The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-30
ROW OVER ARMY DOG.
Death of General Wesley Merritt Re-
calls Transfer From Leayenworth.

Fort Leavenworth, Kan, Dec. 30
The death recently of Maj. Gen. Wes-
ley Merritt. retired, recalls to old-t1m-
ers how Fort Leavenworth lost and
st. Louis obtained the department. of
Missouri headquarters twenty years
ago over the shooting of dog. The
trouble resulted in one of the many
mad dog scares here, and it is hoped
that Gen. Frederick Funston's recent
order baniShing cats will not result
in the loss of any of the military de-
partments. There are few cats at Fort
Leavenworth at present and those on
the reservation are of the wild, hiding
out kind. 1t is expected they will be
eXterminated before Gen. Funston de-
parts for the Philippines in the spring.
Gen. Merritt came to Fort LeaVen-
worth in 1887 from West Point, where
he had just finished a. five years detail
as superintendent of the Military ac-
ademy. He assumed command OF the
department of the Missouri, with
headquarters in Sherman hall, now
part of the group of college buildings
The post of Fort Leavenworth, then
as now, was a separate command; 1T
now is distinct from the command of
the military service schools and the
military prison.
Alexander Mcdowell McCook, then at
the head of an infantry regiment, was
in station here. and the commander OF
the post of Fort Leavenworth. Col
MCGOOk, ike oil lil0 ilIClllOOlo VI 1Aio
distinguished family. was disposed to
hold out for what he conceived to be
his full rights, and there was consld-
cradle friction between the post and
department heads.
mad dog scare arose. and Col. Nc
Cook issued an order to kill all unlnuz-
zled dogs on the reservation. The ser
geant of the guard found large New
fcundland dos minus q muzzle in the
yard of Lieut.. A. M. Fuller, a cavalry
1fr .n1 Ntlc. ri Cr
was a family pet. and much i'll feeling
resulted. Lieut.. Fuller made complaint
to Col McCook, VINO justified the kill
ing of the dog, holding that it was in
accordance with orders
An appeal was taken to Cen Merritt
as department commander, and he
found the killing of the dog in the own
er's yard was unwarranted and bru-
tai.
Col. McCook then appealed tc Major
General George Cook, division COM
mander, who called the attention of the
secretary of war to the friction and
clashes at Fort Leavenworth, and rec
orlmerded that the department of the
Missouri headquarters be transferred.
The order was issued in March, 1896,
and it came as a great surprise to Gen.
Merritt, who was ordered to get his de-
partment headquarters away from Fort
Leavenworth and to st. Louis by June
1. Leavenworth ana Kansas people
tired to Keep the department iieduqutl-
tiers here but the order was not revoked
and the change followed.
Col. McCook maintained that Fort
Leavenworth would gain by the trans
fer and that it would tend to build up
the post The order directing the trans
fer of the department headquarters
turned the rooms occupied then IN Sher-
man hall, over to the infantry and
cavalry school, then just getting fairly
started, and helped with the movement
that has finally resulted in making Fort
I.eavenworth the big educational mill
tary center of the United States.