The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1909-10-05
L0U|S|ANIAN WHO
HAS DONE THINGS.
Such Is Captain James A. Moss, U. S.
A., Ambitious Young Officer,
Native of Lafayette.
NOT SATISFIED WITH MERE ROU.
TINE OF ARMY LIFE.
Has Made EnviabIe Record in Orqan.
ization, instruction, Literature.
Fine Work in War and Peace.
The TimeS-DemOcrat.

The Times-Democrat
While Louisiana is eminently repre-
sented in both the army and navy of
the United States by young officers,
one especially noteworthy is Captain
James A. Moss of Lafayette, La, one
of the youngest of Louisiana's repre-
sentatives. His military record places
him far in the lead in the quota from
this state. His friends will learn with
pride, and all Louisiana with interest,
that he has done things beyond his
mere line of duty, and by hard work
and application has found time be-
tween official hours to add to the
literature of the army and to write
works of value to both young and old
officers.
Few officers go beyond the manifold
duties required of them, and feel con-
tented when these are properly per-
formed, but Captain Moss was ambi-
tious and the army has profited there
by.
| Captain Moss was born in Lafayette
where he attended private school. He
was student of the Collegiate Insti-
tute of Baton Rouge, better known as
Magruders College, finishing his edu-
caion and getting his first military
training at the State University. By
a competitive examination he won the
appointment to West Point, where he
graduated in 1894. He first served at
Fort Missoula, where he remained un-
til 1885, While serving there he COM
manded the Twenty-fifth Infantry Bi-
cycle Corps, doing experimental work,
including an 80O-mile bicycle trip
through Yellowstone National Park.
This achievement was so successful
that it attracted the attention and ad-
miration of the entire army. The
corps went over roads however rough
and over trailess hills and mountains.
They forded and swan streams and
fought their way through valleys OF
thick underbrush, often having to dis
mantle their machines and carry them
through difficult passages. The physi-
cal hardships endured on this trip
tested the mettle of Captain Moss and
his soldiers, and they were equal to
the task. Not content with the honor
of this trip, Captain Moss and the
same bicycle corps in 1898 eelipsed
their former feat by successfully ac-
complishing 2000-mile bicycle trip
from Fort Missoula, Mont, to St
Louis. A glance at the map will show
what obstacles they encountered and
how much more difficult the Journey
was than their trip through Yellow
stone Park.
Captain Moss continued to do
things" and although he was then
but a second lieutenant he has become
better known in the army circles than
many officers of higher rank.
When the Spanish was echoed from
the blowing up of the Maine he was
ordered to Cuba. In 1898 he was pro-
NOTED to first lieutenant Of the Twen~
ltv-fourth Infantry and commanded the
guard conveying the first Spanish
prisoners of war from Key west TO
Fort Mcpherson, Ga. Returning to
Cuba he participated in the battle OF
FL Caney. and campaigned about San
tiago de Cuba. For gallantry and
tmeritorious conduct he was recon-
Imended by the regimental commander
for two brevets, captain and major.
In view of the fact that all omcers
and men fought bravely and well on
that occasion. Captain Moss must have
done exceptionally well to have been
noticed and applauded by his superior
officer, for in battle mere duty does
mot especially draw attention or sug-
gest promotion. Uncle Sam expects
officers and men to do their duty and
insists that they do so, but when busy
himself he finds time to commend an
officer. something more than mere
duty must have been performed. He
. thought so in Lieutenant Moss case,
for he promoted him to captaincy
lin the Twenty-seventh Infantry.
His Cuban campaign sent him to the