davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1915-05-30

and we charged at the same time Gus
ter did," said Mr. Fox. we were
obliged to cross Little Big Horn. We
went to the left, while Custer went 10
the right. Unfortunately. he couldn't
get back. We, at the left, struck such
large body of Indians that we re-
treated. We went to place OF safety
on hill and stayed there for several
DAYS In the meantime they killed our
beloved Custer. Then they started to
surround us. but when they saw so
much white cavalry they were fright
ened away, which gave us an opportu-
supply ourselves with much needed
water at the creek. Then 1t was that
we found the bodies of the men who
had accompanied Custer. They were
Custer and fourteen officers were lying
in a row behind their horses Custer
was absolutely naked. having been
stripped OF all his clothing. We buried
them and left.
Custer was a desperately brave man.
So was Capt. Thomas Weir, D Troop,
the 7th Cavalry. our commanding Of
ficer About o'clock on the first day
after Custer left ne announced: We've
got to go to Gen. clusters ASSISTANCE
Fall in d Troop
I'VE started at once. First we had to
trot. then gallop, until we finally came
to a sort of break-of, where about
1000 Indians fired at us. I have already
told what followed. how we retreated
to the hill. took our places in the pits,
later found Custer and his dead and
were finally relieved by Gen. Terry.
Sergt John Fox took part In the fol-
lowing campaigns and battles: Cam
paigns-Against the northern Chey-
ennes and Sioux in 1876. against Nez
Perces Indians in 1877 and against the
northern Cheyennes in 1873 and 1879;
battles-Little Big Horn, June rs and
IS, 1876, and Bear Paw mountain. Sep
tember 80 1877 He was born in New
York in 18i6.
John L. Metcalfe, Troop A. 9Th Cav
airy. had several miraculous escapes
from death during the civil war. He is
extremely proud of his record. which
includes forty-five engagements. He
was in the battles of Bull Run. Antie
tam and Gettysburg.
Il was shot through my clothing at
the second battle of Bull Run" said Mr..
Metcalfe. "A spent ball struck q cart
ridge box had in my pocket. and so
wasn't hurt in the least I've had my
musket shot out of my hand several
times and horses shot from under me.
but have never really been injured.
"A peculiar Incident which occurred
At one time has hrmly Impressed ttsslf
Evening star., 1915-05-30

left will also do the right thing: that
the companies. battalions and the reg
iment will do the right thing, and that
their officers will care for them; that
training which leads them In camp to
observe habits OF cleanliness and reg
ularity. making them fit for "a frolio
or fight
The folly of allowing unframed men
to enter a campaign under inexperi-
enced or otherwise inefficient offcers
may be inferred from one simple state
ment. From 1890 to May, 1914. the to-
tai pensions drawn by regulars was
$2S,461. 1863. Pensions amounting to $42.-
1920 have been paid to the militia
who participated in the Spanish-Amerl-
can war. Hence there is very great
need to put the sanitary divisions I'm
flrst-class condition for any emergency
A brief summary of the condition OF
the organized land militia Is that its
units. as far as they are supplied, are
well equipped: that its forces are not
properly balanced; the men are not
sufficiently trained; that there is a
great shortage of officers of experience: :
that, while the militia of each state
may meet the states requirements, the
organization as a National Guard IL
deficient in many branches. but most
of all In plumbers and in systematic
comprehensive organization and train
ing,
Evening star., 1915-05-30

being but 1.50o men in the coast ar
tillery and 1n7.750 for all the other
branches of the service.
Not only is there this shortage tabout
so per cent? in numbers recruited. but
there are shortages of units as follows:
Sixty-one troops Of cavalry out or 16o.
seventy eight batteries of field artll.
1ery out of 144, fourteen companies OF
engineers out of thirty-three: talfes- m
four ambulance companies out of for
ty-eight, and twelve field hospitals out
of thirty-eight. required to constitute
a properly balanced and efficient held
force. This is based on the minimum
allowance of field guns and machine
guns. although very high authorities.
whose opinions seem to be justified by
the present European prac actlce, say that
these numbers should be increased by
at least 30 per cent.
While Congress has provided a fine
type of field gun patterned after the
French model. there is not a sufficient
number in reserve to supply the full
battery units prescribed for the twelve
militia divisions Neither is there a
sufficient number of machine guns.
Each battery requires minimum OF
40 horses to take it's four guns and
their twelve caissons into action, but
the militia batteries are so deficient
in horses that many of their guns can
not be taken from the arsenals. in
consequence. the cannoneers have had
no pra actice in the actual firing of guns
or the handling OF the teams which
take them into position.
In New York. the sixth group, which
contains the only division having a
full supply of battery units (forty-
eight guns). the horses for mounted
instruction are owned by the respec-
tive organizations, and drills are held
every week. OF the artillery units III
the other divisions twenty-seven have
no horses, twentythree hire horses
and three borrow them. Several own q
few for harness drill.
Evening star., 1915-05-30

DECORATION day rolls around
IN each wear the inmates of the Sol
~ diers' Home. veterans OF MAN
e S famous battles and campaigns
revfvify their thrilling military expert
ences by reminiscent accounts or the past
rhey tell their stirring stories TO each
other across wheel chairs, for many OF
these survivors Of fierce skirInishes have
bulle.-shattered frames; they recall des-
nerate struggles under fire as they pace
the s1,nlit corridors of the comfortable
home, OF exchange wartime tales over a
game of cards In the quiet smoking room.
II 4. hardly the proper setting, this peace
full, homelike institution. for the relating
Of exciting narratives in connection with
wars which made history.
-.
More than half a century has elapsed
since the battlefield days. In some cases
failing memory makes il difficult to recall
all the Incidents which were 30 wildly
,mpressed on their minds before time wove
the cloeeins cobwebs. Others. with per
>ecf memories, are robbed Of faculties
which make the exchange of war expert
ences a simple matter. They are deaf or
so badly incapacitated as 10 make II ex-
,rernely dificult for them 20 join their
sompanions However. Decoration day
approaches. the majority of the inmates
drag forth their precious contributions
and toin the storytelling bee.
The most interesting group OF all are
.be representatives of each of the cam
pa.Rns in which the American army
L.s been engaged. They are survivors
Of the civil war, the Philippine insur-
rection. the Indian wars, the Mexican
war. the Seminole war, the Boxer up
rising and the Moro insurrection. The
oldest among these is ninety-hve years
old and "A veteran Of the Mexican war.
The majority OF these men were badly
wounded, but all of them have had
wonderfully interesting experiences,
fraught with peculiar dangers ana bis
opportunities for bravery.
This season as each one told his
story dirnmed eyes grew bright with
excitement. gray heads bowed IN sor-
row at the thought Of dead comrades.
and bent frames Strengthened proudly
as honors bestowed for neritorlous
service were mentioned. The dead
ashes Of bygonc days were fanned INTO
a temporary blaze as the old men
painted vivid word pictures of the
days when. staiwart. fearless
Youths, they wen, forth into battle
for their country.
John Cunningham. afectionately
called "our Baby at the home. is the
Oldest man in point of service. Five
years viii bring him to the century
mark Wearing little. black skull
'ap over his sparse gray locks large
81 build and with merry. laugh lines
luterw with his network of wrin-
Ites he Was quite an optimistic figure
rs lie manipulated the lever on his
wheel chair and brought IL to stand
still.
u never will forget Santa Anna and
his wooden leg" chuckled the old man.
" humorous twinkle in his eye at the
thought of the comical incident con-
Evening star., 1915-05-30

failure in result. with a long record of
humiliating and unnecessary defeats.
Despite the fact that in 1898 the few
bodies of militia which participated in
the invasion of Cuba were taken into
the federal service as volunteers, their
record was anything but brilliant, and
their losses through sickness were
shocking, not through lack of individ-
ual courage on their part. but because
their training had not been such as to
prepare them for the hardships of
actual campaigning in q tropical coun
try: and, it must he said, because many
of their officers did not know how to
handle their men in battle or in the
camp life.
1t has been held that, while under
the Constitution the organized militia
may be called out by the President for
the purpose of suppressing insurrec
ton. resisting invasion or executing the
laws, the governors of the states may
decide whether proper reason exists,
and may in the exercise of that power
of decision refuse. as they have done
in the past, to obey the Presidents call.
The Constitution provides that the
training of the militia must be accord
ing to the discipline provided by Con-
gress, but leaves the number and char
acter of its several units and what that
discipline Is to the determination of the
several states Congress provides large
ly for the maintenance, equipment and
training of the militia. but has no di-
rect voice in the selection of its off,
GERS. the numbers or general scheme
of it's organization. The states. to be-
come entitled to any part of the fed
eral appropriations must make the
organization of their militia conform
to those of the regular army. Thus. a
state may not be compelled to raise any
cavalry or field artillery units, how
Evening star., 1915-05-30

auirements in organization differ III
some minor respects.
From the time OF the nglo-SaXons
all free men between the ages OF six
teen and sixty were compelled to rem
der military service infantry under
chiefs of their own selection. besides
providing their own simple equipments.
They were not obliged to serve outside
the country unless the Kingdom was
invaded the idea being that the militia
was to fight for the common defense:
but when kings INDUCED in the royal
sport of foreign war they must pro-
cure their army from some other source
usually by hiring mercenaries or. IN
the feudal times, by calling upon the
mobiles. who Joined in the sport with
their retainerS.
This militia system. in general way,
was introduced in the colonies. and IN
view of the oppression by Cromwell and
the royal rulers of England through
the menace of standing armies 1t Is
no. singular that after the colonies
had become states they viewed with
extreme jealousy any suggestion that
they should surrender to the natiohai
government the control of their own
militia. which might then become the
v,ry means in the hands of the new
government Of depressing the states.
During tho whole of the revolution
AIRY war the states were unwillins 10
aend their troops to fight for the com
mon cause unless under state organl-
zation and control and under officers.
however Incompetent. of their own
choosing The same policy was pur
sued in the war of 1912, and IN each
csse the result was demonstration OF
the folly of relying upon short-term.
,,ndisciplined troops under officers not
educated for their profession. For TINS
tTCN o.
ionged at dreadful expense in life and
money. and the second was almost
Evening star., 1915-05-30
r Militia Far Under Its Theoretical War Strengt

~ INCE an invasion of the United
~ States by any first-class power or
"A allied powers which could domi-
~ nate our navy would result In
the landing of n powerful army upon
our shore, the organized militia. which
Is the only organized body which could
be employed against it. except the mo-
bile force of :1.ooo regular troops,
should be kept in the highest state of
efficiency consistent with its value as
the force required by the states to
maintain order and execute the laws
within their several territories.
But as the highest degree of eff
cheney Is best for such purpose the
reasonable conclusion is that. for the
sake Of state and nation, the militia
should be kept in the best possible
condition as to organization and disci-
pline. even though its respective re
Evening star., 1915-05-30

Tor the maintenance Of the force in
better keeping with the national de-
mands for a well balanced and effective
army, for the establishment of units
to supply the shortages in cavalry, ar
tillery, coast defense. engineers and
sanitary troops.
The War Department tries. through
the division of militia affairs, to carry
out working arrangement for prac-
tical cooperation with the governors
of the forty-eight states who act
through their adjutant generals. This
is, of course, an extremely awkward
method. it is claimed. and cannot un-
der most favorable conditions produce
the result which would be obtained
from a military method, which requires
a single executive who can be held to
a strict accountability for his actions.
This lack of a chief with authority is,
no doubt an obvious handicap to or
ganiZed militia as a national force
Under the present arrangement, 1t
does not come under the systematic
control of the same military authority
which it will II taken into the national
service. 1t was found in the Spanish
American war that THE eleventh hour
is not the best time to change systems.
However under the Constitution, both
the states and the federal government
must retain the present status OF this
unfortunately situated body of troops,
and as long as this anomalous condition
forced, without jealousy. with mutual
help and hearty cooperation, to make
the best of the hard situation.
With this in view, the War Depart
ment details annually 10 oficers-lieu-
tenants and captains, usually. besides
twenty retired officers-and 10 SER
geants, for instruction and drills OF
the militia, not only in armories, but
also in camps of instruction and JOINT
camps, where the relatively inexpe-
rienced militiamen may see how those
who make soldering their business 90
If Here officers and men may learn
how to observe camp sanitation as well
az how to assemble, how to handle
nick as well as a rife, and that prompt
obedience which comes only from habit
The denartment does all that 1t can In
irving to help the militia to use their
rifles with effect, and If the words Oh
our own officers require connrmatioh
it will be found in the Injunction OF
Lord Kitchener: But. above all Things.
teach them to shoot"
Soldiers require that training which
regards as details alignment, the an
gle of the rifle and evolutionary move
ments. but as essentials the habits
which lead them intuitively to do those
things with full confidence that the
man on the right and the man on the
Evening star., 1915-05-30

ously Inadequate there not being
enough for 100000 men for six months.
The facilities for obtaining it are alto
gether insufficient, and in case of in
vasion the importation of military sup
plies would be impossible, say experts.
For state requirements the militia
has been greatly improved since 1903
by federal support of the organiza-
tion. and from the economical stand
point the states should be we'll pleased
with an arrangement which leaves
them at so small outlay in practical
control of these troops. But. after ALL
the money comes from the same pocket
book, even If it does come from a diff
ferent compartment, and the men. Of
ficerS and equipment are needed for
national defense as we'll as for local
requirements. Hence, 1t is maintained
that some satisfactory arrangement
should be made to apply federal funds.
increased if necessary for the purpose,
Evening star., 1915-05-30

We were obliged to plow through deep
sand. and every time we took one step
ahead we'd go back two.s In answer
to jocular question as to whether
he would return to Mexico in case the
United States had war with that coun-
try the centenarian shook his head
dolefully.
Guess I haven't got one good fight
left in me- he said. reluctantly. And
I'd be obliged to go to war In this old
wheel chair"
Mr.. Cunningham was born in Ireland
in 1920, enlisted in Battery L. 4th Ar
tillery. in 1s4f, was with Gen. Scotts
column IN the famous march from
Vera Cruz to Mexico City, participated
in many skirmishes and left the serv-
ice in lS4S.
John Fox. a veteran of the Indian war.
who was in Chief Joseph's campaign
and with Reno's column at the Custer
massacre on Little Big Horn in 1875,
tells how Custer met his death and
how he helped bury him.
4 belonged TO Troop d. 7th cavalry,
Evening star., 1915-05-30
The Perspiring School.

S6S EYMOUR HICKS is an English
~ actor who has never visited
America said Chicago manager.
Hicks is a comedian OF the violent
school. He's all over the stage at once.
In his efforts to please he perspires in
a way that is painful to witness.
"At a dinner / once gave, Sir Arthur
Pinero made fun of Hicks for his
strenuous methods. his lack of repose.
".Hicks, my boy. Pinero said, I see
you're got up on your bills: doors
open at g." Why don't you change II,
Hicks, to pores open q &
Evening star., 1915-05-30

nected with the Mexican who fought
the famous battle of the Alamo.
You see. we pursued him so cioseiy
that ne lost his wooden leg. he eN-
planned. He couldn't go back for it
without losing his life. We found the
leg afterWard and II was the subject
of many a quip among the men.
we surely did make il hot for the
Mexicans. They were so badly in need
of funds at one time that they were
obliged to sell their church ornaments,
silver bells and other valuable arti-
cles, and have the precious metals
melted.
II marched all the way from Vera
Cruz TO Mexico City with Gen. Scott.
and it was the hardest march l know
of We thought we'd never get there
Evening star., 1915-05-30

ALBERT j. BUTTS.
in my right side. My body is a mass
of scars. Later my comrades found
me. my wounds were dressed, and here
1 am alive and kicking today"
Hair-raising incidents which oc-
Cured during the Indian campaigns
are told by Albert J. Butts. Troop F,
4th Cavalry. who served from 1869 to
1875 He was with Gen. Mackenzie in
numerous Indian campaigns in the
southwest, was frequently under fire.
but not wounded. Twice he invaded
Mexico after hostile Apache Indians.
THE first time we went into Mexico.
I was stationed at Fort Clark" said
Mr. Butts. THE Mexicans used to
make raids and run off cattle and
horses. whole herds Of them. Finally.
when a cowboy came in and reported
another big raid, We put them under
guard. We followed them to the Ri.
Grande, moving back to the river and
waiting until dark. when we saw the
glare Of their dres- We sent scouts
Evening star., 1915-05-30

ever badly they may be needed. but
may apply all it's efforts and funds
from the federal appropriations to
some other branch. perhaps infantry.
But whatever branch, If any, it does
establish must conform to the federal
requirements for that unit.
From 1908 to 1887 Congress annually
appropriated 100000 to be apportioned
among the several states for arms,
equipment. supplies and funds for the
militia. AT the latter date this amount
was doubled, and in 1900. after the
anish-American war had demonstrat-
ed the unpreparedness of the militia for
orga aniZed war, it was increased to
81 900 600 In 1907 the militia act,
known as the Dick act, was passed by
Congress. designed for the i'm prove
lnent of the National Guard. and since
that time the federal approprla tons
have steadily increased. From June 'V'
1903 to June 80, 1913. t''"y had amount
I'd to nearly $4,000 100, The appro-
priations for the current fiscal year are
s4.350.000.
The euuiplnent of the militia corre-
rponds with that of the regular army
Their infantry carry the same type OF
Springfield military rife, and their field
guns are the same type are found in
the batteries of the regular army.
For federal purposes. the division.
which consists of about 10000 men, Is
the basis of the militia organization.
With this end In view the United States
is divided by the War Department into
twelve groups. to each of which are
assigned the units, which, If organ
ized and recruited to their full num-
bers, would give a well balanced force
of $4,000 men. consisting of twelve
divisions and a cavalry and field army.
besides $4,000 for the coast artillery.
But not all of these units have been
organized and none of them is re-
cruited to its full strength, there
Evening star., 1915-05-30

on my memory. even though I cannot
some years ago.
THE Confederates had small piece
of artillery with which they did great
deal OF damage. Two groups Of the 5th
Cavalry charged them to take the bat
terry AS soon as they saw usapproach-
ing they knew 1t meant trouble They
ran into a railroad cut that was un-
finished. and thus we came hand to
hand with them.
There was one man sitting on the
case arm box, and I attempted to hit
him with my saber. He lodged, my
saber struck against something and
broke. One of the Confederates seized
the opportunity and commenced to hit
me over the shoulder with his saber.
My carbine bag protected me. ! pulled
out my revolver and tried to shoot
him. 1 snapped every cap in that gun,
but for some reason not ono was re-
leased. Then one Of our mon oame to
my rescue, struck him and knocked
him of his horse.
We'll. we captured the piece Of ar