The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-10-06

ular army, frol maj rails, brig
adiers, officers of the line to ordinary
troopers, always, refer to tt com
mander of the American forces. San
tiago as "Pecos Bill" Shafter.N Sc is
known by tha5 title from Vanc yer
barracks to Tampa The sobriqie' IS a,
"Reminiscences Of the old days I'M the,
southwest when May Gen. Shafter, as
a colonel of infantry, chased Indians,
rode hard, tramped harder, and made
the hardest sort OF military life pleas
ant for everybody around him.
The hero of Santiago was Slender
young man in those days, could ride his
60 miles a day, dag and day out, or
tramp along at the head Of the troop
ers under him fortaNwee elk on army RAJ
tions without complaining half as
much as some of tbs Eolun teersd who
have not progressed, any y further to-
ward actual war than Camp Alger in
| Virginia. '''''' o. i'''0 e''i
They tell a hundTgd ist6rfeis I'll the,
array to prove thatHPecos BiH''Skafter
is a real soldier; notEefaei of thersort
that likes militaryihop,as wefbhs hei
likes scrimmagel with atheaenenyj
They say of him that he ais, fihard."
They don't mean, of course, that he is
hard in a moral or humane. sense.
because he is as gentle as a woman, and
as rigid in his views Of life as a Puritan
father. But he is a hard Soldier, hard
rider, hard fighter and strict disci7
| plinarian. " nHi7"lf# l9dt );
"'Bill' Shaftcr always has his coat
off when there is anything doiRg,H is a
| saying in the army a.. The last time he's
was seen by the writer ....Pecos Bill not
| only had off his coat, but also his sus-
penders, and was giving the herders of
a mule pack train a lesson or two
about their business and the accom-
panying art of persuading mules to do
things at Port Tampa. 1of-nm
In order to fully appreciate his en-
ergy it should be remembered that
zen. Shafter is a sure-enough heavy
weight He admits that he weighs
something over 300 pounds" The re+
ports from Santiago say that the big
general assumed direct command of
bis men; that he rode into theffeld
with his coat off and'Yelled ordersiust
Us he used to do in the old days,twhen
batting renegade Indians was the ex-
tent of the nations military under
taking.
"Bill' Shafter is known as plain
man, too. There are no frills about
him. He went off to Cuba not a whit
better equipped as far as clothing,was
concerned, than the troopers Gwho
went with him and sweltered under
heavy blue-clofh uniforms. f. A friend
who was with him at Tampa suggested
that he have one Of the fashionable
khaki uniforms constructed for him
self. Most of the generals and staff Of
ficers with him presented very natty
figures, and the bluff old Indianluam-
paigner admired them ~ way. Iln
'They are just the things for, a mil
itary ball" said he. But" he added,
81 don't want any of them in mine.
I guess l will go just as l am. twill fit
in among the boys better 'tI2
So "BilP' Shafter went off to the war
in a regulation uniform of dark blue
cloth, of the same quality asd the
clothes worn by the private troopers.
The only difference was that upon each
of his shoulders there were two gold
stars-the insignia of major general
of the United States army He en-
deared himself to the troops in his
corps by advising the regimentaI
commanders to take off and leave off
their coats. And he left his off during
the trip from Tampa to the landing
place in CuDa.
The troopers in the First regiment
of infantry who served with Gen.
Shafter in the west, are sincerely fond
of him. They give rigorous evidence of
the fact upon every occasion. and no
man came in for a heartier reception
than he the day when he went aboard
the transport at Seguranca at Port
Tampa to sail out Of the port and point
the way to Cuba and the stronghold Of
the enemy.-BUston Post.