The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1899-04-08

oAoSSu1uAn8s UAOE1OuS OA&A 1Au1AlA
~ Fighter, Who Has Routed the
Filfpinos-An Anecdotnl Portrait
by an Omcer who Served with
Him-His Campaign Against SITE
ting Bull and the Apaches-His
Manners and His Methods. Z &
Gen. Elwell Stephen Otis Is, Of all ths
men know, the most modest. He has
never sought praise nor desired notoriety.s
He has always been a simple, straight
forward man and brave soldier. The
events Of the past week In Manila have
made his one IF the great names in
American military history. AS he can no
longer be the simple soldier, loved by his
men and known only to the rank and
file of the army, 1t gives an old comrade
in the service pleasure to say in the
World a few words about one of the
most efficient as we'll as one of the BRAY
est of men. If Vermont gave Dewey, the
first hero of Manila, to the navy, New
York may claim the second Manila hero,
Otis, for while Otis Vas born in 1888 at
Frederick City, Md, his father moved
soon afterward to Rochester, N. K. and
there the future major general spent his
youth. 5.-f''-. ii
Gen., Otis was q student at the Uni
ver1ty Of Rochester in the cla0 ~ 5S,
was = member of the Delta Psi fko unity j
studied law and graduated from ~ aar-
ward law school in 1861. At the outbreak
OF the Civil war, when he was still in
college, he volunteered and was appointed
a captain in the One Hundred and Fortl-,,
eth New York infantry. For gallant and
merttorious conduct he was advanced In
1868 to the rank of lieutenant colonel
and In 1864 to the full rank of colonel.
He participated in all of the important,
,- enga genents of the Army of the Poto-
mac after Antietam' as captain, lieuten-
ant colonel colonel and finally as acting
brigade commander -r-
He was wounded at the battle of Chapel
House, Oct. 1, 1864, and suffered from
the wound for many years afterward.
He was In the trenches experimenting
the placing of artillery when hit by q
ball, which entered the left side of his
nose, passing through the roof of his
mouth and out at the back of his head
near the ear. After this frightful wound
he lay at the point of death for many
weeks, but as soon as he obtained his
discharge from the hospital he went i'm
mediately back to the front and partici-
pated in the fall of Richmond, returning
to Rochester June &, 1865, a brigadier
general. m.
He resumed the study of law. but the
effects of the wound made his health
delicate and outdoor life a necessity. He
returned to the regular army and hts
first assignment was with the Twenty
second infantry. The colonel was absent
and Otis took command when the Sioux
Indians went on the warpath and made
their famous ca npaign under Sitting Bull
1t was Gen. Otis who originated the plan
of Il winter campaign against the In
dams.
After the death of Gen. Sykes, Gen.
Otis was promoted to the colonelcy Of the
Twentieth infantry. He joined the regi-
merit at Fort Brown, Tex, and soon after
elled all the buildings of the post and
killed several people. Gen. Otis set to
work to rebuild the army post with no
aid outside of the men Of his own regi-
me1>t. He did this with so little expense
ard in so practical a manner that it won
compliment in the general orders from
Wsshinfton. He was transferred to the
department of the Missouri and put in
command of Fort Leave1lworth, then a
ramshackle old post.
Gen. Otis set to work to beautify it. He
cleared off the timber. laid out parade and
drill grounds and erected fine infantry
barracks. Drill was for time suspended
end to encourage his men, Gen. Otis him
self took a pick and shovel and did all
that was required of privates. His chief
work at Fort LeavenWorth was the found
ing of the infantry and cavalry school of
the United States army, which he called
his kindergarten" This school soon be-
came we'll known for the model soldiers
it turned out. Gen. Sherman admired Gen.
Otis and never tired of praising his practi-
cal usefulness, his Responsiveness and the
fine spirit of discipline and esprit de corps
wherever he was in command. In 1891
and 1892 he directed the recruiting service
of the army in New York city, securing
a higher standard of enlisted men for the
regular army. He was promoted to briga-
der general in 1893 a2d placed in COM
mand of the department of Columbia, and
in June, 1898, he became a major general.
In this department there was no work
for troops except during the Debs railroad
strike and the Coxey army movement
Gen. Otis was called on to protect trains
from strikers, and this was accomplished
without bloodshed, but with f1rmness. No
Coxey armies seized trains in Gen. Otis
department. A gang made the attempt,
but all were arrested and held In a mule
corral. Gen. Otis had no further trouble.
He prided himself on his ability to mix
mortar and tended to this detail persol-
ally when building barracks. While he
was in command Of the Twentieth In
fSntry it was known in the army as the
pick and shovel regiment" Gen. Otis
despised an indolent man, and a soldier
who was lazy found it unpleasant in his
company. ~@E't,I
The characteristics Of Gen. Otis are an
indomitable will. reserve, hatred for ly
Ing and hypocrisy and a determination
to surmount all obstacles. Sergeant
Pucket, who served under him eight,
years, who Is now in the quartermaster's'
department at Fort Leavenworth, says
that Gen. Otis couN do anything. He
impressed his men With the belief that he
could overcome all obstacles. They
knew him to be fearless and ready to
lead in fight. In battle, like in work,
he did not ask the men to do anything
that he was unwilling to try himself.
Gen. Otis was beloved by the soldiers of
his regiment. who called him father Of
the boys and 'Teddy Otis" This last
name was applied to him because he
worked with the soldiers with pick and
shovel in hand.
Gen. Otis is six feet tall and of com
manding presence He is natural
leader Of men. He is good judge Of
human nature. Old soldiers who served
under MIN say that it was Impossible to
lie to him. He had a way Of looking at
+ a man that made him afraid to tell any
thing but the truth.
While Gen. Otis was in North Mon
tana band of the Gros Verge Indians
crossed into Canada and stole 1.4OO4 In
dian ponies from the Blood Indians of
Northwest Canada The Canadian po-
lice notified Cen Otis and he took a bat
talon Of four troops of the First cavalry
under his command and surrounded the
eros Verge at o'clock in the morning.
He made the Indians take the stolen
ponies back and severely punished the
s chiefs. Il. II
Cen Otis has given many proofs of
personal courage. An instance occurred
- right after the hurricane at Fort Brown.