The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-13
HUGH BROWN, BOSS
Story of Commander of 13Oth
Field Artillery.
Native of Georgia in Command
of Topeka Boys.
SOON SETTLED CONTROVERSIES
Took Command When Officers
Fought Over Triles.
Men Hated To See Him Leave
Them in France.
SOON SETTLED CONTROVERSIES
BY SAN FARRELL

Ten days before the armistice was
signed last year a regular army COL
onel, a man long in the service of the
nation, was assigned the command of
regiment of field artillery Up to
this time that unit had been COM
manded by two officers. one a major
and the other a. lieutenant-co colonel.
who had dictated the affairs for a
period of several months.
The arrival of the new colonel
caused quite a stir among the officers
and men of the regiment, then in po-
sition on the Verdun front. The ma
jor and Northumberland privately
themselves. as they had always done
in the past
He Settled Differences.
A few days later a slight difference
arose between the two officers imme-
diately junior to the colonel. 1t was
settled in a few words.
Il am running this regiment" de-
clared the colonel. He did
His fitness to command the unit
could hardly be questioned by the
lieutenant-c colonel. who. a short time
before. had ordered a battery COM
long shells, designed for 1855 rifles
instead OF 1855 howitzers. This was an
impossibility. as we'll as dangerous
The captain objected. and was
promptly squelched by the almighty
ieutenant-colonel. When the latter
apologize.
Born in Atlanta.
Forty years ago Hugh S. Brown was
born in Atlanta, Ca. the son of Judge
and Mrs. Clinton I. Brown. At fifteen
he graduated from Atlanta high school,
record which is unusual. At
eighteen he was graduated from the
University OF Georgia with the degree
OF L. L. B. By special permission, he
was allowed to hang out his shingle
and practice law, which he did quite
successfully for a youth until the out
break of the Spanish-American war
two years later.
Brown closed down his desk, packed
away his law library, babe goodby to
his parents and enlisted as q Iowly
buck private in the 9th infantry under
Colonel Hardin. He went to the Phil
ippines and fought in several engage
ments during the insurrection. He
was promoted to the rank of regl-
mental sergeant major, which grade
he held for q year. when he was COM
missioned a second lieutenant. His
experience as an enlisted man in the
Spanish war made him appreciate the
men under his command in the world
war.
Good Mathematician.
Shortly after receiving his commits
sion. Brown was transferred to the
coast artillery. His knowledge of
higher mathematics and ballistics
made him invaluable as an officer of
artillery. His early experience in law
was a great help to him in the army.
1t was no wonder that this polished
southerner, when he was sent to
France, wore on his shoulders the
silver leaf of a lieutenant colonel, later
to be changed to the eagle OF a
colonel.
The regiment which he commanded
from November to April was the 13oth
field artillery. 35th division. He sue
ceeded a San Francisco man who. by
some hook or crook, eventually won
a colonelcy himself and brought the
regiment home. Colonel Brown re-
manned in France for several months
more.
A Fair DisclpIinnrian.
Colonel Brown was a disciplinarian,
but a fair-minded one, and was not
an advocate of sticking 'em to the
limit" for minor offenses, as was his
eminent predecessor-succe Re-
membering his own days as private.
when he dined on bully beef and
drank unsweetened coffee that looked
like rain water and tasted a wee bit
like the product of Java, the colonel
was able to appreciate the army from
the standpoint of the hob-nailed men
as well as the shoulder-strapped gem
tlemen. 1t was a privilege to serve
under him.
At Bonnetable (sarthe) Colonel
brown was ordered to report for duty
elsewhere. The regiment was on the
point of sailing for home. The COM
mand was turned over to the gentle
man from San Francisco. much to his
outward delight and to the disgust
of the regiment. 1t was the hope of
every man in the 130th that Colonel
Brown would accompany his unit to
Camp Funston and appear in the
demonstrations in Kansas.
"Officer and Gentleman"
Colonel Brown certainly bore out
the term, officer and a gentleman"