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MILITARY RECORD OF CHARLES JUDSON CRANE
Born April 30, 1853. Appointed to the Military Academy from Texas in 1872, graduated June 15, 1877, appointed Second Lieutenant 24th Infantry and assigned to Company B. Joined at Fort Clark, Texas, December, 1877, promoted to First Lieutenant March 20, 1879, while serving at Fort Duncan, Texas.
With General Mackenzie's expedition into Mexico, June 1878; and with cavalry on several other occasions. Joined Company C at Fort Ringold, Texas, July, 1879, commanded company continuously there and at Pena, Colorado, and Fort Davis, Texas, and Fort Sill, I. T. till February 1880. Quartermaster, Adjutant, etc., at Fort Elliot, Texas, from March to December, 1880.
Professor of Military Science and Tactics at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas from January, 1881 to November, 1883.
Joined regiment at Fort Sill, I. T. November, 1883. Performed duties of Adjutant and company commander there till June, 1888. Went with regiment to Arizona in June, 1888, and served with Company C at San Carlos Agency till August, 1888.
Instructor in Military Science and Tactics at the Military Academy from August, 1888, till July, 1890. Regimental Adjutant 24th Infantry at Fort Bayard, New Mexico from August, 1890, to July 4, 1892. Promoted to Captain 24th Infantry, July 4, 1892 and to command of company F. On various duties there, including scout in December, 1895, until October 1896. At Fort Douglas, Utah, October, 1896, till April 21, 1898, on which date entire regiment took train for Chickamauga Park, Georgia, thence to Tampa, Florida about May 1.
Appointed Colonel 9th U. S. V. I., May 31, 1898. Organized regiment with headquarters at New Orleans, taking
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10 companies from Lousiana and 2 from Texas. Sailed for Cuba August 17, 1898, landing at Santiago August 23, and served there and at San Luis until April, 1899.
Left Santiago, Cuba, April 25 or 26, 1899 and mustered out with regiment at Camp Meade, Pa., May 25, 1899.
Rejoined 24th Infantry and Company F, at Presidio, California, July 6, 1899, and sailed July 13, for Manila, landing there August 11 and going two days later to the pump station on Mariquina River. Commanding batalion at that place till August 28, 1899.
Appointed Lieutenant Colonel 38th U. S. V. I. August 17, 1899 and assigned to General Grant's brigade as brigade inspector with headquarters at Bacoor. In several skirmishes.
Brigade inspector till arrival of 38th U. S. V. I. Joined regiment, in Manila about January 1, 1900 and took part in expedition commanded by Generals Bates, Wheaton and Swan through Cavite, Laguna and Batangas provinces in January, including several skirmishes.
Commanding 2nd batalion at Lipa, Batangas province, Luzon from January 15th till November 17, 1900, including several small skirmishes. Sailed for Island of Panay, November 27th or 28th, 1900, landed at Iloilo and took part in campaign which pacified that island. Major 16th Infantry February 1, 1901 and detailed Adjutant General February 28, 1901 and remained in Department of Visayas.
With General R. P. Hughes in Samar from May 20th till June 28th, 1901. Adjutant General of Department of Visayas till October 2, 1901.
Joined at Cebu from sick leave about January 1, 1902. Adjutant General of Department South Philippines till August 19, 1902. Arrived at San Francisco, October 14 and appointed Adjutant General Department of California and then assistant to Adjutant General Department of the East. On last duty till September 12, 1903. Appointed to command of Porto Rico Regiment of Infantry and District of Porto Rico till September, 1905.
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Lieutenant Colonel, 8th Infantry, August 21, 1903, Adjutant General, Northern Division from September, 1905 till November, 1906. Adjutant General, Department of Texas from December, 1906 to June, 1907.
Assigned to 17th Infantry, September 16, 1907. Promoted Colonel, October 25th 1907 and assigned to command of 9th Infantry and stationed at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
COMMENDATIONS.Fort Sam Houston,
San Antonio, Texas,
May 15, 1909.
To
The Adjutant General of the Army,
Washington, D. C.
Sir:-
I have the honor to recommend to the appointing authority, Colonel Charles J. Crane, of the 9th Infantry for promotion to the grade of Brigadier General in the Regular Army.
I have known Colonel Crane for many years, and have been more or less intimately associated with him, both personally and officially, at home and abroad in peace and in war.
Of his unexcelled record for capacity and as a line officer of Infantry, through every grade from second lieutenant to colonel, of his reputation for arduous work and high worth as Assistant Adjutant General and Military Secretary, it is not necessary for me to set forth in detail.
His fine record of thirty seven years of devoted duty stands out conspicuously and speaks for itself in the highest terms of commendation. I may add, however, that in my opinion there is no officer of our Army who is more appreciative of the merits of the American soldier regular or volunteer, who understands him better and who can more effectively combine his patriotism, discipline and morale, than Colonel Charles J. Crane. He also is in close touch with the American cit-
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zen, and develops in a marked degree by that and discreet administration, that confidence and harmony between soldier and citizen which not many know how to best attain.
About a year ago Colonel Crane succeeded to the Colonelcy of the 9th Infantry, a regiment in which I had the honor of serving as an officer from lieutenant to major for nearly thirty years. Thal regiment has a proud record, and had some of the best Colonels of the Army, and I can say, without reservation, that Colonel Crane is the peer of any Colonel the regiment ever had. This fact is fully attested by the harmony, the discipline and the esprit de corps which prevail among officers and men in the 9th Infantry.
Colonel Crane, both theoretically and practically, is fully alive to the interests of the service, and no other, officer of his rank has evinced more thorough knowledge of the paramount needs of our military establishment, and that too in strict consonance with the spirit of our Republican form of government.
Much more might be said as to this officer's many merits showing his unexcelled fitness for advancement, but from my knowledge of his high character as an officer and a gentleman, I could not say less. I therefore take pleasure in recommending him, and have an abiding conviction that his advancement to a Brigadier Generalcy would reflect the highest credit upon the military services, and redound to the public good in every kindred relation.
Very respectfully,
(Sgd) JESSE M. LEE,
Major General, U. S. Army, Retired.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF TEXAS.
San Antonio, Texas.
June 17, 1909.
The Adjutant General of the Army,
Washington, D. C.
Sir:—
I take great pleasure in recommending to the ap-
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pointing power, Colonel C. J. Crane, 9th Infantry, for an appointment as Brigadier General whenever the opportunity may occur. Colonel Crane's worth and efficiency are a matter of record in the War Department and should he be appointed would, I am sure, fill the position with honor and dignity.
I have known him a long time.
Very respectfully,
(Signed) ALBERT L. MYER,
Brigadier General, U. S. Army.
UNION CLUB OF BOSTON.
May, 28, 1909.
To the President.
Sir:-
In connection with future promotion to the grade of Brigadier General, I recommend careful consideration of the merits and record of Colonel Charles J. Crane. Colonel Crane served several months on my staff, and I was impressed by his high character, strict attention to duty, and his attainment as a staff officer. Lack of familiarity as to his command of troops prevents my saying more than that his reputation therewith is excellent.
Very truly,
(Signed) A. W. GREELY,
Major General, Retired.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF CALIFORNIA.
San Francisco, California.
April 28, 1909.
The Adjutant General, United States Army.
Washington, D. C.
Sir:—
Colonel C. J. Crane, 9th Infantry, aspires to be a General Officer. The Colonel served with me for a little while in St. Louis as Military Secretary, in which position he was certainly efficient, obliging and acceptable. He, too has the reputation of being a first class soldier, and I feel safe in recommending him for the position to which he aspires.
Very respectfully,
(Signed) J. F. WESTON,
Major General, Commanding.
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WASHINGTON, D. C.
No. 1744 G Street.
May 5, 1909,
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
I have the honor to recommend the record and services of Colonel Charles J. Crane, 9th Infantry, for consideration when appointments to the grade of Brigadier General, U. S. Army, are made.
Colonel Crane is a class-mate. I have known him intimately for thirty-six years. He is an officer of the highest character and attainment, well qualified, mentally, professionally and physically, for appointment as a Brigadier General.
Colonel Crane has served in every grade from Cadet to Colonel in the regular establishment, and was Colonel of the 9th U. S. Infantry and Lieutenant Colonel of the 38th U. S. Infantry, Volunteers, during the war with Spain and the Philippine Insurrection, and rendered excellent services in Cuba and the Philippines.
While Chief of Staff and Adjutant General of the Department of the East, in 1902 and 1903, Colonel Crane was my assistant. He is a hard-working, painstaking, intelligent and conscientious officer of unexceptionable habits and has never used liquor or tobacco.
(Signed) THOMAS H. BARRY,
Major General, U. S. Army.
WATERVILIET, N. Y.
September 18, 1909.
In event of a vacancy in the list of Brigadier Generals, I earnestly desire to give my testimony in behalf of Colonel C. J. Crane, 9th Infantry.
He was decidedly one of the best officers I had under me before my retirement from active service.
I knew him to be an active, pains-taking, consciencious and able officer, devoted to duty and the wellfare of those under his command.
His record cannot but be of the best, and his long service in the line of the Army has eminently fitted him
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for promotion to a higher grade, and for the good of the service I still love, I recommend him to the appointing power.
Very respectfully,
J. FORD KENT.
Brigadier General, U. S. Army, Retired.
LAREDO, TEXAS.
September 12, 1909.
I wish to add my recommendation to that of others for the appointment (or the consideration for appointment) of Colonel Charles J. Crane 9th Infantry, as Brig-adier General.
Colonel Crane served with me in the 24th Infantry, from 1877, 24 years, and our intimacy has continued.
I consider that he has, in a remarkable degree the qualities required in a General Officer.
High and strong character, ingrained conscientiousness, knowledge of his profession, ability, a well poised mind, indomitable resolution, energy and skill, along with the highest sense of duty and unblemished reputation, all no doubt apparent in his record at the War Department.
Respectfully submitted,
A. C. MARKLEY,
Brigadier General, Retired.
Major Bundy in his report of inspection, March 8-31, 1909, says:—
Colonel Charles J. Crane, 9th Infantry, and the officers under him are commended for the fine appearance, good discipline and high standard of instruction maintained in the 9th Infantry, as shown at the various inspection exercises.
This regiment is in excellent condition.
Major Rivers in his report of inspection made February 21, March 19, 1910, says:—
Colonel C. J. Crane, 9th Infantry, deserves special commendation for the excellent condition of the 9th Infantry.
