It took him so long to make Captain, because Pershing regularly sought out assignments with the 9th and 10th Cavalry, the Buffalo Soldiers. This is also where he gets his nickname, "Black Jack". He was promoted to Brigadier General by Presidential decree for his performance during the Spanish American War/Moro Insurrection. The veracity of the story told in the clipping is debatable, but whatever method he used, caused the insurrection to suddenly and completely come to a halt. Black Jack was leading the punitive expedition into Mexico, chasing Pancho Villa when he received a telegram from a colleague, who recommended he get to Washington DC as soon as possible. When he arrived, he discovered that he had been selected to lead the US Expeditionary Forces as we entered into WWI. He was promoted from Major General to General, and given the title General of the Armies. This was the first and only time the title was used in active service (George Washington was posthumously awarded this title in 1976), and was deemed to be higher then the General of the Army rank later identified by five stars. He is one of only a handful of officers to skip so many ranks: CPT-BG, MG-GEN
He also founded the military fraternity Pershing Rifles, with exists today at most colleges with ROTC. Additionally, he founded the Military Order of World Wars, and the Reserve Officer Association. Both organizations still exist today.
