The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-02-26
THE MICHIGAN NATIONAL GUARD
Promotion of Col. Kirk to Brigade Command.
er Marks the Advance of Other Worthy
Officers as Well


proved efficient and was made a COR
poral In December, 1887. In March,
1888, he was promoted to the rank of
sergeant. He re-cnlisted May p, 1889,
and was elected second lieutenant the
following general election. This COM
mission he held but a bit more than "A
year and was then commissioned first
/ lieutenant The National Guard had in
the meantime undergone some reor-
ganization, with the result that he was
now first lieutenant i'm Company c.
First Infantry. In March, 1895, he was
commissioned captain.
Served in Cuba.
When the Spanish war broke out
Captain Kirk enlisted and was mus
tered in as major in the Thirty first
Michigan infantry and served in Cuba
with his reeimcnt He resigned and
| was honorably discharged from the
service April %, 1899 but when the
National Guard was reorganized along
lines similar 10 the present following
| the Spanish war Major Kirk, February
%, 1900, was elected lieutenant colonel
, Of the First infantry, NJ. y. c.. and
January 26, 1905 was elected colonel
commanding the First infantry. There
he has served with efficiency, building
| up fine organization, until now his
military services are crowned with the
| highest rank ii is in the power Of
Michigan To give. He has already
served nearly three years on the mill
! tary board, and now by virtue of his
office becomes its president.
General Kirk is an attorney in pri-
vate life and has been as successful N
this as i'm his military career.
1t was always the ambition of Louis
c. Covell 10 "A soldier. Anybody who
| knows him or has seen him i'm the field
knows he has realized his ambition,
even though il is not in the regular
army. But one great satisfaction
comes to Covell in the fact that he Is
at least serving in the best National
Guard in the nation, and the one which
most nearly approaches the regular
service.
COL Covell Next in Line.
Covell was just a bit under II years
of age when on April l., 1892, he en-
| listed in Company II, Second infantry,
Grand Rapids. This company was the
famous Custer Guards, one of the best
known organizations i'm Michigan in
those days. When the local troops
were recognized. Covell was elected
second lieutenant of Company II on
June 2S. 1885 one year later he was
elected captain and when the Spanish
war broke out he went ~ the front as
Captain Covell. Company II, Thirty
second Michigan infantry. When the
| reorganization came, following the
war, Covell was elected major in the
Second infantry NJ. y. c.. February
%, 1900. and on August II, 1905, was
promoted to the rank of lieutenan Mt
colonel January 10, 1911. he succeed
ed L. l.. Abbey as colonel, commanding
the Second infantry, and is today the
senior colonel in the brigade and viii
follow General Kirk three years hence
the troops Of Michigan. Thus will his
ambition be realized. He will have
served in every position from that Of
enlisted man To commanding officer
and everybody who has seen him in
the field or who knows the reputation
he has among the regular army officers
who annually inspect the Michigan
-.
MICHIGAN National Guard is not going
to cuffer any relapse when CUvell pu,s
on the gold hat cord In private life
Colonel Covell is the head of the Cow
ell Hensen company, advertising spe-
cialtics.
Major Phillips Valuable officer.
Major Michael J. Phillips inspector
of small arms practice is soldier and
few other things besides. He is a
newspaper man first a magazine writ
or of no mean ability, somewhat of
poet, as those who received his de-
lightful Christmas greeting last year
will understand He wears always
smile which makes a man feel good
when he sees it. He is more or less
crazy over rifle practice and can shoot
some himself That is why he was re-
tanned ON General Kinks staff instead
of being retired with the rest. He has
given shooting all sorts of attention
and study and not little of the sue
cess and proficiency of the Michigan
troops at the national rifle meets is
due To the work of Mike Phillips.
Major Phillips enlisted at the age #
20 In Company G., Third infantry.
Owosso December /, 1896. In the war
with Spain. Private Mike took his gun
and his smile and went To Cuba with
the Thirty-third Michigan infantry.
There he volunteered as a sharpshoot-
or before Santiago, July |, 1898. and
was one OF Is men in his regiment who
received mention for distinguished SER
vice there. He could shoot some then
and liked the job.
Major Mike Is Popular.
When the National Guard was rcor-
ganized. Capt. b. McCaughna COM
handing his company, appointed Mike
corporal in the reorganized Co. II.
Third Infantry. Promptly Mike stuck