Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-01-17

General John ]. Pershing, past 90
now and long In retirement. in think
ing back over his long and eventful
military career, must often ponder the
DAVIS when. as a young officer Of IS,
he was assigned to Fort Assinnibotne,
that une-time lonesome military post
situated ON the bleak prairie IN Hin
county, Montana.
In review Of his Montana back
ground, the state was proud OF Black
Jacks" leadership Of the A. E. F. IN
the first world war.
And it had reason, recently, TO be
proud of him again when the aged
general offered to serve his country In
aaiv possible capacity when the war
broke out with Japan. President Roose-
welt termed his offer magnificent"
Pershing was sent to Montana TO
assist in Strengthening out many In
dian disputes and uprisings.
At Fort Assinniboine he spent a
year as lieutenant in the 10th cavalry,
where also fate staged a scene in his
LIES drama which had a far-reaching
effect in the scheme Of things that
destined him to become one OF the
great figures in the worlds history.
Fort Assinniboine, today, relegated
to comparative oblivion as an agri-
cultural school, and experiment sta
ton, was in October, 1895, when Per-
shing reported there to join his regi-
ment. a western fort, the Importance
of which as q military outpost in the
Indian country was fast waning. For
the men doing service there, routine
garrison duty, a prospect Of the same
prairies and mountains day by day,
monotony almost uncomfortable, were
all they were offered. The glamour and
excitement of the Indian fighting years
had gone and there came only to the
most occasional faint echoes Of frontier
troubles. The red man had made his
last stand against the domination OF
the whites and his fighting day had
departed forever.
And yet In this isolated place Per-
shing, who has always been something
of an opportunist, as very successful
military man must be, found one Of
the chances that, promptly taken adj
vantage of, later helped to advance
him IN his profession and give him
the precedence necessary to become
general of the United States army.
This chance was to gain the friend
ship and admiration Of Gen. Nelson
A. Miles, then in command Of the
armies of the United States.
Gained Miles Friendship
Briefly told, the opportunity for as
ISOLATION with General Miles came one
day when the old Indian fighter visited
the post on tour of inspection,
bringing his hunting dogs with him.
and Pershing and another officer took
the general for a hunt in quest Of
prairie chickens General Miles al
ready knew Pershing as soldier. He
knew of his work In Indian skirmishes
at Pine Ridge and in New Mexico, and
in q report made year previously
had written: TN this operation he
displayed remarkable zeal, energy and
skill"
The association on this two-days
hunt warmed into a personal liking
what before had only been profess
sional respect. There we find an in
stance OF Pershing,s ability to make
friends and Of the readiness Of those
friends to help him. Pershing realized
that advancement would be slow as
an officer in a cavalry regiment, for
in those days the United States army,
small in numbers and with no expec-