Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-09-28

class and faculty; so did Pershing's.
Suddenly he turned to me.
and you know" he declared sud-
denly, we all attained our goal. Jack
is a general. | became a United
States senator. Charlie became a
power in the War department and
later was governor of Cuba"
Two "tcurs OF duty" as command
ant of cadets at the University of
Nebraska in .Lincoln-from 1891 to
lSo5-and First 1t. John Joseph
Pershing went back among the In
dams.
BUTT would not do to follow him
from Lincoln without first telling OF
how lincoln celebrated his birthday
last September IS. One learns of the
celebration and knows that during
those long-ago years, simple first
lieutenant, he won the respect and
love of Lincoln people--sueh respect
and love as Laclede, his old home
town, has for him.
Birthday at Lincoln.
All Lincoln, it seemed, Judging by
the crowds, gathered, at the Lincoln
Country club. From all over Ne
braska, indeed, the people came.
even as people from all over Mis-
souri, went to Laclede that day, In
cluded among the guests were the
most widely known people of Ne
braska. And the guests of honor
were the generals sisters, Mrs. But
Ter and Miss Ann May Pershing,
and the generals son, Warren.
Henry H. Wilson, president Of
the State Bar Association OF Me-
braska and only surviving member
Of the university's law school
faculty of 18ol-lSo3-presided at the
gathering and spoke.
Following Mr.. Wilson'S address,
this cablegram was sent to General
Pershing:
Lincoln, Neb., Sept. IS, 1918.
General John ]. Pershing, Some
where in France.
Dear General
This being your birthday, a large
company, many of them your old
friends, are dining together at the
Country club of your old home
town. Sixty-fve service stars are
on the service flag over the door
way, and we are delighted, indeed,
to have as our guests this evening
your sisters and your son.
we are proud to claim you. We
have every confidence in the world
in you. Our best wishes go out to
you and your brave men.
"News from St. Mihiel on your
birthday is wonderfully encourag-
ing. Never forget that all Ameri-
cans are for you.
Following are the names Of those
present 'Pershing Night at our
club. Trusting you will recognize
in the list many friends, we will say
good night and God bless you"
| All assembled at the country Stub
signed this message.
On October l, 1895, Pershing re-
ceived orders to join his command,
the 10th cavalry at Fort Assini-
boine, Montana. He reported there
10 days later. Hard and difficult
w VI dWdllCu HlIil.
Locates Indian Hiding Places.
Fort Assiniboine is in Chouteau
county, Montana, close to the border,
near Havre, and, from east to west,
about in the middle of the state.
And, at this fort it was that opera
tons against the Cree Indians were
conferred
Jack Pershing, in command of
scouting parties comprised largely
of Indians, was ever riding about
Montana and beyond, first here,
then there. Often he would be away
from the fort for days, making
forced marches through billiards
and in cold so intense as to dis
hearten all but the most brave and
courageous of men. Jack Pershing
was that kind of a man. Never a
task so hard he could not perform
it; never a difficulty so great he
could not overcome it. By the spring
Of 1896 Jack Pershing knew how
many Cree Indians had fled across
the border from Canada and he
knew where those Indians were
hiding. Came the chance then for
him to distinguish himself.
Jack Pershing, in command then
of Troop D of the 10th cavalry-the
crack colored troops of the crack
colored regiment of the arny-was
detailed to execute them. With his
command he left the fort on June
IS, 1896, remaining in the field until
August IA, 1896. During those two
months and a day he did all that
congress asked. Daniel S. Lamont
was secretary of war at the time and
the efficient manner in which the
situation was handled pleased him
exceedingly-"in his duty, which was
performed with expedition and dis
cretion."
Crees Used Tricks.
But If one would really know of
the work Jack Pershing did at Fort
Assiniboine, one must talk with one
who knew him there. Such a per-
son l found-Col. Letcher Hard
man, the same Colonel Hartman,
friend and classmate of Pershing at
West Point and at present attached
to the quartermaster's department
in Washington.
"The rounding up of the Cree In
dians," the colonel said to me, was
remarkable feat. l have talked
with Jack Pershing about it-saw
him when he was at Fort Assini-
boine. In fact, | was with him at
the fort several times.
THE chase of the Crees was not
confined to Montana. Jack PERISH
ing had to ride into the Dakotas and
the bad lands of the Missouri river.
The Crees employed every means to
escape him. They did not want to
be returned to Canada. Yes, Jack
performed a feat of which any man
might we'll be proud.