The National tribune., 1886-03-11
GEN. JOHN F. MILLER.
His Death in Washington on Monday.


Thousands of soldiers who served in the
Army of the Cumberland will learn with sim
cere regret of the death of Gen. John T. Mil
Ter, Senator from California, which occurred in
Washington on Monday last. Geu. Miller had
been sick for several months, but of late had
appeared much better and was pronounced by
his physicians to be in a fair way to recovery.
To his friends who felt so hopeful of his cOndi-
ton the news of his death was great shock.
So unexpected was the end that the Senator's
daughter was in the gallery of the Senate
Chamber, whittier she had gone with friend,
and there the tidings of her fathers death
reached her.
Senator Miller was born in Indiana in 1881,
his parents having some years before removed
to that State from Virginia. After receiving
an academical education at South Bend, he was
fitted for college at Chicago In 1Si9 he COM
menced the study of law, and graduated at the
New York Law School in 1852. Soon after he
commenced to practice law at South Bend, and
went from there to California, where he prac-
ticed law three years, and then returned to
Indiana and resumed practice in that State.
In 1860 he was elected a member of the State
Senate of Indiana, but resigned in 1861 to
enter the army as Colonel of the 29th
Ind and soon afterward was placed in
command of a brigade, serving under Gems.
Sherman, Buell., Rosecrans and Thomas.
His services at Stone River were very conSpic-
uous. In the fight of Friday, Jan. 2, 1868,
when Breckenridge so furiOusly aSsailed the
Federal left, Col. Miller, at the head of his bri-
gade, dashed across the river, his troops ford
ing waist Deep and fell upon the enemy-then
reeling under the fire of Mendenhall's massed
artillery-with the utmost impetuoSity, driv-
ing him back to his intrenchments The 21st
Ohio, of Miller's Brigade, captured three guns.
In the advance on Tullahoma, Col. Miller
led his brigade with marked courage and eff
E-t-S
June 1863, he was severely wounded in the
head, the ball entering the eye and lodging be-
hind it, where it remained for 10 or II years
before being extracted. In the battle of Nash
vile he commanded q division of 5000 men,
and for conspicuous bravery on that field he
was brevetted Major-General. At the close
of the war he was offered a commission in the
Regular Army, but this he declined, and then
returned to California
In 1865 he was appointed Collector of the
Port of San Francisco, served four years,
and declined a reappointment. In 1872 1876,
and 1850 he was q Republican candidate for
presidential elector. He served as a member
of the California State Constitutional Conven-
tion in 1879. In 1880 he was elected to the
United States Senate by the Republicans, and
took his seat on the 4th of March, 1851 His
term would have expired March A, 1887 and
had he lived he would have been undoubtedly
reelected for six years longer. He was Chair
man of the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Senator Miller was President of the Alaska Fur
Commercial Company, with its headquarters at
San Francisco and agencies at London, Paris,
and st. Petersburg. 1t was while he was Collector
of the Port of San Francisco that he became
connected with the company, and for a long
period he was the only American in it, all the
others being Russian, English, and German.
The body of the Senator will be embalmed ana
taken to San Francisco and buried beside his
son, who died about seven years ago.
The death of Senator Miller temporarily
lessons the Republican majority in the Senate.
The Governor of California. Gen. George
StOneman, is Democrat, and he will doubtless
appoint one of his party to fill the vacancy.
The State Legislature, which has 3S Republican
majority on joint ballot and has q large holding
over contingent of that party, will not convene
until December.