The San Francisco call., 1897-04-09
He Is Nominated Brigadier.
General of the Regular
Army. 4
During the Past Ten Years He
Was Jumped by Five
Junior Colones.
The New Generals War Record and
His Splendid Campaign Against
Hostile Indians.

The President yesterday nominated
Colonel William r. Shafter, First In
fantry, U. S. A, to be brigadier-general.
to fill the vacancy caused by the promo
ton of Wheaton major general, vice
Ruger retired.
The promotion of Colonel Shafter, al
ready long delayed, is hailed with satis-
faction in army circles at the Presidio and
by thousands of civilians of California.
Last evening Colonel s. B. NJ. Young, post
commander at the Presidio, sent a mes
sage OF congratulation by wire to Colonel
Shaiter. The latter is in Washington on
a months leave of absence.
When this leave expires he will return
to the Presidio, pack up his effects and
proceed to the command of whatever de-
partment he may be assigned to. 1t is
presumed that he will be ordered to the
Department of the Colum bia to succeed
General Otis, who will go TO the Depart
ment of Dakota.
Colonel Shafter has an excellen. mill
tary record. He entered the volunteer SER
vice as first lieutenant of the Seventh
Michigan Infantry August, 1861, and
served one year as adjutant of that regl-
ment.
Oaks, Va, and promoted to major of the
Nineteenth Michigan Infantry. He was
again promoted to lieutenant-colonel of
the Nineteenth Michigan. In 1864 he was
commissioned colonel of the Seyenteent
Colored Infantry. On March 13, 1866, he
was brevetted brigadicr-general for gal
liant and meritorlous service. He was
mustered out of the volunteer service in
1866 and the same year appointed lieuten-
ant-coloneI of the Forty-first United
States Infantry and brevetied colonel in
the regular army for gallant services at
the battle of Fair Oaks.
By the consolidation of regiments in
1859 Coionei Shafter was assigned to the
Twenty fourth United States Infantry
was promoted colonel of the First United
States Infantry.
Colonel Shafter since the war served
with renown in Texas, on the Rio Grande
frontier. He was mentioned by General
Ord as one OF the most active and ener-
getic officers of his rank in the pursuit and
punishment of hostile Indians. It. was
the custom of the Indians of that region
to make desperate raids and when pur-
sued 10 scatter to the Staked Plains where
they alone knew where water could be
found. Colonel Shafter in one pursuit
pushed across the plains TO the Pecos
River, going nearly sixty hours without
water. The campaign was conducted with
so much activity and resolution that the
hosliles, renegades and thieves were pun
ished severely.
The First Infantry, United States army.
Is regarded rs one of the best infantry
regiments, if not the best, in the regular
service, and much of the credit for its
efficiency and superiority is due to Colon ell
Shafter.
II is a mystery in military circles why
4,niOnal ShRitQr'S
long delayed. AS colonel he was the
senior in rank of Brooke, Otis, FORSYTH.
Bliss and Coppinger. each of whom has
been com nmisSioned brigadier-generai.
During his service in Texas he was ac-
cused OF being what was then termed an
offensive PARTISAN" 1t is surmised that
influence was exerted against him In
Washington on this account. The theory
that prevails in the army is that society
and personal Influences of a powerful
character were exeried in behalf OF the
successful colonels rather than again 1T
Shafter.
Colonel Shafter was recently nominated
to succeed Colonel S. B. III. Young as
commander of the Loyal Legion, CaIifor-
mia Com m andeTy. There is no doub. of
his election, but it is thought he NAV re-
sign this honor on his departure from the
State.
Lieutenant Colonel Cook of the Fourth
Infantry will probably be promoted to
the colonelcy of the First Infantry. vice
Shafter, and may come to the Presidio as
post commander. Colonel Young, Fourth
Cavalry, who has been appointed superin-
tendent of the Yellowstone Park, will re-
main at the Presidio as post commander
until May l. He will not start on the
march from Walla Walla to Yellowstone
until the mountain passes are clear of
deem SpOwc