The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-03-08

dier-General is al present causing con
siderable stir in army circles. Ac-
cording 10 several officers, the promo
ton is absolutely without a prece-
dent since the Civil War. In rising
from the rank Of Captain 10 that of
Brigadier-General General Bell has
jumped over the heads of 1896 Off
GERS. who. according 10 the rules OF
seniority. would have been entitled TO
antedate him in promotion.
In spite Of the great change that has
been made in his rank, none Of the
officers in the regular army will deny
that he received any more than his
just deserts. Although not widely
known outside OF army circles, the rec
ord made by the cavalry Captain while
acting with the volunteer army during
the past two years in the Philippines
has made his name well known 10 ol-
most eve7 officer among the regulars.
Genera Eell was born in Lexington,
KY, forty-four years ago, being a
member of a well-known Kentucky
family. He was admitted 10 the Mill
tary Academy at West Point in 1874
and became n Second Lieutenant in
the Ninth Cavalry on June H. 1878
In August Of that year he was trans
ferred to the Seventh Cavalry. He
saw his first actual service under
General Forsyth ir the campa On
against the Indians in the Dakotas
In May, 1895 he received a commits
sion as Major of Engineers in the
volunteer army, and went 10 Manila
where he was placed in command of
what was known as the Bureau of
Information This was practically a
secret service department of the army.
and il was through il that General
OTIS kept himself posted in regard TO
the movements Of the natives before
the actual fighting broke out.
General Bell, while in charge of the
Bureau of Information. earned a
great deal of praise by his work He
continued in the bureau until Febru-
ary. 1899, when the actual fighting
broke out. The Bureau of Informa-
tion ceased TO afford him a field for
his activities at this time. and Gen
eral Bell Immediately left it 10 attach
himself to General Macarthur,
who was leading an expedition
against the insurgents. General
Bell did not hold any official rank in
this expedition, but simply went with
II as a sort Of free lance. with the per-
mission of General Macarthur. He
soon became well known for the
work he did as scout. He frequent
ly went ahead of the main body of the
army with a company of men from the
First Montana Regiment, and his nat
ural aptitude in learning the topogra-
ply of rev country soon showed il.
self
At the battle Of Caloocan On Febru-
ary 10 he distinguished himself by
drawing the fire of a number of insur-
gents who were concealed in the
woods 10 the right of the position
which the American troops were at
tacking. He volunteered to go for
ward TO learn the number Of men in
the woods with the Montana com
pany, and on receiving permission had
soon moved so far forward against
the insurgents that it was thought he
and his command would be cut TO
pieces. He had advanced to a point
where he was directly between the
fire OF the insurgents in the woods
and their own main body. Those in
the woods advanced 10 make an at
tack on him. but the American artil-
lery came to his support and drove
them back. General Bell then waited
for the general attack and joined in
it with his men. His losses were Oaly
q few killed and wounded.
In July the Lieutenant-Colon Of
the Thirty second Volunteer Infantry
was offered TO him and declined. 1t
was little after this that General
Bell was made Colonel Of the Thirty
sixth Volunteer Infantry. This regi-
ment, which is now one Of the most
efficient in the Philippines, was re-
cruited by him. The majority Of the
men who enlisted had served with
General Bell in the Montana, Dakota
and Nebraska regiments in General
MacArthur's command. and they were
all picked men as well as thoroughly
acquainted with the good qualities of
their leader. When the regiment had
been recruited up to about half its
strength it Joined General Macarthur
in the expedition that he was making
northward into the interior Of Luzon.
General Macarthur had three brigades
in his division, but General Bell was
not required TO report to any of the
Brigadier-Generals. and was RESPONSE
bic only to General Macarthur
1t was in this expedition that Gen
eral Bell gained the greater part OF
his laurels. He moved with his regi-
ment in the advance of the army,
which was moving northward along
the railroad tracks. The speed with
which he moved kept the rebels run.
ming before him almost continually,
and did not leave them time to make
any resistance or even to destroy the
railroad tracks as they went.
During all this expedition General
Bell displayed the greatest personal
bravery. All Of his officers, like him
self. were mounted on horses. and II
was his custom 10 press far ahead Of
the main body Of his men attended
only by few OF his stan. On one oc-
casion. near Porac. when riding ahead
with ten OF his officers he came upon a
body Of over 100 insurgents. He i'm
mediately charged upon them and
scattered them In all directions. Gen
eral Bell himself was carried by the
force Of his charge through a piece Of
brush into a clearing where he was