OK....that is very likely the person to whom you are referring, T-1. I was focusing specifically on Little Bighorn and it just so happens that a trumpeter named Wheeler Polk was one of the men who was killed in the battle.
John Pope was an enigmatic figure who was best known as the architect for disaster by the Army of the Potomac at the Second Battle of Bull Run. After that debacle, as pool_hustler stated, he was sent west to fight Indians. He is also allegedly the author of the quote to which you refer about exterminating the Sioux. However, much of his action was seen in the Apache territory so his opportunity to make good on his threat to the Sioux was more bluster than anything. Ironically, he actually later spoke out in criticism of the way the Indians were being treated. Truth is, Pope was already dead when the massacre at Wounded Knee took place in 1890 that pretty much made good on his pledge against the Sioux.
Not sure what your question is, MP, since Scott never mentioned any "guy" but if you have him confused with T-1's original post, the answer is no, General Crook is not the guy to whom he refers. Interesting sidenote though....Crook has been criticized for leaving Custer and his men all alone after he had engaged the Lakota Sioux in a particularly testy affair known as the Battle of the Rosebud. Crook's army had expended a great deal of ammunition in fending off the Lakota after they found themselves too deeply exposed in Sioux territory. They literally shot their way out of it but, instead of marching west to hook up with Custer, Crook decided to return to his headquarters to rearm. Only a week later, Custer and the 7th Cavalry were wiped out at Little Bighorn by Crazy Horse and his allies. Speculation centers on what the difference would have been had Crook elected to send detachments to support them before the battle was waged. We'll never know. Interestingly, less than a year later, Crazy Horse surrendered to General Crook and about a year after that he was bayoneted while trying to escape from captivity and died. Here were his last words....a poignant synopsis of the fascinating and terribly tragic story of the Plains Indians of the American west:
Many also believe that the massacre of the Sioux at Wounded Knee was carried out as retribution for Little Bighorn. If you're not familiar with the massacre and have an interest, read more here:
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/knee.htm
Sorry to turn this into an essay. This subject is a particular passion of mine.
