Joseph D. Leitch (March 8, 1864 - October 26, 1938) was a career officer in the United States Army.
A veteran of the American Indian Wars, Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, United States occupation of Veracruz, World War I, and North Russia intervention, he attained the rank of major general and was a recipient of the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star Italian Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus and Czechoslovak Cross of War. Leitch was most notable for his service as commander of the 13th Division and 3rd Division, as well as inspector general and chief of staff for American Expeditionary Force, Siberia.
Early life
Joseph Dugald Leitch was born in Montague, Michigan on March 8, 1864, the son of Dugald Leitch and Sarah (Ferguson) Leitch. His family moved to Nebraska when Leitch was six years old, and he was raised and educated in Montague and in Clay Center, Nebraska. He attended Doane College in 1882 and 1883. While at Doane, Leitch took part in the school's military program, the Doane College Light Guards, and advanced through the ranks to become the unit's first lieutenant.
In early 1883, Leitch was an unsuccessful applicant to the United States Military Academy. He applied successfully in late 1883 and began attendance at West Point in 1884. He graduated in 1889 ranked 44th of 49 and in June 1889 he received his commission as a second lieutenant of Infantry. Among his fellow graduates included several men who would become general officers, such as Charles Dudley Rhodes, Clement Flagler, Eben Eveleth Winslow, Frank Daniel Webster, Walter Augustus Bethel, Winthrop S. Wood, Chester Harding, William L. Kenly, William Lassiter, Edward McGlachlin Jr., George LeRoy Irwin, William Wright Harts, William G. Haan, Charles Crawford and William S. Graves. Charles Young was another distinguished graduate, becoming the first African American to attain the rank of colonel.
Early career
Leitch was assigned to the 24th Infantry Regiment and posted to Fort Bayard, New Mexico, where he served from October 1889 to December 1891. From December 1891 to May 1892, he was the post adjutant at Camp San Carlos, Arizona. He served with Company A, 24th Infantry and as post adjutant, post exchange officer, and post signal officer at Fort Huachuca, Arizona from May 1892 to October 1896. During his years in New Mexico and Arizona, Leitch participated in several campaigns against the Apache Indians. Leitch served at Fort Douglas, Utah, from October 1896 to April 1898. He was promoted to first lieutenant in the 7th Infantry in December 1896 and transferred back to the 24th Infantry in March 1897.
Spanish–American War
The 24th Infantry was mobilized for the Spanish–American War in April 1898, and Leitch was with the regiment during organization and training at Chickamauga Park, Georgia and in Tampa, Florida. As commander of Company B, and later as acting regimental adjutant, Leitch served in Cuba during the summer of 1898, including the Battle of San Juan Hill and Siege of Santiago. Leitch contracted yellow fever in late July 1898, and remained at a convalescent camp in Siboney, Cuba until September 1898. He was demobilized at Camp Wikoff, New York at the end of September and returned to duty at Fort Douglas in October.
Philippine–American War
Leitch served as adjutant of the 24th Infantry from Oct 1898 to October 1899 and was promoted to captain in the 25th Infantry on September 8, 1899. He served with the 25th Infantry at the Presidio of San Francisco from March to October 1899. He served briefly as aide-de-camp for William Rufus Shafter, commander of the Department of California, then was reassigned to Fort Sam Houston, Texas as commander of Company G, 25th Infantry, which he led from November 1899 to July 1900. He continued in command of Company G at Fort Logan, Colorado from July to September 1900. Leitch took command of 1st Battalion, 25th Infantry at the Presidio of San Francisco in September 1900, and traveled to the Philippines with his unit to take part in the Philippine–American War. After arrival in Bolinao, in November, Leitch resumed command of Company G, and he remained in this post until August 1901.
In September 1901, Leitch was assigned as adjutant of the 25th Infantry. He served at Iba, Zambales, Malabon, and Manila and remained in the Philippines until July 1902. In August 1902, the 25th Infantry returned to the United States. Leitch served briefly at the Presidio of San Francisco before the regiment moved to its new post in Nebraska.