BELL, James Franklin, American soldier: b. Shelbyville, Ky., 9 Jan. 1856. He was gradu ated from the United States Military Academy 1878; he was appointed additional second lieu tenant, 14 June 1878; second lieutenant, 28 June 1878; transferred to 7th Cavalry, 9 Aug. 1878; first lieutenant 1890; major of Engineers, United States Volunteers, 1898; captain, United States army, 2 March 1899; major, assistant adjutant general, United States Volunteers, 17 April 1899 ; colonel of 36th Volunteer Infantry, 5 July 1899; brigadier-general of volunteers, 5 Dec. 1899; brigadier-general, United States army, 19 Feb. 1901 ; major-general, 3 Jan. 1907.
He served on plains in 7th United States Cav alry, 1878-94; captured band of half-breed Cree Indians, near Fort Buford, S. D., 1883; in Sioux campaign, Pine Ridge, S. D., 1891 ; adjutant of regiment and secretary to the Cavalry and Light Artillery School 1891-94; aide to Gen. J. W. Forsyth in California, Arizona and Washing ton; was awarded Congressional Medal of Honor, 27 Nov. 1899, "for most distinguished gallantry in action, 9 Sept. 1899, near Porac,
Luzon, P. I." ; commanded 4th brigade, second division, 8th Army Corps, and third district, department of northern Luzon, to July 1900; provost marshal-general of Manila, P. I., to Feb. 1901; commanded first district, depart ment of northern Luzon, to November 1901, and third brigade, department of southern Luzon to December 1902; returned to the United States in 1903; commandant of Infantry and Cavalry School, Signal School and Staff College to April 1906; chief of staff, United States army, April 1906— April 1910; com mander of the Philippines Division, January 1911 — April 1914. Assigned to command of mobilized second division, United States army, May 1914, which he commanded until demobil ized in October 1915, then assigned to command Western department, with headquarters at San Francisco, December 1915. In 1917 Major General Bell was placed in charge of the 77th Division of the New National Army, consisting of draft quotas from New York city and State, at Camp Upton, Yaphank, Long Island.