Durango semi-weekly herald., 1903-08-10
GENERAL
NILES
SUCCESSOR

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Aug s.
Although Americans who started in
lie as day laborers have become pres
ident OF the great republic, no man
VINO shouldered musket as a COM
mon soldier has ever attained to the
position oil commander OF the Army
OF the United States until today Ma
jor General Samuel Baldwin Marks
Young, who today succeeds To the
command OF the army ON the statutory
retirement OF Lieutenant General
Miles, began his career as an enlisted
man in the Twelfth Pennsylvania in
fantry. All OF his twenty-one prede-
cessors as commander OF the army be-
san their military careers as commits
stoned officers. 1t has been stated
frequently that the chief objection to
General Miles on the part OF his broth
er officers was due to the fact that he
was not a West Point man. The same
cause for complaint is TO be found in
the case OF the new commanding gen
eral. General Young is the third man
who has come from civil life, as dis
tinguished from those who have gone
through the academy, to attain the
ter it became possible to appoint u
West Point graduate, to achieve that
position was General Winfeld Scott,
who became commander in 1871, thir
ty-nine years after the establishment
of the academy. He entered the army
from civil lie as captain OF artillery
Since Scott all the commanders oil the
army except Miles have been West
PIONEERS.
But the new commanding general is
a soldier from the ground up, without
any Iuss or feathers. He is not ii
medal OF honor man, but one who
quietly and faithfully performed his
duties at all times, and is recognized
as a tireless fighting general who is
ready tor duuy day or night. He
emerged from the civil war with the
respect of all his comrades, and per
formed excellent service during the
Spanish war, later distinguishing him
sell in the Philippines.
Five months after he entered the
pennsylvania regiment as a private
April %, 1861. he was made "A captain
OF volunteers. One year later he was
promoted TO the grade OF major. In
October, 1864, he had reached the
grade of lieutenant colonel, and two
months later was placed in command
OF his regiment. April ., 1865, he was
breveted hrigadier general OF voun
teers Tor conspicuous gallantry, ant
was hunorably mustered out OF the
service July /, 1865.
\ year later he was appointed in
the regular establishment, with the
rank of second lieutenant OF the
Twelfth regular infantry. July IS the
same year he was transferred to the
cavalry arm OF the service with the
rank OF captain and was assigned to
the Eighth regiment. He was not
promoted again until April . 1883,
when he was promoted to a lieutenant
colonelcy and was transferred to the
Fourth cavalry. In 1897 he was given
another promotion, this time to the
colonelcy of his regiment.
Upon the outbreak OF the Spanish
war Colonel Young was given the
RANK OF brigadier general of volun
teers ana was assigned TO duty at Las
Guasimas, Cuba, where there was
livey battle in which Sergeant Hamil
ton risn and Captain Allyn Capron. in
command OF light battery, were kill
ed This is the battle in which Colon
el Capron, the father OF Captain Cap
ron, fought so desperately after his
son had been killed. During this cam
paign father and son lost their lives
Before the close of the Spanish war
General Young had been honored with
the rank OF major general of volun
l. 1t. ia Ia q l, ,,lt
teer army in 1899. He was then made
brigadier general in the regular
army in 1900 and sent to the Philip
pines Then followed the daring and
successful campaign in Luzon, con
Quoted under the special guidance OF
General Young. whose cavalry scatter
ed and broke up the insurgent organi-
cations effectually.
General Young was a member of the
court martial which tried and found
guilty General Eagan, who attacked
General Miles before the commission
which investigated the scandals of the
Spanish war. Later General Young
was promoted to major general and Sc
lected by Secretary Root to be presi-
dent of the army war college.
The personal relations of the new
commander and President Roosevelt
are strong because of their association
in the Santiago campaign. Secretary
Root also has a high personal regard
for General Young, and also places
high estimate upon his ability as an
army officer.
General Young will serve only five
months as commanding general of the
army, as he will reach the age limit
January 8. 1904. Upon his retirement
it is the plan to appoint Major General
Henry C. Corbin lieutenant general in
command OF the army. General Cor
bin will not retire for age until Sep
tember 10, 1906