When his purposes became known his arrest was made necessary. General Crook hurried to Red Cloud Agency, and from there started over towards Spotted Tail Agency, intending to have a talk with "Crazy Horse" and the other chiefs; but when about half-way our conveyance was stopped by a Sioux runner—"Woman's Dress"—who said that he had been sent by "Spotted Tail" and the other Indians to warn General Crook that "Crazy Horse" had unequivocally asserted that he would kill General Crook in the coming council, if Crook's words did not suit him. Crook returned to Red Cloud Agency and summoned all the chiefs, including "Crazy Horse," to a conference; "Crazy Horse " paid no attention to the message.
General Crook informed the Indians that they were being led astray by "Crazy Horse's" folly, and that they must preserve order in their own ranks and arrest "Crazy Horse." The chiefs deliberated and said that "Crazy Horse" was such a desperate man, it would be necessary to kill him; General Crook replied that that would be murder, and could not be sanctioned; that there was force enough at or near the two agencies ("Crazy Horse" had removed from Red Cloud to Spotted Tail) to round up not only "Crazy Horse," but his whole band, and that more troops would be sent, if necessary; he counted upon the loyal Indians effecting this arrest themselves, as it would prove to the nation that they were not in sympathy with the non-progressive element of their tribe.
General Crook had started for Camp Brown to superintend in person the massing of the troops who were to head off Chief "Joseph," but when Sheridan heard of the threatening look of things at the Nebraska agencies, he telegraphed to Crook under date of September 1, 1877: "I think your presence more necessary at Red Cloud Agency than at Camp Brown, and wish you to get off (the Union Pacific Railroad train) at Sidney, and go there." Again, under date of September 3, 1877: "I do not like the attitude of affairs at Red Cloud Agency, and very much doubt the propriety of your going to Camp Brown. The surrender or capture of 'Joseph' in that direction is but a small matter compared with what might happen to the frontier from a disturbance at Red Cloud." . . . Agent Irwin, who had assumed charge of affairs at Red Cloud Agency, was a faithful and conscientious representative of the Indian bureau; he did all in his power to
