DUTY. Yea, let all good things await Him who cares not to be great, But as he saves or serves the state. Not once or twice in our rough island-story, The path of duty was the way to glory: For the right, and learns to deaden Love of self, before his journey closes, He shall find the stubborn thistle bursting Not once or twice in our rough island-story, His path upward, and prevail'd, Shall find the toppling crags of Duty scaled Are close upon the shining table-lands To which our God Himself is moon and sun. Such was he: his work is done. But while the races of mankind endure, Let his great example stand Colossal, seen of every land, And keep the soldier firm, the statesman pure: Till in all lands and thro' all human story The path of duty be the way to glory. From "Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington;" Tennyson. a (107) JAMES FRANKLIN BELL, MAJOR-GENERAL U. S. ARMY. General James Franklin Bell, Major-General in the United States Army, was born near Shelbyville, in Shelby County, Kentucky, on January 9, 1856. Only a meagre summary of his arduous and eventful career can be given here. He received his preparatory education in the public schools of Shelbyville, and, in 1874, entered as a cadet the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. From this historic institution he graduated with honor in 1878. Was at once commissioned Second Lieutenant and, later, as First Lieutenant of Cavalry. He served on the plains in the Seventh U. S. Cavalry, Custer's old command and a crack regiment, from 1878 to 1894. Captured a band of half-breed Cree Indians, near Fort Buford, South Dakota, in 1883. Served in the Sioux Campaign, around Pine Bridge, South Dakota, in 1891. Was Adjutant of regiment and Secretary of Cavalry and Light Artillery School, 1891-1894, and Aide to General J. W. Forsyth, in California, Arizona, and the State of Washington, in 1895-1898. Served with marked distinction in the Spanish-American Campaign in the Philippine Islands and in the Philippine insurrection. Was promoted Captain, U. S. A., in March, 1899. On March 7, 1899, was wounded in action at San Juan del Monte, Philippine Islands. On July 5, 1899, was appointed Colonel of Volunteers, and organized the Thirty-Sixth Infantry, U. S. Volunteers, in the Philippine Islands during the same month. He continued in command of this regiment until December, 1899. In 1899 he was awarded a congressional medal of honor for gallantry in action, near Porac, Philippine Islands. December 5, 1899, was appointed Brigadier-General of Volunteers. Commanded the Fourth Brigade, Second Division, Eighth Army Corps, and Third District, Department of Northern Luzon, to July, 1900. Was Provost Marshal-General of the City of Manila, Philippine Islands, to February, 1901. Appointed Brigadier-General, U. S. A., in February, 1901. Commanded First District, Department of Northern Luzon, to November, 1901, and the Third Brigade, Department of Southern Luzon, to December, 1902. Returned to the United States in 1903. Was Commandant of the Infantry and Cavalry School, Signal School and Staff College, to April, 1906. Became Major-General, U. S. A., on January 3, 1907. Received the degree of LL. D. from the State University of Kentucky, at Lexington, on June 6, 1907. From April, 1906, to April, 1910, was Chief of Staff and, next to the President, the virtual head of the United States Army. In the spring of 1910, by his own request, he was relieved from this responsible and very exacting position by President Taft, and since December, 1910, he had been assigned to duty in the Philippines, over the military establishment of which he has supreme command. On January 5, 1881, General Bell was married to Sarah Buford, daughter of Thomas Jefferson and Grace (Bowers) Buford, of Rock Island, Illinois. Her sister, Anna Buford, is the wife of Brigadier-General Ernest A. Garlington of the regular army. |