The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-10-30

FROM PRIVATE no BRIGApfEE
GENERAL is IA E REC ORD
or THE dol Re y. B
WHIT.

cES NERAL is Ti4E RECORD
OF THE opoR Re y.
NORFOLK, Va. Oct SO.-At this
time when so much interest IS being
taken in the Cuban Embarkation
Camp at NeRport News, va, where
the government troops are being mo.
6iiized for service in that island, Il
may be OF interest to know Of the mil
tary career Of Brig. Gen. Theodore j.
Whit, commanding officer Of the en-.
campment, who is one of the ablest
AMI most daring officers in the ser
wee to-day. It is still more interest
ing to know that forty.four years ago
this man, then only a private, passed
through the immediate vicinity Of the
camp which he now commands and
tie surrounding country was the scene
of some of his first campaigns.
The camp is situated Just across the
waters Of Hampton Roads from the
grounds of the jamestown Exposition
and affords an excellent illustration
on a reduced scale Of the grand mill
tary display that will be seen upon.
the exposition grounds next year,
where will be encamped an army OF
fifteen thousand men comprising
troops from all of the representative
countries Of the world.
Gen. Whit is the most distinguish
ed cavalry officer now living. His
exploits and his long years Of service
in this branch emitting him to that
proud distinction. The forty.fve
years of his career in the army have
been as a trooper and many: combats
among the Indians were almost single
handed.
General Whit was born in 1885 in
what is now known as North Scranton,
Pa, but which then bore the name Of
Providence. His parents were from
the very best stock, Jonathan Whit,
his father, being recognized as one
of the most solid business men of the
city. His mother was Of scotch.Irish
ancestry and woman of refined in
Jiyiduality. At the outbreak of the
Civil war Whit was a mere boy, 49,
wears old, still in school, but the fas-
.cinatlon to follow a military career
was SO strong that he succeeded in
gaining his parents consent and en-
listed in the 9th Pa. Cavalry. His sol.
dierly bearing and fearlessness, no
less than his devotion to his com.
rades In arms sent him gradually up
the ladder until he had reached thei
rank Of lieutenant, when his three,
years enlistment expired in 1854. He
tried to return to his studies, but,
again the "song OF the sword" drew
him back into the service, this time,
however, in the regular army, receiv-
ing commission as lieutenant in the
4th U. S. Cavalry, in which regiment
he passed twenty-seven years.
At the close of the war the Fourth
Cavalry was ordered to Texas, which
at that point was commonly known
as a Suburb of He'll 1t was here
that Gen. Whit made name for him:
self as fighter. The country was IN
tested with hostile Indians, and cum
ming greasers and there were constant
uprislngs and Indian outbreaks that
had to be put down. In 1892 he re-
ceived his commissibh as major and
with it came his assignment to the
"tenth," which regiment made them
selves famoIs Turing the Spanish
War. During his long career and
through all Of his campaigns, general
Whit had never so much as received
a scratch, until on the afternoon OF
the first days fighting at San Juan
Hill he was wounded in the thigh
The wound was of such serious ma
tire that he was taken aboard, the
hospital ship and returned to this
country. Soon after his recovery he
was made Lieutenant Colonel land
sent out to the philippines. The:say,
ing that "Wint likes to be where It's
warm" got to be a by.word because
of his desire to always be in the thick
est of the fighting in the Philippines
In 1901 he was promoted to Brig. Gen
and assigned to the command Of the
second brigade in the Island of Lu'
zon. He has also seen service in
China and India. General Whit does
not retire untiI 1909 and 1t is fully ex'
pected that he will be the ranking
General of the Army before that date
General Whit and his staff who are
conducting the embarkation of Troops
from Nefport News deserve great
credit for the able manner in Which