officer who had risen to the grade of brigadier-general through

constant hard work. Crook was a classmate of mine--at least, we

entered the Military Academy the same year, though he graduated a

year ahead of me. We had known each other as boys before we entered

the army, and later as men, and I placed implicit faith in his

experience and qualifications as a general.

The transfer of Torbert to the position of chief of cavalry left

Merritt, as I have already said, in command of the First Cavalry