Evening star., 1920-02-22
Distinguished Cavalry Of
ficer Earned Many
War HonorS. ~
Served Five Years as Ad-
jutant General of
District Militia.
BY C. FRED COOK.

officer of the Legion of Honor ana
croix de guerre with palm, for gall
Iantry in the world war. as briga-
dier-generaL and the Congressional
medal of honor for most distin-
suished gallantry." while a second
Brett. cavalry. commandant at Fort
NIyer. Va. today transfers to the re-
tired list of the Army by operation
OF law for age-as a colonel-after 1orty-
one years of service with troops.
Gen. Brett is held in the highest
esteem by Washingtonians. for he is
regarded as ''one of us. He Is a
charter member of the District of
Columbia Commandery, Naval and
Military Order of the Spanish Amer
lean War. and also of the District of
Columbia Branch OF the Society of
the Army of Santiago de Cuba. And.
notably, he served for five years. by
detail. as adjutant genteral of the
District of Columbia militia. when
included the important duty of chief
instructor of the local brigade of cit
izen soldiery. At the conclusion OF
this service Brig. Gen. George II. Har-
rieS. then commanding the DISTRICT
of Columbia militia, expressed MINI
self. in writing. as follows; ou
have had many predecessors as ad-'
jutant general, and some OF them
have been of the best, but no one mas
rendered such uncommonly useful serV-
ic. as YOU have. No one has given
so freely of himself capable at every
point. whether in the once or IN the
field, as an officer and gentleman
in the highest sense of that compineu
term: a loyal friend whom | shall al
ways hold in the highest esteem, you
have filled every expectation.
Gen. Brett a Real Soldier.
Gen. Brett is a real soldier With
the exception of his detail with the
District National Guard, he has peen
with troops in the field since the DAY
he graduated from the United states
Military Academy at West Point. He
was active in the Sioux campaign, in
Montana. under Gen. Nelson A Miles
then colonel of the 5th Infantry, from
1879 until the surrender OF Sittlhg
Bull and the last hostile band. near
Poplar river. Montana, in January
1881. 1t was during that campaign
that Second Lieut.. Brett won Ihe
congressional medal of honor. the
citation reads: For most diStfn-
quished gallantry in action against
hostile Sioux Indians, near y taiion
creek, Montana, April 1, 1880, by fear
less exposure and dashing bravery,
cutting Off the Indians pony herd
and greatly Gripping the hostiles;
while second lieutenant. ID Cavalry.
Citation Does Net Tell All.
This citation does not tell the story
of that thrilling, brilliant, life-risk,
ing exploit of bravery The writer mao
time in The Camp Lee Bayonet, official
organ of the sOth Division, in the
fail of 1917. Gen. Brett had never
related the details to any one. When-
ever the subject was broached to him
he refused to discuss it. Being the
only individual in the division pos
sessing the most coveted decoration
available to the Army and Navy, Inc
Bayonet desired to publish the story
of how it was won. He was ASKED
for the facts, but politely declined to |
supply them. 1t was necessary to re-
sort of strategy. An article for the |
most part imaginary and extremeiy
lurid, was submitted to Gen Brett
with the statement that positively IT
would appear in the next issue OF
The Bayonet. After deep thought he
reluctantly produced a typewritten
copy OF extracts from War Depart
ment records. prepared and sent TO
department. That formed the basis
for the story. told after a lapse of
thirty-seven years. 1t was, IN priei'
that after long and wearisome pur-
suit. with men and horses well nish
exhausted, the young officer Voiun-
teered to cut off the hostile sioux
from their herd of ponies. mostly
stolen animals. Accompanied py
mere handful of Indian scouts, who,
as Indians. were able to shield them
seNes behind the bodies of their
mounts. Lieut.. Brett, tfrget for the
rifle of every hostile sioux In the
band. dashed among them and through
them. making a complete success OF
their herd and putting them to rout
served in Cree Campaign.
Following the surrender of Sitting
Bull, Lieut.. Brett proceeded with his
command-Troop A, I'd Cavalry-250
miles farther into the uninhabited
west, and was a part of the garrison
of Fort Maginnis. Mont Mont, for tour
ipated~ in the Cree campaign and as
sisted very materially in making that
remote section Of the country safe for
settlers. He served under en-. Crook
1SS5-1SS6, and was mentioned IN
orders, now before me, for great
energy and determination displayed
in the pursuit Of the hostiles,
during which they were forced to
abandon their stolen horses and take
to the FOUNTAINS on foot. where the
pursuit was still vigorously pressed.
Lieut.. Brett served more than six
teen years on the frontier, at time
when i'll was a genuine wild west. In
the war with Spain he commanded the
only troops with mounts in Cuba. In
the campaign of Santiago de Cuba he
was appointed provost marshal gem
eral OF Gen. Skaters army, and later
dred picked men who represented the
American Army at the surrender of
the Spanish forces and the city of
Santiago. For gallantry displayed in
the presence of the enemy and under
fire AT the battle of Ell Caney, July l,
1888, he was recommended for sub
stantial consideration.
2 AS a field officer of volunteers Col.
Brett participated in the Philippine
insurrection and commanded troops in
skirmishes against the Moros, in Min
Ganao. in 1900.
Assigned to Yellowstone Park.
Returning from the Philippines. Col
Brett was assigned as superintendent
OF Yellowstone National Park and
comma ndant at Fort Yellowstone. His
park was twice extended at the per-
sonaI request of the Secretary of the
Interior. so that he served for more
than six years thefe on administrative
and executive duty regarded by Sec
retary Lane as of the highest i'm
portance.
Continuing his duty with troops,
Col. Brett served on the Mexican bor-
der in 1916. in command of a cavalry
brigade. He was colonel of the 1st
Cavalry and commanding the Depart
ment of Hawaii, when, August 5,
1917, he was appointed a brigadier
general. National Army, and assigned
to the Seth Division, at Camp Lee.
Gem Brett organized the 160th In
fantry Brigade, and commanded it
during the entire life of that fighting
unit Incidentally, he also commanded
the S0th Division for three months
when the division commander was
on an observation trip to France. Gen.