General Crook played a notable part in compelling the tribes of that region to accept these new conditions.
As Crook's Boswell, Bourke makes a point of chronicling his commander’s thinking as well as his characteristics. Crook’s first rule in dealing with Native Americans was honesty – a quality not always employed in these circumstances. Through this approach, he was able to recruit Indian allies. This was a key to his success, for Indians were able to defeat their hostile brethren where orthodox cavalry and infantry could expect limited progress, if any.
Crook is remembered in particular for his imposition of peace on the Apaches of Arizona and the surrounding area. Bourke’s account of conditions in central and southern Arizona excels. Not only does he give a sympathetic view of the Native American perspective but he also leaves a rare sketch of Hispanic and American Arizonans. For example, his description of Tucson of the 1870s and some of its more colorful residents is a delight to read. His observations and his skill in phrasing breathe life into a period that, in a state barely 100 years old, sometimes seems like prehistory.
Bourke wrote this memoir 20 years after Crook’s initial campaigns, but he appears to have had vivid recall and has left a legacy deserving recognition from any reader interested in American expansion into the West.

[Max Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Gregory Bourke served under General George Crook as his aide-de-camp for thirteen years (1871-1883) during which time he kept a diary documenting his observations of everything from the general’s character, temperament and achievements, to descriptions of topography and wildlife, to living conditions in the frontier forts and settlements of Arizona, the Dakotas, and Montana, to detailed accounts of the Apache, Sioux, and Cheyenne. Published in 1892, On the Border with Crook: General George Crook, the American Indian Wars, and Life on the American Frontier, is a firsthand account of the general and the Indian campaigns and has been recognized as “one of the ten best western books of all time.”

Having said that, readers will encounter extended passages listing the names of soldiers and Indian scouts involved in the various campaigns; not just those whom history has identified as important, but every single individual involved. Additionally, the first quarter of the book discusses life in the Arizona territory prior to General Crook’s arrival with whimsical descriptions of Western characters many of whom have no relationship to the remainder of the book.

These are minor quibbles. Bourke brings to life the hardships endured with insights into specific engagements between the Indians and the military that could only be gained from eyewitness accounts. His narrative doesn’t gloss over the brutality of battle nor the savagery of outrages perpetrated by Native Americans, but it also highlights General Crook’s faith in the American Indian and his advocacy for their full rights as U.S. citizens. Following their subjugation and placement on reservations he gives full shrift to their grievances against the actions of unscrupulous Indian agents, and he decries the imprisonment of Indian scouts who faithfully served the military.

The numbers of Native Americans who actually took up arms against their own people came as a revelation. I was aware of their involvement in tracking down hostile Indians attempting to elude pursuit by the U.S. Army, but I hadn’t realized the extent to which they fought alongside. Their participation proved to be a deciding factor in ending the Indian Wars. Many of the tribes gave voice to the conviction that they might have held out against white encroachment onto their lands, but the combined strength of Indian and white forces was too much to overcome.

Bourke ends his book with the death of General Crook, March 21, 1890 at age sixty-one. He laments his passing with this comment:

“Crook’s modesty was so great, and his aversion to pomp and circumstance so painfully prominent a feature of his character and disposition, that much which has been here related would never be known from other sources.”

[Shawn Conner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource on Arizona History

I found the writing well done and the historical descriptions of early Arizona, of cavalry life and the native American dilemma fascinating. But the Native Americans were people to behold. Their ingenuity and strength to live off the land, in harsh environments and their incredible endurance to maintain their way of life all while struggling with foreign invaders, who have advanced weapons and endless resources was equally fascinating and important. I do have new admiration for General Crook, especially when I walked down his trail on the Rim. It just opened my eyes to the great accomplishment of it all. He also seemed to genuinely care for the native population and went out of his way to bring them up to speed with white Americans and society but as we all know many men in power looked to taking advantage of the native population as way to get rich, all while keeping them “savage” in everyone’s eyes to maintain their crooked enterprises. I have to thank the writer John Bourke for the vast amount of information he recorded in his notes through out his years with General Crook and for writing this historical narrative.

[Chris Barraclough · Rating 5 out of 5]

My very favourite book on the West! John Gregory Bourke writes engagingly and enthusiastically about his days in the frontier army with General George Crook, and while his hero-worship inflates Crook to almost the status of a superman, you can't help but be drawn in. It is a joy to read about Crook's campaigns against the Sioux and Apache Indians, and the minutae of everyday army life. It's a book to return to time and again, like an old friend. A classic.

[Jim Swike · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected a history. I could not determine what kind of book I was reading, but not what I was hopi ng. Maybe you will feel differently.

[Bruce Justinen · Rating 5 out of 5]

He was There.

I love history and enjoy boos that are well researched, gathering the facts and giving an objective account of the past. However, reading a book from the perspective of an actual eye Witness to history is often a treat. Especially when the author is able to bring scenes to your mind that put you there as a fellow observer. If you want to ride with the cavalry, respect the Native American, watch in horror the warpath AND the outrage and betrayal of the American Indian of the 1800's, this is a great read.

If you also desire to see, smile, smell, taste and behold the natural wonders of the West before it knew the white man, this is a great read.

If you desire to follow a soldier/naturalist who can vividly describe in detail the deer, bear, big horn, elk, antelope and buffalo and more. Watch as men shoot dinner without leaving the campsite.

There is so much more, enjoy!

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

General Crook ended the Apache wars in the American Southwest. Bourke served as one of his officers in those wars for many years so this is a first hand account.

[Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books ever written on the Indian Wars. Capt. John Gregory Bourke is half Amry Officer and half Anthropolgist

[Frances Torgerson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow.

OK for a history reference, but a very slow dull text. It was a good info book after reading 1000 White Women, a frontier novel about the Cheyenne Nation..

[Conor Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The past is another country, but in this book it seems like a different planet. I wasn't interested in Cowboys & Indians but this military travelogue is a natural history and ethnography of another world. I've been looking for a good book that describes the historical ecosystems of the Western US and found it in this story of a military officer who followed famous General Crook from one Indian War to another during the 1870's.

This book is known as one of the Top Ten books of the Wild West, with stories of when Tucson was a Spanish town, Arizona was Apache territory, and the great plains were full of buffalo. The writer is thoughtful and observant, and in a later life might have been an anthropologist. Instead, he was directly responsible for forcibly removing native peoples from their ancestral lands and the ending of their unbroken lifeways. However, he writes with respect and admiration, and his firsthand account reveals complexities of the American Indian wars that are lost in our modern moralizing view of that time period.

Perhaps it is best to let him speak for himself; here are some brief quotes that offer a window into another world:

What with the cold threatening to freeze us, the explosions of the lodges sending the poles whirling through the air, and the leaden attentions which the enemy was once more sending in with deadly aim, our situation was by no means agreeable, and I may claim that the notes jotted down in my journal from which this narrative is condensed were taken under peculiar embarrassments.

Man's inhumanity to man is an awful thing. His inhumanity to God's beautiful trees is scarcely inferior to it. Trees are nearly human; they used to console man with their oracles, and I must confess my regret that the Christian dispensation has so changed the opinions of the world that the soughing of the evening wind through their branches is no longer a message of hope or a solace to sorrow.

The Tonto Basin was well supplied with deer and other wild animals, as well as with mescal, Spanish bayonet, acorn-bearing oak, walnuts, and other favorite foods of the Apaches, while the higher levels of the Mogollon and the other ranges were at one and the same time pleasant abiding-places during the heats of summer, and ramparts of protection against the sudden incursion of an enemy. I have already spoken of the wealth of flowers to be seen in these high places; I can only add that throughout our march across the Mogollon range some eleven days in time-we saw spread out before us a carpet of colors which would rival the best examples of the looms of Turkey or Persia.

The Apache was a hard foe to subdue, not only because he was full of wiles and tricks and experienced in all that pertains to the art of war, but because he had so few artificial wants and depended almost absolutely upon what his great mother-Nature stood ready to supply.

Horses had to be abandoned in great numbers, but the best of them were killed to supply meat, which with the bull berries and water had become almost our only certain food, eked out by an occasional slice of antelope or jack rabbit. At the date of which I am now writing all the food within reach was horsemeat, water, and enough bacon to grease the pan in which the former was to be fried.

Cheyenne names
Thunder Cloud
Blown Away
Singing Bear
Fast Thunder
Black Mouse
Shuts the Door
Horse Comes Last

Arapahoe names
Sleeping Wolf
Red Beaver
Sitting Bul
Yellow Owl
Singing Beaver

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a long book about General Crook who was in charge of the U. S. Army in the Arizona Territory during the pacification of the Apache Indians. It comes across as something of a hagiography because it was written by an Army officer that served under him and admired him greatly. Indeed, if you read this book, Crook never made a mistake and it was due to his influence alone that the Apache were pacified.

The book is a little boring overall, although it has specific moments that are pretty interesting. Mr. Bourke has a really good description of the Apache Indians and some of their culture, including a fascinating passage explaining how the Apache made food out of cactus and other desert plants. They were amazingly adapted to the environment in which they lived, and in some ways unbelievably adapted. Bourke says that the Apache could travel up to 75 miles in a day when they were under pursuit or needed to move quickly. Remember that this was in the hot, arid desert. Indeed, it's scarcely believable to the current day that they had this kind of endurance.

The book is a reflection of its time, so Bourke generally refers to the Apache as "savages," a name that I'm sure an Apache at the time (and certainly to the modern day) would probably have argued was inflammatory and inaccurate going by their culture. Interestingly, Bourke says that when he came to Arizona as an Army officer, he was of "the only good Indian is a dead Indian" opinion. This changed when he came into close contact with the Apache and began to understand them. He ends up being an advocate for them (after they are pacified) and the unconscionable treatment of the Apache from the U. S. government in general and the Interior Department in particular.

Conversely, if you put yourself into the shoes of an Arizona settler with atrocities from the Apache being committed seemingly every week (and it was brutal, I won't bother describing some of the depredations committed by the Apache, but they could be heartless and brutal), you could understand why the Apache weren't very loved in the Arizona Territory.

[Roger Darnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I spent the majority of 2022 with this book on the nightstand, reading it as I fell asleep ... and also packing it along on a few getaways. I found it to be utterly fascinating. In my own military experience, most officers I met set themselves apart from us enlisted folks in numerous ways. The author of this book, John G. Bourke, truly seems to have been a remarkable man, as well as being a highly skilled writer. The period he covers begins on March 10, 1870, and spans the next twenty one years, until General Crook was laid to rest at Arlington Cemetery. The General could not have had a more able biographer, and as a subject, the man himself was clearly extraordinary, as were his accomplishments. Both men expressed and demonstrated great respect for the Native Americans, in many ways, and yet, at key times along this epic journey, Bourke refers to them in terms that are repugnant. The military had a terrible job to do, and they did it with machine-like precision. Nonetheless, throughout the process and even in the end, they understand that all was not well, even though the terrible tragedy they perpetrated on a noble race of people is never acknowledged.

[Robert Clancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A firsthand account of life in the U.S. Cavalry fighting Apaches in Arizona and Sioux in South Dakota/Wyoming/Montana with General Crook. Very well written as an historical account of life out West in the 1870's. Tucson is just a small hamlet of adobe huts, temperatures hit 120 degrees with no air-conditioning, and the Apaches are masters at hit and run guerrilla warfare tactics. The second half of this book concerns the war with the Sioux and Cheyenne at the time of the Custer massacre on the Little Big Horn. Crook chased the Sioux and Cheyenne and finally vanquished them all in a series of military manoeuvres. Capt. Bourke does a good job of keeping this account interesting and accurate. Very interesting read.

[Jan Komrska · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book starts with a description of a situation in Arizona prior and after Crook’s arrival to fight Apache rebellion.

After successes in Arizona, Crook moves to upper Missouri leading campaign on Cheyenne and Sioux and their chiefs Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull. He is being helped by fighters from Crows and Shoshones in the battle of the Rosebud.

Destruction of Dull Knife village, where a human (probably Sioux) fingers' necklace was recovered, led to enlistment of Cheyenne fighters as scouts for general Crook army and it ended Indian hostilities in Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana and Dakotas.

Crook is then called back to Arizona where Apache’s confined to San Carlos reservation are discontented with the treatment by the Indian agents and continue raiding surrounding villages. Crook confirms dishonest treatment of the Indians in the hands of military, judicial system and Indian agents and works to improve it. He also needs to address Chiricahua Indians who retired under the leadership of Geronimo to Sierra Madre in a Mexico and continue attacks on settlers from there.

At the end of his carrier Crook is moved to Missouri where he works to prevents hostilities with Ute in Colorado.

General Crook dies of a heart disease in Chicago after 38 years of his military carrier. He is buried at the Arlington national cemetery.

[Mark Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unsung hero of the Frontier

Every red blooded American patriot needs to read this tome about this great mans life. First, you will find yourself embarrassed at being so ignorant at the huge problems faced by red and white alike in this tumultuous period. Next, maddened how biased post modernists have twisted this rich history and trampled underfoot men such as Crook, who should be exemplified as a model, as villains.

[Richard Gruner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Generl Crook: A leader of Men

Captain Bourke gives an unrivaled first hand account of the Indian Wars of the last half of the 19th century. He was in the right place to see it all, and his account does not flinch from telling exactly what happened. The writers of stereotypical "John Wayne" westerns should have read Bourke's books (there are others) before foisting off a unrealistic views of the "wild west."

[Jack A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book very much of its time, but also incredibly forward-thinking, this book by one of the staff officers of General Crook offers colorful anecdotes about mule-packers, cavalrymen, and various historical figures, both Indians and others, from his first-hand observations. It also gives a contemporary history of the wars between the government and various Indian tribes. While it may not be as academically rigorous as more recent histories, it still has great value as a primary source.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone interested in the Indian Wars needs this memoir in their personal library.
Crook has always seemed enigmatic, but Bourke - even with all the hagiography - brings him further to the surface than more modern biographers have been able to.
Simply a gem of a time capsule covering the high water mark of frontier service.

[David Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Interesting

So much information about the recent history of the Great West. Nice to hear that there were actually some people who cares about the Original inhabitants of the West. Custer gets all the ink for riding his troop into an ambush. General Crook was a real American hero..

[Bill Diers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding history of an exceptional man!

John Bourke wrote an incredibly detailed(sometimes overly so) account of the late Indian wars. He showed respect and admiration for Crook and all deserving participants on both sides of the conflicts(with in the context of the times).
A great read for anyone interested in the history of the era

[Carol Naille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful eye witness account of the Indian Wars of 1870-1886. Outstanding description of character of the land and gives new meaning to "hard marching". Loved the writing and insight of the author. The problems identified then are with us today. Great history read!

[Ray York · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gen. Crook

What a great book to read. I was not aware of General Crook until I had spent time in Tucson, AZ. This was a great history lesson for me and recommend it to anyone who is interested in Native American history of the West.

[Daniel Hatcher]

Interesting

I chose this rating because it kept entertained from first to last page. The description of terrain and personnel and what they went through kept me entertained and eager to see what was next.

[Joe Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real history

Real history

I had some sketchy idea of who General Crook was before I read this book. I now have a greater appreciation for him and his accomplishments. Excellent history of the General and the region and the times. Highly recommend.

[Joe Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent perspective of the Indian wars

A very fair account of the Indian wars ! No wonder the Indians fought so hard to keep their honorable lifestyles. General Crook was truly their friend! Well written and eloquent by the author. Excellent education of those times !

[Francisco Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very Good Read

I enjoyed very much reading about the many American Indians. I did not know that there were so many tribes. I enjoyed very much also reading about the US Army's struggle and sacrifice to bring peace between the Americans and the Indians.

[Weston Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic first-hand account of campaign life during the late 19th. Particularly regarding the Indian wars period. The only fault here is occasionally getting a bit too into the minutiae. While extremely progressive for the time, some antiquated views on white/native american relations.