A MILITARY INSTRUCTOR
AT the University of Nebraska the young instructor-lieutenant
revolutionized his department. It is said that when first the students
presented themselves before him, according to the rules of the
University, for drill, their preparations were nil and their appearance
was far from being prepossessing. Previously the military drill had been
more or less looked upon by the student body as a somewhat necessary but
negligible and irksome task. Few prepared carefully for it and all were
glad when the hour ended.
Under the new instructor the change was startling and immediate--and the
college boys liked it. Among the strict demands of the new instructor
was one that required every student when he appeared for drill to have
his boots well blacked. Not only must the toes of the boots appear well,
but every boy must see to it that the heels also received proper
attention. Perhaps Lieutenant Pershing was interpreting for the Nebraska
boys the familiar old proverb, "Black the heels of your boots."
The new professor speedily became popular, for no man is more unpopular
in a student body than the teacher who weakly condones their neglect or
too readily excuses their deficiencies. In spite of their protests to
the contrary, they like the strict work and the fair and exacting
teacher. And Pershing was liked--and liked more because he did not try
to secure the goodwill of his students.
The impression which the new instructor in military tactics made upon
the student body is well shown by the following statement of the
director of athletics in the University at that time, who naturally
cooperated with the official representative of the Government whose
influence over the college boys speedily became pronounced.
"He was the finest man I ever worked with," said
Best. "It is true he was mighty strict with his
work, but the results he got were so good that
everybody he worked with loved him for it. When he
was here we had a regiment the University could be
proud of. I just worshipped that man and everybody
around the University felt the same about him.
"Usually he was mighty dignified in his work, but
he had a way of getting next to the new men.
"The boys at the University got a surprise the
first time Pershing drilled them. It had been
their habit before this time to come to drill with
shoes blackened or not, just as they pleased. When
Pershing took hold the first thing he looked at
was to see that all shoes were well blackened and
that the heels looked as good as the toes. He was
just that thorough-going in everything all the
time."--From the _New York Times_.
An incident recently told by one of his students in the University of
Nebraska also is illustrative of the grip the drillmaster had upon the
student body.
When Lieutenant Pershing later was appointed to a new position in the
Army there was keen disappointment among the students, all of whom were
his strong admirers. Certain of his cadets, who had profited greatly
under his discipline and served under his orders, got together and
decided that they wanted to wear badges of some kind. Gold medals were
suggested, but for obvious reasons were not selected. Then one of the
cadets suggested a plan as novel as it was new, and after a hearty laugh
a delegation went to Lieutenant Pershing to ask for the gift of his
riding trousers.
"Good Lord!" exclaimed the astonished instructor in tactics. "What do
you want of my trousers?"
The students then explained their plan. They were to cut the trousers
into such small bits that both the blue of the cloth and the yellow of
the border would be found in every piece. Of these little strips they
would make badges--one for every cadet.
The lieutenant promptly presented his visitors with his best pair.
One of the little band in relating the incident not long ago said, "We
made the badges, which as far as I know were the first service badges
ever used in the United States. If I could only buy, borrow, beg or
steal one of those badges I'd readily wear it in France by the side of
my ribbon of the Spanish-American war."
With duties that were not arduous Lieutenant Pershing now not only
continued his studies, particularly in strategy, but also found time to
carry out the desire and plan that more or less had been in his thoughts
since his boyhood--he took the course in law as it was given in the
University. From this course he graduated and consequently was entitled
to write another title after his name--that of Bachelor of Laws. He then
was "Professor" Lieutenant John Joseph Pershing, A.B., "Esquire."
However, he was soon to become first lieutenant in the 10th U. S.
Cavalry--a promotion which he received October 20, 1892. Joining his
troop on October 11, 1895, he was again sent into the service with the
10th Cavalry at Fort Assinniboine, Montana, where he remained until
October 16, 1896. In June and July of that year the monotony of life in
the fort was varied by service in the field, where he assisted in
deporting the Cree Indians.
A brief leave of absence followed this work on the frontier, but on
December 17, 1896, he was assigned to duties at the Headquarters of the
Army at Washington. This inside work, however, did not strongly appeal
to the active young lieutenant, and in May of the following year he
rejoined his regiment at Fort Assinniboine, Montana.
Here, however, his stay was to be very brief at this time. Promotion
apparently had been slow, and doubtless many a time the heart of the
ambitious young officer must have been somewhat heavy. The teachings of
his father, however, were now bearing fruit and not for a moment did
Lieutenant Pershing relax his steady, persistent labors. Whether
recognition and promotion came or not he was to be prepared.
But the quiet, efficient young officer had not been unnoticed or
forgotten by those who were higher in authority. At this time a new
instructor in military tactics was needed in the United States Military
Academy at West Point. What could be more natural than that the choice
should fall upon Pershing? He was a hard worker, he had seen active
service on the plains, he had learned how to deal with men, and,
besides, he had had actual experience in teaching tactics when he had
been stationed at the University of Nebraska. And behind the experience
was a personality quiet, modest and marvelously efficient. Lieutenant
John Joseph Pershing was assigned to duty at the United States Military
Academy as Assistant Instructor of Tactics, June 15, 1897.
To be back again in the well-remembered and beloved institution where he
himself had been trained was a joy and honor. His devotion to and
appreciation of West Point strengthened and intensified by his
experiences in the years that had intervened since his graduation, we
may be sure that the heart of Lieutenant Pershing was proud of the
confidence which had been manifested in his selection to fill the vacant
position.
Here again there was a continuance of his previous record of quiet and
efficient service. It is true he was older now and he was more ready for
the public and social duties of his position than perhaps he had been
in his earlier days. And to the social side of his new task he responded
as became one in his position.
It was not long, however, before a fresh opportunity presented
itself--the one for which he had been waiting. The troubles between
Spain and the Island of Cuba had for a considerable time been
threatening to involve the United States. Many people sympathized with
the Cubans in their longing and their efforts to secure their
independence. The sturdy fight which the Islanders were making appealed
strongly to many patriotic Americans who were glorying in the traditions
of the struggle their own forefathers had made a century and a quarter
earlier.
The friction between the United States and Spain steadily increased. The
latter nation, perhaps not without a certain justification, was claiming
that her colonists were fitting out expeditions and obtaining munitions
and supplies for their soldiers in the cities of the United States, a
supposedly neutral nation. She was not unnaturally irritated, too, by
the steadily increasing numbers of Americans that were serving in the
hard pressed and poorly equipped troops of Cuba. The culmination,
however, came when the United States battleship, _Maine_, was blown up
in the harbor of Havana, February 15, 1898. The long delayed declaration
of war by the United States, April 21, 1898, was the speedy outcome.