Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-26
GOING TO THE PHILIPPINES
Maj. Persbing Ordered to Join the Staff of
General Otis.
Has Severed His Relations With Gus
toms and Insular AEairs-A
Brilliant Career.

Major John j. Pershing, United States
Volunteers. for the past six months chief
of the division Of customs and insular af-
fairs of the War Department. has severed
his relations with that division, under or
ders to proceed at once to Manila and join
the STAFF of General Otis
Born in Linn county, Mo-, in 1860, Major
Pershing was appointed to the United
States Military Academy in 1882, from
which he graduated with military honors
in 1886. Almost from the commencement of
his military service Major Pershings ca
reer has been brilliant. Under General
Wesley Merritt he held the rank Of senior
cadet captain at the Military Academy, and
that distinguished cavalry officer has since
taken occasion to pay to him this tribute:
He had every promise then of becoming
the superb officer he is now known to be.
He was earnest, ambitious, energetic and
manly In an eminent degree, and occupied
with honor to himself and advantage to the
Military Academy the highest offices be-
slowed upon cadets"
Assigned to Fort Bayard, N. NJ, on his
graduation as second lieutenant, 9th Cav
airy, he was fortunate enough to take part
at its close in the campaign against Geron-
imo. which ended in compelling that
doughty savage to sue for terms of peace.
Later on, in November and December, he
performed the difficult feat of locating a
lire of signal stations from Fort Bayarti
to Fort Stanton, N. NJ, a distance of 800
miles.
Complimented by Gen. Miles.
In August, 1887, he was transferred to
Fort Stanton in command of his troop. and
took part in the many long and tedious
marches that were then being executed un-
der the command of General Miles. 1t was
on one of these severe marches that Major
Pershing and his troop distinguished them
selves by making 13O miles over a rough
and mountainous country in less than
forty-seven hours. For this feat he was
highly complimented by General Miles.
1t was in the month of April, 1899, when
placed in command of Troop A, 9th Cav
airy then at Fort Wingate that the major
with ten men set out to rescue some horse
thieves and cowboys from hundred we'll
armed and exasperated Zuni Indians. Three
of the Fed men had already been killed and
several had been wounded in a running
fight with the horse thieves. BY skillful
diplomacy and threats the Indians were
stood off, the cowboys released and the
thieves made prisoners and brought to
Fort Wingate.
The major also took part in the Sioux
campaign of 1S90-91, and at Pine Ridge
commanded the Sioux scouts until August,
1901. when he was detailed for duty at the
University Of Nebraska. as military in
structor, an office which he filed with emf
nent ability and with satisfaction to all
concerned, and for which he received high
recommendations on his retirement.
At the completion of his detail. having
been promoted to be first lieutenant. 10th
Cavalry. his next post Of duty was Fort
Assinniboine, Montana In June, 1895. he
assisted in rounding up the Cree Indians
in Montana, and had charge of all the de-
tails of this duty. From December. 1896,
until May, 1897, Major Pershing was at
tached to the headquarters of the army,
in this city.
Saw Service In Cuba.
He accompanied his regiment. the hOth
Cavalry, in the Cuban campaign, and took
part in the several battles before Santiago,
where he was frequently recommended for
brevet promotion. Returning to Wash
ington in August, 1898, he became at
tached to the office of the Secretary of
War.
Major Pershing's management Of the di-
vision Of customs and insular affairs is a
splendid illustration Of the rare executive
ability for which he is noted. From small
beginnings the division has risen to be one
of the most important In the War Depart
ment. The division transacts the entire
business Of our new colonial possessions,
and, as might be imagined, the room it oc-
cupies is a hive Of industry, where regular
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