Chapter II: Preface

THE purpose of the writer of this little book is merely to tell the story in outline of the career of the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in France. The modesty of General Pershing has kept his name out of print to a greater extent than in the case of many of our prominent men. His advancement also came rapidly in these recent years. As a result of these two conditions many of the fellow countrymen of the General are not familiar with the story of his early life or his successful work in the Philippines. This they not only have a right to know, but they ought to know.

The writer has endeavored to tell the story briefly as it has been told him, or as it has been kept in the records of the War Department and elsewhere. The complete biography and the analysis of General Pershing's personality and military career he leaves to later writers. The simple story of the struggles and achievements of a more or less typically successful American is presented, with the hope that others also may find in the record the inspiration and interest which the writer has found. Sometimes fighting against obstacles that appeared almost insurmountable, struggling to obtain an education in the schools, not faltering when tragic sorrows came, his determination succeeding in military campaigns where previous centuries of fighting had failed--the career of General Pershing has been a continuous overcoming. Confidence in a great leader is an essential condition of victory and the writer has tried to present facts to show that the trust of the American people in their military leader is well founded.

Some years ago a certain tight-fisted denizen of the United States inquired sneeringly of a young man from his village, who was working his way through college, "What do you expect to make of yourself anyway?" Instantly came the reply, "A man." Cause and effect, aim and incentive, object and motive alike are all slimmed up in that response. Behind the General is the man whose story the writer has tried to tell just as he has found it.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I A HISTORIC MOMENT 1

II BIRTH AND EARLY HOME 7

III BOYHOOD AND STUDENT DAYS 22

IV FIGHTING THE APACHES AND THE SIOUX 44

V A MILITARY INSTRUCTOR 56

VI IN THE SPANISH WAR 65

VII IN THE PHILIPPINES 86

VIII SUBJECTING THE MOROS 96

IX IN PURSUIT OF VILLA 118

X CALLED TO COMMAND THE AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES
IN FRANCE 131

XI WHY AMERICA WENT TO WAR WITH GERMANY 149

XII IN ENGLAND AND FRANCE 161

XIII AT THE TOMB OF NAPOLEON 171

XIV A WREATH FOR THE TOMB OF LAFAYETTE 181

XV FOURTH OF JULY IN FRANCE AND BASTILE DAY IN AMERICA 193

XVI INCIDENTS AND CHARACTERISTICS 203

XVII WHAT OTHERS THINK OF HIM 225

XVIII AS A WRITER AND SPEAKER 238

XIX THE MAN BEHIND THE GENERAL 242

XX HIS MILITARY RECORD 257

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

FACING PAGE

GENERAL PERSHING _Frontispiece_

THE HOME OF THE PERSHINGS, LACLEDE, MISSOURI 10

GENERAL PERSHING AS A BOY 22

THE CHURCH THE PERSHINGS ATTENDED AT LACLEDE 28

THE PRAIRIE MOUND SCHOOL 28

THE HIGHLAND MILITARY ACADEMY 34

UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY, WEST POINT, N. Y. 34

COL. HUSE, "SPLENDID OLD CALEB" 40

KIRKSVILLE, MO., STATE NORMAL SCHOOL 40

THE LIEUTENANT IN THE FAMILY 46

GENERAL FOCH AND GENERAL PERSHING 254

THE STORY OF GENERAL PERSHING