LEONARD WOOD 557 They say he could actually outwalk an Apache in his native wilds. James Creelman describes the soldier-doctor in such a manner as this : ^ ' Well above average height, with broad shoulders, small waist, the bulging, muscle-padded chest of a goriUa, and arms like a blacksmith. He was quick as Hght- ning in his action. ' ' ^ Proof of the iron endurance and absolute dependability of the young fellow came constantly before Colonel Lawton, and from a position in the ranks, which Wood had been given along with his rather light medical duties, he was raised to head of a company of infantry and given a real chance to show the stuff he was made of. After having marched twen- ty-five miles with his men one day, he rode horseback seventy- three miles at night with a message and, returning next day, walked thirty-four miles with the troops to a new camp. Repeated praises of Leonard Wood reached the department commander in letters from Colonel Lawton. To General Nel- son A. Miles the colonel wrote in 1894 :
- * Concerning Dr. Leonard Wood, I can only repeat what I
have before reported officially and what I have said to you; that his services during the trying campaign were of the high- est order. I speak particularly of services other than those devolving on him as a medical officer ; services as a combatant or line officer, voluntarily performed. He sought the most difficult and dangerous work, and by his determination and courage rendered a successful issue of the campaign pos- sible. In 1898 Colonel Lawton wrote the following to the governor of Massachusetts :
- * It was mainly due to Captain Wood *s loyalty and resolu-
tion that the expedition was successful. . . He will be a credit to his state in any capacity of soldierly duty; . . .*' After the Indian uproar had been quieted Wood was award- ed a Congressional Medal of Honor. He was called to Washington in 1895 to act as attending- surgeon at the White House. At this time Theodore Roose- velt was assistant secretary of the navy. The two were of
