Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1899-02-11
GOOD VORDS FOR COL. JONES.
an Idaho Folunteer Furnishes an
Interesting account of the
CoIoneIs Record.


CoIoneI's Record.
From the Freedom, a paper published
in Manila, we take the following cor
respondenee, dated December 2lst, and
signed by Andrew Marker, one of Com
pany G's enlisted boys who went from
Pocatello:
''Colonel Jones has resigned his com
mand of the Idaho volunteers and will
start for home next week.
Colonel Jones has the honor of hay-
ing been in command of the first reg
iment of volunteers Idaho ever mus
tered into the service. When the war
summons came, with short allowance
of grace days to make ready, Colonel
left his arduous duties as editor of an
enterprising newspaper, and offered
his services to the government in what
ever capacity it should see fit to place
him. 1t was seen tit to make him Lieut..
Colonel OF the regiment and subsequent
events proved it to be good choice.
He did the, best he could to put the
command in fighting trim and place it
first in the fight, and if, when the war
lords cast the die, it had fallen to our
lot to have taken conspicuous part in
the attack on Manila, we are sure that
our gallant Colonel would have led us
to glory and victory. A more inglori-
GUS duty was ours, but the Colonel was
prood, nevertheless, of the patience,
constancy, determination and cheerful
ness of his men under unaccustomed
hardships and privation, and that they
had won the thanks of General Merritt
for doing it so uncomplainingly and
we'll.
mot man in the regiment but what
regrets his going, and wishes he were
able to remain and lead them home
again. In going he has the best wishes
of the command, every man of whom
holds in high esteem the gallant old
soldier who has treated them so kindly
and with the courtesy that always dis
tinguishes Southern gentleman of
the old school.
He is an old man and, perhaps too
infirm for his position, but every
one respects the patriotism that led
him again into the battlefield to prove
his ardent love and allegiance to the
old flag and the old animosities between
the blue and the gray is forgotten for
ever.
"He has won the individual graft
tude of his men by his kindly solicit
tude for their safety and welfare and
his ready sympathy and patience in
listening to any grievances they had
to tell.
when his command was in the
trenches on outpost, before the battle,
he went over the ground beyond the
trenches in plain view of the enemy
and at cons iderable risk of his life.
He examined the ground closely and
carefully, noting the points that would
be of advantage to his men in case Of
a charge over them, and was at pains
to know the lay of the lands over which
he would probably soon lead his COM
maud.
"Colonel Jones is an old soldier, hav-
ing served brilliant apprenticeship
in the civil war. He went in at one
end of the war a beardless private and
came out at the other a bearded war;
/ mir tuith ..,ff ~ ~
onel's sash. He fought with conspic-
uous gallantry under Lee, when his
famous leader was hurting, with match
less stratagem, that thin, gray line of
gaunt and threadbarc soldiers, against
his inyincible opponent at Gettysburg
and Malvernbill. He was one OF the
men who went in, and one of the few
who came out, OF the immortal Pickett's
| famous charge, in which more brave
men were lost and more blood was
spilled than in the whole American
| Spanish war.
SAT Blackfoot, Idaho, he has a pleas
ant home and Is held in high esteem
by the people of his neighborhood.
When at San Francisco, he received
| from them beautiful sword, d token
of their regard and love. He has a
son there, who edits very bright and
aggressive little newspaper, and q
daughter who has been the lady of the
household since the death of a beloved
mother. some years ago, awaiting his
coming.
"His men all join in wishing him bon
voyage and hope the ship that carries
him home, will arrived in port after d
pleasant voyage and that he may go
back to his people renewed in health
and vigor."