Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-02-17
INDIAN F TIGHTER
IS NOW LIVING
IN ALBUQUERQ
Valentine Herbert, Civil War
Veteran Who Also Saw
Service Under Custer IS
Spending Declining Years.

Porn in Bavaria eight.-five years
ago, becotnin" dis@usted with auto
cratic rule, coming to America at the
outbreak of the civil war and serving
W tn distinction on the federal side,
re-enlisting n the army and fighting
Indians for several years under Gus
ter, locating in New Mexico about
fifty-two years ago whore he has
since maintained his legal residence, is
in brief the life history of Val
entine Herbert. now living at 217
West Gold avenue, whore, with his
cat, his chickens and his garden plot,
and aided financially by pension, he
IL spending his declining days
Herbert evidently comes from fight
ing stock At any rate, his father
Served in the medical department of
Napoleons army. Further than this
however, Herbert is unable to trace
his ancestors, except that they came
from China. Herbert joined the Ba-
varian army at an early are, because
that was the custom of the country
FIo did not object to military service
when there was some principle to
fight for but the thought of building
up a great military machine which
would be used for the purpose of sub
iugating smaller nations and bring
ing them under the domination of
stronger and more powerful ones was
rapulsiye to Herbert and after serv-
ing Il few years in the BaVarian army
he decided to get out This was done
by his father hiring a substitute.
Sails for America.
Herbert had heard of America, the
land of the free, and no sooner had he
obtained his release from the army
1 IL. 4
United States, thus FORGETTING his share
of what in those days was considered
a fortune from his fathers estate. as
the father did not take kindly to the
idea of his son going chasing around
the country in search of freedom and
adventure, On his arrival here he
learned that President Lincoln had
Just issued call for volunteers, and
on April IS. 1861, he enlisted in Com
pany II, Second Michigan infantry, he
being the fourth man to join the
company. He served until July 81
1864, when he was discharged on ac-
count of physical disability.
On December 81, 1865, he re-en-
listed in the army, this time in the
Nineteenth United States infantry At
first he was stationed at Little Rock,
Ark, but ere long was sent to New
port barracks to drill recruits. Later
he was transferred back to Little
Rock as drill master. In 1866 he was
sent to Fort LeaVenworth, Kans., and
there the company to which he was
attached was ordered to take the field
under Custer against the Indians
Their campaign took them through
Kansas and Nebraska, Herberts com
pany finally landed in Santa Fee. n,
NJ, July II, 1867, receiving orders
there to proceed to Alaska. Herberts
enlistment however, was soon to eX-
pire and he did not go. He took up
his residence in Santa Fe after he
was discharged, and remained there
until 1880. when he came to Alba
auerque. He has gone to California
several times and once or twice was
an inmate of the national soldiers
home at Sawtelle.
But never felt right in California"
he said yesterday. 81 always felt
something pulling me back to New
Mexico And here | am. Every day
| thank God that | am alive and able
to enjoy the beauties Of the Sunshine
State
Buckskin Brooches 80 Years Old.
Herbert is the proud possessor of a
belt and brass buckle. When asked
how they came into his possession he
told how, at Williamsburg. Va, dur
ing the civil war, he took them away
from q confederate officer.
Another one of Herberts proud
possessions is a pair of buckskn
breeches, which he purchased fifty
two years ago. They are in good
state of preservation. and, although
somewhat shrunken, are still pre-
sentable. He wears them only on
state occasions.
Herbert studied medicine in his
youth. but never was practicing
physician. Hes speaks Latin, Bavar
ian, Spanish and English fluently and
says he has sufficient knowledge of
several other languages to enable him
to carry on a conversation quite well.
Except for his cat and chickens,
Herbert lives alone. HIS memory is
remarkably clear on most subjects.
Despite his age he has never worn
glasses, even when reading.