The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-12

Michigan farmer. William entered the
volunteer army with first iieutenant's
commission in the Seventh Michigan in
fantry under date of August % 1861.
September 25 of the same year he was
made a major of the Nineteenth Michi-
gan. which regiment of infantry he
helped to organize. June 5. 1868. he was
promoted to the rank Of lieutenant col
Onel and about q year later he was
made colonel of the Seventeenth Uni
ted States negro infantry. Just before
the close OF the war he was given the
brevet rank of brigadier general. He
received special mention for bravery at
Malvern Hill
When peace was declared William
Shafter returned to his fathers farm in
Michigan. He had become fascinated
with the game of war and work on the
farm was a very prOsaic substitute He
applied to the government for a com
mission in the regular army. Weary
months rolled by and life on the farm
was becoming an almost unbearable
burden when notice one day was receiv-
ed from the secretary Of war ordering
him to St. Louis to be examined for a
commission in the regular army. He
was engaged in chopping cordwoOd
when the notice came. Ia St Louis he
passed an excellent examination.
A lieutenant coloners commission was
his lot. He was ordered to the Forty
first infantry and was placed in COM
mana OF men VINO mad been his linR9l
EuperfOrs in the war and who had com
manded operations of far more import
ance than had ever been fntrusted to
him. BY a sort of blind compensation
he lived to see the process take a re
troactive form and to see his juniors
made brigadier generals while he re-
mained a colonel.
General Skaters first service in the
regular army was on the Texas from
Tier. He engaged in numerous fights
against Indians and took the first
troops across the Staked plains He
was appointed colonel of the First
United states infantry March T. 1879.
and brigadier general Nav 8 1897
October 16. 1893, he was retired by
operation OF the law. as brigadier gen
eraI of the United States army. but
was retained in service as major gen
eraf Of volunteers until June so. 1901
when he was retired as a major gen
As colonel of the First infantry he
Y as sent with his regiment to suppress
the outbreak of the Indians at the
Pine Ridge agency, South Dakota, in
1880 ana 1891. He commanded that
regiment and the Department Of Cali
fOrnia from 1885 until 1898. Upon
the breaking out Of the war with Spain.
General Shafter was placed in charge
of the troops selected for the campafyn
I'm Cuba He left the United States
with his command, June "A. 1898 This
expedition was the largest armed force
ever to leave the country
General Shafter fought the affair OF
la Guasimas. the battles OF San Juan.
FL Caney and that before the city of
Santiago July 1 and .. 1898 He re-
ceived the surrender of the Fourth
army corps Of Spain July 1895. and
the city Of Santiago and all the troops
in the eastern part of Cuba.
After his retirement from the army
General Shafter went to California to
make his home. He owned large
ranch near Bakersfield, Cal. and was
a director in a number of banks and
mining companies. 1T is said that his
property is worth more than a million
dollars
General Shafter took an active inter
estrln y; = -, -. lla served as
fornia and Nevada in that organiza-
ton. He also was president OF the
Society Of the Army Of Santiago.
When General Shafter was serving