Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-23

y. I
is not one whit more than truthful to say
that the United States never had a more
faithful servant than Maj. Ewers. En-
tireiy unpretentious. devoid of that some
thing which civilians unaccustomed to ar
my ways SO frequently complain of, and en-
tirely practical in his methods, he was the
man to do what he did with the tribes Of
Indians that have been in his care; the
work done by him among and for the
Northern CheyenneS can never be paid for
in currency.
1t would be sketching western history
since the war to go into details of the army
experience Of Capts. Morton, Bowman,
Foote, Reagan, Rockefeller, Baldwin Rob-
ertson and McCalsb-good soldiers all. Many
of these and of the junior officers are well
known in Washington. Those not previous
ly named are Adjutant c. r. Noyes, Acting
Quartermaster John Baxter. jr., First
Lieuts. Armor. Anderson. Simpson, Finley.
bell. Clark, Schockel. Lowton. Barker and
Yates; the latter Is to all intents and pur-
poses a Washngtonian. having for several
years been a prominent officer Of the Dis
trtct National Guard, and when he resigned
to enter the army was In command OF light
battery A.
Gen. Wheeler and His STAFF Do Well.
Military critics have often remarked that
another war would. as did the civil war.
uncover a deficit OF good staff officers. The
regular army has sufflciency Of these, but
should trouble suddenly arise the National
Guard-which would supply the demand
for the additional line officers-could not
furnish competent quartermasters and COM
missary officers. This rather doIeful proph-
ecy may turn out to be accurate but II
The states generally possessed such staff
oi1cers as have seen at work at the head
quarters OF the first Illinois brigade during
the past two weeks, then troops in the
Held need not fear any lack Of food nor alb
sence OF transportation for the necessary
edlples The first Illinois brigade Is COM
manded by Brigadier Gen. H. A. Wheeler,
who, being a worker himself has gathered
around him a corps of willing toilers that
would do credit to any military organiza-
tion on earth. Soon after the Illinois troops
were ordered to Chicago 1t was decided to
place the entire command under Gen
Wheeler. and the results tell the story For
few hours at the outset there was diff
Guilty In supplying food to forces scattered
over territory occupied mainly by rioters,
put the respective departments buckled
down to business, and have kept it I'D ever
since. Gen. Wheeler has probably work ed
harder than any Of his subordinates but
that perhaps was expected Of him. Those
who seemed to be on duty continuously
were Lieut.. Col. VIM. N. Pelouze (another
OF those wandering Washingtonians), as
sistant adjutant general; Lieut.. Col. Leroy
I. steward, assistant Inspector general;
captain Joseph Letter. Quartermaster; Capt
Charles A. Stevenson, commissary OF sub
sistence, and First Lieut.. VIM. j. Lloyd,
second infantry. signal officer. Better staff
ofncers for campaign duty would not easily
be found.
CaprOn's Battery.
Everybody in Chicago seemed to desire
admittance to the big camp on the lake
front Everybody wanted to see how the
soldiers lived and what they looked like
when they were In and around their canvas
homes. Some Of the curious ones wanted
to see this command or that, but most Of
them desired to secure short-range
glimpse of light battery +, first artillery
known throughout military circles as Cap
ron's Battery" This battery came into
especial prominence during the Sioux cam
paign Of lS9O-'9l. for to its efficiency must
be described much Of the tremendous
slaughter Of Indians that took place near
wounded Knee Creek. The record then
made by Capt. Capron and his twenty
subordinates was almost phenomenal, and
In some respects has never been surpassed
or the score OF men in that brief but red
hot engagement five have received medals
OF honor for conspicuous gallantry, while
several others were mentioned In orders as
highly deserving Of official commendat ton
Capron's battery has for some time past
been stationed at Fort Sheridan, but at a
distance of twenty miles from the city
there was less of popular interest In It than
at once became apparent when II seemed
as though the guns and gunners might have
something to do In the heart of Chicago
1t did seem rather strange to see the finely
finished steel rifle that but three years ago
glared with it's single eye at the great
camp of hostile Sioux look inQuirngly down
Congress street at the crowds that throng-
ed the Michigan avenue and State street
ends Of that thoroughfare, while further
down the boulevard and facing Pecks court
were the Hotchkiss terrors that did so
much execution at Wounded Knee and that
were by no means inconspicuous In the
fight near the Drexel Mission.
Some OF the Debstes were horrorst-i- Il
at the bloodthirsty appearance of things,
q fnd otyncf thA
using such weapons in the streets of the
great city. Three or four wearers of the
white ribbon one afternoon approa ched an
Infantry officer and pointing to the guns at
the end Of Congress street, asked him II 1t
was possible that the military authorities
would permit the discharge Of those
weapons in such a crowded nelghborhood
The officer smiled only little and then. in
a grave and paternal way. said: MY
friends, IL you a disorderly mob
coming down that street and approaching
the camp, 1 would advise you to get away
from that street with all possible rapidity -
Caprons battery is now as perfect an
organization as could be looked for. Capt
Capron-whO Is none the less a Washing
tonian because he has had to serve else
where for n good many years-is the same
ginian in whom there Is no guile but a
great deal Of fight and military capacity
His lieutenants are rated among the
very best of the younger element-Messrs
ton. Had there been any trouble in Chicago
calling for the of artillery. Capron's
battery would have been heard from.
That Mcrciful Captain.
A collection Of all the gooi Service
stories told in the camps would make
mighty interesting reading. but some of the
stories cannot be printed. not because of
any unfitness for publication, but because
it would be poor policy to make known
some things until times mellowing in
fuences have had an 7porturity to get in
their work. One of the stories from the
Rio Grande Is trifie too good to keep
Capt. John G. Bourke was engaged in doing
oil he could to Dut down the Cara rebel
lion. He had captured wealthy old border
resident who was deeply interested In Gar
Za's success. The prisoner refused positive
ly to talk. Lieut.. Walter Short, now of the
sixth cavalry, was serving with Bourke
and being an excellent Spanish scholar, was
of great assistance. Mr Shorts methods
were unique. Approaching the old gentle
man, he congra tulated him on his good for
tune in falling into the hands of the most
me-cifu of all army officers. This an
roUncement was something of a surprise to
the prisoner. who had an idea that Capt.
Bourkc was declled out with horns and
hoofs and barb tipped tail. The prisoner
was grateful: he thanked several saints for
the information brought him.
YES" continued Mr. Short. "he Is en-
tirely too tende--hearted for this business"