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<em>Robert Nelson Getty</em> was born at Fort Hamilton, N. Y., January 17, 1855, the son of Major General George Washington Getty, Class of 1840, distinguished officer of the Mexican, Indian, and Civil Wars, and of Elizabeth Graham Stevenson Getty of Staunton, Virginia. He died at San Francisco, California, on April 15, 1941, where he was then residing as a retired brigadier general.</p>
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During the early days of the Civil War, his mother took him to her home in Virginia, where he remained with her while his father was with the Union Army.</p>
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Before entering West Point, he attended Georgetown College in Washington, D. C., and Lehigh University.</p>
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Upon graduating from the Military Academy in 1878, he was assigned to the 22d Infantry and served with that regiment at Fort Wayne, Michigan, and Fort Griffin, Texas, until June, 1881. Then followed tours of duty at San Antonio, Texas; Forts Garland and Lewis, Colorado; and at Camp Merritt and Fort Keogh, Montana, during which he participated in numerous engagements and skirmishes, including a fight with renegade Ute Indians in southwest Colorado on July 17, 1884, while attached to Troop F, 6th Cavalry, and also participated in Sioux Campaign of 1890 and 1891.</p>
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On the 14th of October, 1885, he was married at the Epiphany Church of Washington, D. C., to Miss Cornelia Thomas Colegate of that city.</p>
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While at Fort Keogh during 1890 and 1891 he served with Casey’s Cheyenne Scouts, and it was he who rode alone into the Red Man’s country to recover the valiant Casey’s body after the latter had been killed. It was a shock to the garrison to see him returning with the body of his best friend across his saddle.</p>
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During these years he studied the Indian Sign Language and was one of the few officers who became proficient in its use.</p>
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His assignment at Fort Keogh was terminated in June, 1896, when he moved with his regiment to Fort Crook, Nebraska.</p>
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He accompanied the 22d to Cuba during the Spanish-American War in 1898 and participated in the Battle of El Caney and the Siege of Santiago in July of that year. He was awarded the Silver Star Citation during the former “for gallantry in action against the Spanish Forces—July 1, 1898.”</p>
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During this engagement he assisted in the removal from the battlefield of his brother-in-law, the late Colonel Theodore Mosher, who had been seriously wounded.</p>
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He returned to the United States in August, 1898, where he served as Acting Adjutant General of the 1st Brigade, 2 Division, V Army Corps at Montauk Point, N. Y., until October when he returned to Cuba for service with the 1st Infantry at Pinar del Rio until September, 1899.</p>
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In October he went with his unit to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and commanded his company, the post, and the Infantry and Cavalry School there until August, 1900.</p>
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Still with the 1st Infantry, he sailed for the Philippine Islands, in September of that year. Here he served with the regiment at Boac, Marinduque, Catbalogan and Borongan, Samar. He commanded posts and sub-districts at Laguan and Samar and acted as Provost Judge of the Island of Samar. While at Boac he engaged in an expedition to the interior and one to the Northwest Coast. At Borongan he fought the insurgents during July and August, 1902, and engaged in numerous expeditions to the north and west.</p>
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Returning to the States in April, 1903, he commanded the post and 1st Battalion, 1st Infantry, at Fort Brady, Michigan, until April. 1905, when he assumed command of the 1st Infantry.</p>
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In February, 1906, he once more went to the Philippines with the 1st Infantry, commanding it at Camp Santa Mesa, Camp Stotsenburg, and Camp Connell until December, 1906, when he assumed command of the 2d Provisional Battalion at the last named station.</p>
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He returned to the United States in November, 1907, and commanded the Recruit Depot at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, until his third trip to the Philippines in July, 1909, when he was given command of the 7th Infantry, with station at Fort William McKinley.</p>
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Upon his return to the United States in September, 1911, he served as a member of the Infantry Examining Board at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, until December, when he assumed command of the post and the 27th Infantry at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. From June to August 1912, he commanded the Provisional Regiment at Sparta, Wisconsin, but then returned to command of the 27th and took that regiment to Texas City, Texas, in February, 1913. Here he commanded the regiment and at times the 4th Brigade, 2d Division, until July, 1914, when he assumed command of the post of Fort Logan, Colorado.</p>
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In August, 1917, he was assigned to command the 175th Infantry Brigade at Camp Dodge, Iowa. Here he also commanded the 88th Division from November 27, 1917, to February 18, 1918, and from March 15, 1918, to May 23, 1918, when he was transferred to command the Infantry Replacement Camp at Camp Gordon, Georgia.</p>
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After the Armistice he returned to command the post of Fort Logan, Colorado, where he remained until his retirement for age on January 17, 1919.</p>
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General Getty was appointed cadet July 1, 1874, additional 2d Lieutenant June 14, 1878, 2d Lieutenant June 28, 1878, 1st Lieutenant December 17, 1886, Captain March 17, 1886, Major July 23, 1901, Lieutenant Colonel October 1, 1907, Colonel June 1, 1911, and Brigadier General August 5, 1917.</p>
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To all who knew him well, he represented the finest type of officer and gentleman. He was a gallant soldier of the old school, who lived up to the highest traditions of West Point and of the service. Next to our Alma Mater, he has been the greatest inspiration in the lives of many of us who still remain as officers.</p>
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As Colonel of the 27th Infantry he earned the undying love of many of the past and present senior officers of the Army, who were then his subordinates. Although so kind, courteous, and considerate as to be affectionately termed “gentle Bob,” he was, at the same time, firm, just, and most exacting in the soldierly and efficient performance of duty.</p>
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Lieutenant General Robert L. Bullard, his friend and comrade, wrote of him: “Prepared for and on the way to war beyond our southern border, I served with and observed him through long months of drill, repeated drill, and waiting, more trying always to the soldier, more productive of discontentment, indiscipline, demoralization and questioning of authority than campaign or battle itself. Through it all ever patient, collected, and calm, rendering his effective loyal service to to country and giving ready, unquestioned obedience to authority set over him, he was a Regular of the Regulars, a worthy son of The Academy that fixed the standard for American Soldiers.</p>
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“I didn’t know that he had gone. He lived long from his very character.” General Getty is survived by a son, Mr. Robert Nelson Getty, Jr., of Wilmington, N. C.; four daughters: Mrs. Peale, wife of Colonel James N. Peale; Mrs. Elizabeth Laurie True; Miss Eleanor Getty; and Mrs. Karl Minnigerode, widow of the late Captain Minnigerode; a brother, Mr. George Graham Getty of Silver Spring, Maryland; a sister, Mrs. Maud Getty Walsh of Washington, D. C.; three grandsons, Captain James N. Peale, Jr., 11th Infantry; Mr. John Marshall True, Jr., son of Lieutenant Colonel True, U. S. Army, Retired; and Mr. Karl Minnigerode; two granddaughters. Miss Lucy Anne Minnigerode and Margaret Colegate Getty; and a great-grandson, Kenneth Scott Peale.</p>
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<em>And when our work is done.</em><br />
<em>Our course on earth is run.</em><br />
<em>May it be said, “Well done, Be thou at peace.”</em><br />
<em>E’er may that line of gray,</em> <br />
<em>Increase from day to day;</em><br />
<em>Live, serve, and die, we pray, WEST POINT, for thee.</em></p>
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