The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-10-02


department of Dakota have been
fourteen in number since the de-
nartment was established thirty
eight years ago.
OF these commanders, the first, Gen.
Terry not only held the appointment
for two terms, but he exercised his au-
thority almost as long as all OF the
thirteen other commanders put togeth-
er. His first tour of duty lasted three
wears. from 1856 to 1863; his second
lasted no less than thirteen years, from
1873 to 1886. Thus during the hrst
twenty years of department history
there were four commanders only.
But during the subsequent eighteen
years there have been ten command
ers. Next to Gen. Terry, Gen. Ruger
filed the position longest; he was here
five years. Gen. Hancock and Gen.
Merritt were each here four years; Gen.
Brooke and Gen. Wade each two years.
Five colonies have been appointed to
this command, six brigadier generals.
and three major generals. The record
of their promotion up to the present
time shows that, before or after taking
command here, three of the fourteen
officers We're made colonies, two of
whom, still in active service, will no
doubt go higher; five became brigadier
generals, of whom only three have re-
tired; and six rose to be major gener-
ais The army building, evidently, is
a gate to glory.
Only Four Were West Pointers
But these successful soldiers did not
secure their claim to greatness through
scientific education. Only four out of
the fourteen have been West Pointers.
The same number entered the army as
privates-one as a drummer boy, or,
at least, at the age of thirteen, before
the Civil war; and three as privates
in volunteer regiments. Five started
as volunteer officers, and one was COM
missioned from civil life during time
of peace.
The cavalry, perhaps, has been IA
Vored proportionately above the other
arms. Seven of the commanders have
been infantry officers, six have been
sons of the sabre, and one only has
started like Napoleon.
Only two of the fourteen have died,
so comforting and wholesome is an
honorable name Of the twelve sur
Vivors, eight have retired and four are
seeking to command the department of
the East Nine of the twelve are be-
tween sixty and seventy years old, two
are younger, and one is more than
seventy Ftrs
Half of the fourteen were born In
two great states-four in New York
and three in Pennsylvania.
The reigns of these several monarchs
have been SucceSSiVely:
List of Commanders
Brig. Gen. Alfred H. Terry, Sept. Is,
1866. to May T. 1859; . A.,
Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock, May
II, 1869, to Jan. 2, 1873:
1873 to March 20, 1856.
Maj. Gen. Alfred H. Terry, March 20
1886 to May 6. 1886.
Brig. Gen Thomas H Kruger, May g.
1885, to July Is, 1891.
Maj. Gen. Wesley Merritt. April %
1895, to May IS, 1895.
Brig. Gen. John R. Brooke, May IS
1896, to April 10, 1897
(From April 10, 1897. to June IA, 1897
the department was commanded by the
secretary of war and the commanding
general of the army
Brig. Gen. James T. Wade, June IA
1897 to April 10, $685.
Col. John NJ Bacon, Seventh cavalry
April 10, 1898, to May 4, 1898.
Brig. Gen. (Vols) John NJ Bacon, May
4, 1898, to Feb. g. 1899
Maj. Gen. (Vols.) James F. Wade, Feb
6, 1899, to June II, 1S99
Brig. Gen. James F. Wade, June IL
1899, to Feb. 81, 1901.
Mai. Gen. Elwell S. Otis, Feb. 81, 1901
to March %, 1902.
Col. Edward NJ. Hayes, Thirteenth
cavalry, March %. 1902, to April &c, 1902
Brig. Gen. William A. Kobbe, April 26
1902. to Sept. %. 1902,
Col. Jacob Kline, Twenty first infan
try, Sept. %, 1902, to Oct. g. 1902.
Brig. Gen. William A. Kobbe, Oct. 8
1902. to Dec. IA, 1902.
Col. Jacob Kline, Twenty first infan
try Dee. IA, 1902, to Dec. q, 1902. :.
Brig. Gen. William A. Kobbe, Dec. q
1902, to April e; 1903;
Col Jacob Kline. Twenty-first infan
try, April &c, 1903. to May 4, 1903
Brig Gen. William A Kobbe, May 4
1903. TO Jan. II. 1904.
S Col jan 5afGO 1874 Snf e 3sn s ngS nfan
Col. Joseph H. Dorst, Third cavalry
Jan. 26, 1904. to Feb. 20, 1904. ;.
Brig. Gen. Camille c. c. Carr, Feb. 25
1904. to Sept. 25 1904
Col James A. Buchanan, Twenty-fourt
infantry, Sept. rs. 1904, to the presen
time.
Gen. Terry's Case
First of the department commander
was Gen. Alfred H. Terry, who is re
membered locally no less for hi
than for his campaign against tn
Sioux.
Gen. Terry was born at Hartford
Conn, Nov. 10, 1927. He studied a
the Yale law school and began tn
practice Of his first profession in 1874!
From 1854 to 1860 he was clerk of tn
superior and the supreme courts Q
Connecticut.
At the outbreak of the Rebellion
Terry. who had been colonel of tn
Second regiment of Connecticut mill
tia, enlisted at the head of that regi
ment. Three months later, having or
ganized the Seventh regiment of Con
necticut volunteers, he was chosen q
its colonel
In. the second year of the war Co
Terry was made brigadier general c