Biographical Notes
General "Black Jack" John Pershing
In 1890, Pershing was reassigned to Fort Wingate, near Gallup, New Mexico. Reductions in army strength again forced him to question his career choice, but unrest among the Indians was causing concern. This time it was Wovoka's Ghost Dance that promised Indian immunity to bullets. Pershing led a troop of cavalry in General Miles' campaign of December 1890 that led to Sitting Bull's death and the Wounded Knee incident. Pershing was usually part of the blocking force and was not directly engaged in the unhappy events at Pine Ridge. After the situation calmed down, Pershing was assigned to Pine Ridge as commander of four companies of Indian Scouts. Here again he did well and was noticed for his skill in dealing with the Indians in his command and in the reservation, but the program was discontinued and he was again worrying about his future. He requested assignment as military professor at the Nebraska State University in Lincoln and was so assigned in October 1891.
Pershing's father and mother, together with most of the family, had moved on to Chicago, but Jack's brother James, was living in Lincoln and active in local politics. Drawing heavily on his experiences in West Point he soon had the cadets in his charge looking sufficiently smart to attract favorable notice in the university and in the community. He also enrolled in the university's Law School and taught mathematics in the university's preparatory school. In October 1892, Pershing was promoted to first lieutenant and assigned to the 10th Cavalry, the famed "Buffalo Soldiers." Jack requested to be transferred to the 6th Cavalry, but was denied. He was, however, permitted to finish his tour at the university before reporting to Fort Assiniboine, Montana, and the 10th, at the beginning of October 1895. He and his black troopers got along well and worked together effectively. In 1896, Jack and a troop from the 10th Cavalry successfully deported a large group of Cree Indians to Canada. Also that year, he had an opportunity to arrange a two day hunting party for General Miles. They got along very well and at the end of that year Pershing was selected to serve as Major General Miles' aide.
In 1896, Miles was serving as Army Commander and assignment as the general's aide taught Jack a lot about how the army and the government worked. In that position, Pershing met countless high ranking officers and civilians. Cleveland was the outgoing president and McKinley was president-elect. Jack met both men and even more importantly he met the new Assistant Secretary for War George D. Meiklejohn (and even played a minor role in getting him selected for the position). Meiklejohn held the most important single civilian position related to army affairs. Pershing also met and got along well with the new Assistant Navy Secretary Theodore Roosevelt. In 1897, after a brief return to Fort Assinboine, Jack was assigned to West Point as an instructor in the Tactics Department. Tacs are not popular by nature, but Pershing was particularly disliked by his charges. Cadets felt that he was overly strict and something of a martinet. They nicknamed him "Black Jack" intending it to be a racial slur on his earlier association with black troopers in the 10th Cavalry.
In 1898, war was brewing with Spain and Pershing wanted to be assigned to a field unit that might give him an opportunity to get into combat. Meiklejohn helped him return to the 10th Cavalry as quartermaster. The 10th was deployed to Cuba and was involved in the attack on Santiago. Pershing served the unit ably as quartermaster and distinguished himself under fire. His commanding officer recommended him for brevet promotion to major. The recommendation worked it's way up to the president who concurred with the recommendation. While in Cuba many men contracted malaria and Pershing was one of them. He was assigned to light duty and leave in order to rest and recuperate prior to being assigned to Washington as an assistant to Meiklejohn. In Washington, brevet Major Pershing helped to establish the Division of Customs and Insular Affairs. On March 10, 1899, Jack was appointed Chief of the Division. In that position he developed much of the early colonial policy for American administration of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.
In August 1899, Pershing received orders transferring him to the Philippines. He took his time getting there and traveled through much of Europe on his way. After spending a short period in Manila, Pershing was assigned to the District of Mindinao and Jolo as adjutant general. Headquarters was located in Zamboanga. In May 1900, General Arthur MacArthur took over in Manila and ordered General William A. Kobbe in Zamboanga to exterminate the last rebels in the Mindinao District. Pershing and Kobbe liked one another and Jack served virtually as Kobbe's deputy. Their campaign was successful and Pershing received official praise for his part in it. In February 1901, Pershing was promoted to Captain, 1st Cavalry. In August 1901, General Kobbe was replaced by Brigadier General George W. Davis. Davis sent Pershing on a mission to the Moro people living around Lake Lanao. Jack handled the assignment well and was complimented in the official report. During 1902, he worked to minimize bloodshed in subduing recalcitrant Moro leaders and was placed in command of Camp Vicars. His actions caused General Davis to write an efficiency report that said that Pershing was equal to any responsibility up to brigadier general. Moro leaders agreed and elected him a chieftain (datto).
