The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-21
WOODS RECORD.
Embodied in Letter From Root
to Senator Proctor.

ana TO- winch compliment the army
and General Wood for services in Cuba.
Secretary Roots letter is under date of
November Is and is the most compre-
hensive statement of the reasons which
led to the nomination of General Wood
to be 5br1gadier general by Mr.. Mckin-
ley and to be major general by Presi-
dent Roosevelt that has been presented
The full text of the letter follows:
War Department, Washington, D. c.,
November IS 1893. My Dear Senator
In compliance with your request,
transmit a resume Of the military rec
ord of General Leonard Wood and
statement of the chief considerations
which have led to his nomination as
major general
This officer has been five times con-
nrmed by the senate upon appoint
ments by President Mckinley as a gem
eral officer; twice as brigadier general
of volunteers. twice as major general
of volunteers, and once as brigadier
general of the regular army Your
committee is therefore probably IA
miliar with most of the facts in this
record. 1t covers a period of seventeen
years. service, and naturally divides
itself into four distinct parts:
First-His services as a line officer
IN command of troops, although serv-
ing under a commission in the medical
STAFF, during the Indian wars. Upon
this service his superior officers have
made the following remarks:
General MileSThis officer served in
the field under my command Cor sew
eral months during the campaign
against the Apache Indians under
Geronimo. He is one of the most enter
prlslng, intelligent and fearless officers
in the service and competent to fulfill
the duties of a field officer.
General Lawton-When, through ex-
posture and fatigue, the infantry bat
TALON lost its last officer Gin the pursuit
of Geronimo), Cptain Wood volunteered
to command it in addition to his duties
as surgeon. In this duty Captain Wood
distinguished himself most. His cour-
age, endurance and example made sue
cess possible. served through the war
of the rebellion and in many battles, but
in no instance do l remember such de-
votion to duty or such an example of
courage and perseverance. 1t was main
~ due to Captain Woods loyalty and
resolution that the expedition was sue
cessful
General William M Graham: with
a high sense of honor in all the obliga-
tions of life. he is a most conscientious
and jealous officer in the discharge of
duty. His physique is superb. his men
tai qualifications are of the highest
ORDER
General George A. Forsyth: Captain
Wood served with me on the frontier in
Arizona and New Mexico a number of
years ago. 1 have known him well for
the past ten years and regard him as
one of the very best soldiers I know.
He has all the sound Judgment,
good sense, executive ability expert
ence and courage requisite to make him
one of the best and safest colonies in
the army
Upon these and similar evidences of
fitness, President Mckinley appointed
Captain Wood colonel of the First vol
unter cavalry in May, 1898.
Second, in the Santiago campaign Col.
Woods services appeared to justify his
appointment. He commanded his regi-
ment at Las Guasimas June "a, 1898,
and his brigade commander, Gen. Young
rRnnrfod Of him
highly of the efficient manner in which.
Col. Wood handled his regiment and his
magnificent behavior on the field"
His division commander, Gen. Wheel
brave work done by his regiment un-
der the lead of Col. Wood tesfifies to
his courage and skill The energy
and determination of this Office has
been marked from the moment he re-
ported to me in Tampa, Fla, but have
abundant evidence of his brave and
good conduct on the field and recon-
mend him for the consideration of the
government"
He commanded a brigade in the San
Juan fight July 1, 1898, and his division
commander Samuel S. Sumner) report
ed of him: '"Too much credit cannot be
given to the gallant brigade comman-
ders, Colonel Wood, etc"
The corps commander, Gen. Shafter,
reported: 1.-THE following officers were
conspicuous for their bravery and
handled their troops so well desire TO
recommend them for promotion.
Col. Wood to be a brigadier general.
The third period covers the command
of the troops in occupation of the pro-
vince of Santiago and the adm1n1stra-
ton of the military government in that
province from August, 1898, to Decern-
her 1899 Gen. Woods appointment TO
this position appears to have been
based upon the following dispatch from
Gen. Shafter, dated August 4: Il think
Gen. Wood by far the best man 70
leave in command of the city OF Sanu-
ago. and perhaps of the whole district"
This important command carried with
If naturally an appointment as major
general of volunteers This commits
sion was vacated upon the reduction
of the army in the spring of 1899, when
General Wood was again appointed
brigadier general of volunteers. ana IN
December. 1899. because OF the. excel
lence of his administration of the mill
tarv department in the department of
Santiago and Puerto Principe, he was
again made major general or Volun-
teers and appointed military governor
of Cuba and commander of the Limited
States forces in that island, then
amounting to somewhat over 10000
men.
In the spring of 1901, General Woods
commission as major general of vol
unteers being about to expire by oper-
alton of law he was nominated by
President Mckinley and confirmed by
the senate as briEadier general OF the
regular army. and his last years serv-
ice as military governor was under
that commission.
In the autumn. after the end of the
military occupation of Cuba, General
Wood applied for active service in the
Philippines and was assigned to the
command of the department of Min
danao. where he is now serving. The
administration Of the office of military
governor of Cuba was directly under
the control and supervision of the sec
rotary of war, acting for the preSi-
dent as COMMUNICATIVE chief. The high
estimate put by the secretary of war
upon General Woods service as mill
tary governor is shown in the pub
lished orders of the war department
contained in the inclosed papers. The
opinions expr essed in these orders were
also the opinions of both the presidents