The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-27
RICHLY DESERVES IT
Major McKibbin to Be Promoted to a
Lieutenant Colonel.
PERFECT AMERICAN SOLDIER
ne VIII Probably Be Assigned to
the 21st regiment on Lake
Ihamplain-1 he Story
of His Life.

Missoula, March 26-Information ha,
been received at Fort Missoula that Ma.
yor Mckibbin of the Twenty-fifth i'm.
fantry will receive on May j a much.
observed promotion and after that date
VIII De Lieutenant Colonel McKfbbin
ms news Is received I'm Missoula with
potn pleasure and regret-pleasure thai
such thorough soldier and pentIena n
as Major McKibbin is to be advanced
ana sincere regret that Missoula will
lose MIN as result of his promotion.
winch viii take him to another regi-
ment AS the slate now stands, Colonel
Mcklbbin will be assigned to the com
mana or the Twenty-first infantry, now
stationed at Pittsburgh barraclSs on
Lake Champlain.
Major Mckibbin came to Fort Mis-
soula with the Twenty-fifth and, dur
ing the several years that he has been
stationed here, he has made many
warm friends among the citizens of
TINS city. Always courteous, alike to
friends and strangers. but at the same
time a stern soldier, Major McKibbin
Is always mentioned by his friends as
splendid instance of the American
soldier, who has made this country
what IL Is. His military education was
obtained in the hard school of expe-
rlehce and that 1t was thorough and
complete is evidenced by the universal
respect which his opinions command
among military men. Among the SOL
dlers and civilians alike Major McKib
ON is generally respected and admired
on account OF these qualities and there
VIII be no one in all his wide circle of
acquaintances who will not be sorry TO
know that he is to leave Missoula.
During the period of his residence
mere, Major McKibbin has identified
vyffh h.
this section and has been of much as
sistance in the furtherance of many
enterprises which have been brought
Forward In that time. Many a visitor
TO Missoula has carried away with him
among the pleasant recollections of his
stay, the remembrance of a pleasant
chat with Major McKibbin either at
the post or in town. 1t has been among
the pleasantest experiences of the writ
er or this article, that he could call Ma
jor McKibbin, friend.
The major was brought prominently
before the people of this section during
the railroad strike, when he was i'm
command of the troops in the field
along this division. His position was a
very trying one Among the strikers
were some of his personal acquaint-
ances and. deeply as he deprecated the
situation. he knew that the orders of
the president of the United States must
be carried out to the letter. And that,
as commanding officer, he did. On more
than one occasion violence seemed in
eVitable, but IL was invariably ayerted |
by Major McKibbin's tact and firm |
ness. He was equal to every emer- |
gency and II is due, in a great meas |
ure, TO his presence on the field that |
the strike on the Rocky Mountain d. 1
vision was not characterized by the |
incidents which were re-
corded elsewhere.
Like all good soldiers, Major McKib-
pin is reluctant to talk about himself,
ana II was with great difficulty that |
the STANDARD reporter secured a state |
ment OF the majors early military ca
reer. The story as the major told II is
brief but very characteristic of him. as
his friends will recognize. To the re-
porter he said:
Il was appointed 'sutler' of the
fourteenth United States infantry in
SOL and had Joined the Army of the
under Mcclellan on the
with a large stock of
FOODS, just as the retreat to the James
liver began. l burned the stock of
foods, wound up the business by burn
ng the books also. changed my city
lothlng for the suit of a private sol
ler, fought in the ranks of the Four
zenith all that terrible day at Gaines
dill until late in the afternoon when l
vas shot through the face. / was rec
for a commission on the
cid that night by the officers of the
ocular brigade approved by the gen
raj commanding. Was offered the |
commission in the Fourteenth, but de-
lined at first. as all my patriotism had
one glimmering. l subsequently ac-
epted and served through the war. /
as twice severely wounded and
vice slightly"
The story is very brief and unsatis-
lctory. The majors fellow officers ,
ave, on more than one OCCASION. in con- !
ersation with the reporter, referred .
the daring and reckless courage of
aJor Mckibbin- Colonel Burt, his /,
'mmanding officer. once said to the !
'porter: Major McKibbin's war rec !
"a was brilliant one and one to be
'oud Of" n
Since the war, the larger part of Ma q
r Mckibbin's service has been on the
ontier and he has become a thorough
In 1869. Major McKibbin
arried the only daughter of Gen. C. |
Sibley, and IL is no discredit to the e
ajor TO say that Mrs. McKibbin, in a n
rye degree, deserves credit for the .
gh position that he occupies in the n
TEEN of his friends and that there
III be as much regret at her depar- l'
re as at his own.
Major and Mrs. McKibbfn will prob y
ly leave Fort Missoula May 1. Miss ..
cktbbin. their. daughter, left for the =
ist last night and will remain there a
tn friends until her parents reach 6,
cir new home in New York a.
With the Navajo Indians >,
Oc -