Background
James Bell was born on January 9, 1856, near Shelbyville, Kentucky, the son of John Wilson and Sarah Margaret Venable (Allen) Bell.
James Bell was born on January 9, 1856, near Shelbyville, Kentucky, the son of John Wilson and Sarah Margaret Venable (Allen) Bell.
As a farm boy James attended Shelbyville School until admitted to the United States Military Academy, September 1, 1874. Here his superabundant energy got him into many demerit-earning scrapes, but his friendliness won for him many friends - a trait noticeable throughout his life. He graduated June 13, 1878.
After graduation James was commissioned an additional second lieutenant, 9th Cavalry, an assignment he declined. The War Department then transferred him to the 7th Cavalry, which he joined at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory. Here he was occupied with troop training, escort duty, and numerous forays against half-breeds. The following year he accompanied his troops into the field to guard construction work on the Northern Pacific Railway and in November 1882 took station at Fort Buford, opposite the mouth of the Yellowstone River, remaining there until May 29, 1886. From July 1, 1886, to July 1, 1889, he was an instructor in military science and tactics at the Southern Illinois Normal University, and while there he studied law for admission to the bar. In August 1889 he rejoined his regiment and, because of slow progress in promotion, took leave of absence to visit Mexico with a possibility of entering business.
In his absence the 7th Cavalry was engaged at Wounded Knee against the Sioux. Bell then rejoined the unit and became the first secretary of the newly formed cavalry school at Fort Riley, where his intimate knowledge of soldiers' life and his close attention to tactical problems were of great advantage. In the field Bell had constantly striven for improvement of living and eating conditions for his men, had encouraged athletics, improved mess halls and post facilities, and had devised better tents and equipment than previously existed. In 1894 Bell went as aide to Gen. J. W. Forsyth to the Department of California, later serving, 1897-1898, on garrison duty at Fort Apache, Arizona.
In April 1898 Bell left the cavalry to become judge-advocate, Department of Columbia. When war was declared against Spain he sought duty in Cuba, but instead he was ordered to join General Merritt's expedition to the Philippines. Here he made a record replete with incidents of personal heroism under fire. In March 1899 he was promoted captain, 7th Cavalry, and in July when the new 36th Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed in the Philippines, his service was recognized and he became its colonel. The new unit was named the "Suicide Club. " On September 9, 1899, Bell earned the Congressional Medal of Honor when he charged a Filipino patrol in the face of direct fire, capturing a captain and two privates. The following December he was promoted brigadier-general of volunteers, a rank he reached in the regular army in 1901. From 1901 to 1903 he dealt with local Filipino troubles in Vigan, Luzon, Batangas, Laguna, and Tayabas, following military chastisement with civilian adjustment of agricultural and sanitary affairs in the districts concerned.
Returning to the United States in July 1903, Bell became commandant of the General Service Schools, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he served brilliantly until named chief of staff, April 15, 1906. From October 1906 to January 1907 he was in field with the Army of Cuban Pacification, organizing its supply system and commanding operations. On January 3, 1907, he was promoted major-general. He returned to the United States to complete a full tour of duty as chief of staff and then took command of the Philippine Department, where he served from 1911 to 1914. In the latter year he returned to the United States to command the 2nd Division at Texas City, Texas, a camp that was wiped out by flood in August 1915.
Bell was then assigned to command the Western Department, from which post he went to the command of the Eastern Department in May 1917. This he relinquished the following August to assume command of the newly formed 77th Division, which he began training for duty in France. From December 1917 to March 1918, he was in France on a special mission of observation. He returned to meet keen disappointment in being relieved of his divisional command, General Pershing having recommended that, because of the state of his health he be not sent to France for command duty. Accepting the inevitable, Bell resumed command of the Eastern Department, a duty he was performing at the time of his death, from angina pectoris, in January 1919. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
James Bell was a brave soldier who participated in the Indian Wars (1889-1898); the Philippine-American War (1899-1902), when he was awarded a Medal of Honor (1899); the World War I. During his military career Bell served as Commandant of the Command and General Staff College (1903–1906) and Chief of Staff of the United States Army (1906–1910).
On January 5, 1881, James Bell was married to Sarah Buford in Rock Island, Illinois.
