erly applying any of my orders. A few minutes after
taps, ghosts of all sorts began to appear from all directions. I
selected a particularly bold one and challenged according to orders:
'Halt, who comes there?' At that the ghost stood still in its tracks.
I then said: 'Halt, who stands there?' Whereupon the ghost, who was
carrying a chair, sat down. When I promptly said: 'Halt, who sits
there?' . . .

"The career of '86 at West Point was in many respects remarkable.
There were no cliques, no dissensions, and personal prejudices or
selfishness, if any existed, never came to the surface. From the very
day we entered, the class as a unit has always stood for the very best
traditions of West Point."

While Pershing was still in West Point, the Indian chief Geronimo was
making trouble in the Southwest. For several years he led a band of
outlaw braves, who terrorized the Southern border. General Crook was
sent in pursuit of him, and afterwards General Miles took up the chase.
Finally in August, 1886, the chief and his followers were rounded up.

Pershing graduated in the spring of this year, with the usual rank
given to graduates, second lieutenant, and was immediately assigned to
duty under Miles. He had an inconspicuous part in the capture. But
the next year in the special maneuvers he was personally complimented
by the General for "marching his troops with a pack train of 140 mules
in 46 hours and bringing in every animal in good condition." Doubtless
his early experience with the Missouri brand of mule aided him.

Thereafter, for the next five years, Pershing's life was that of a
plainsman. He was successively at Fort Bayard, Fort Stanton, and Fort
Wingate, all in New Mexico, in the center of troubled country. In 1890
he was shifted north to take the field against the Sioux Indians, in
South Dakota, and in the Battle of Wounded Knee he had a considerable
taste of burnt powder, where the tribe that had massacred General
Custer and his band was practically wiped out. The next year he was
stationed at Fort Niobrara, in Nebraska, in command of the Sioux Indian
Scouts.

This rapid summary of a busy and adventurous life on the plains does
not convey any idea of its many activities. But it was an exceedingly
valuable period of training to the young officer. He was finding
himself, and learning something of the inner art of military science
that he was later to put to such good use.

Here is the opinion of