The Apache Problem, by General George Crook

General George Crook, the experienced and successful Indian fighter, called the Apaches "the representative Indians of America, so far as ferocity, courage, cunning, and skill in savage warfare are concerned." Writing for a military journal in 1886, General Crook outlines the history of North American Indians' interactions with whites; describes how the Indians' acquisition of breech-loading firearms changed their tactics from offensive only to offensive-defensive, with deadly results; details the importance of Indian scouts and describes his selection criteria; emphasizes the importance of the pack-train and its maintenance; gives an example of a pursuit of Apaches into New Mexico and the difficulties of tracking them; and finally, enumerates the four tenets of dealing with the Apache in order to subdue him.