Omaha daily bee., 1895-09-30
PROMOTION FOR GENERAL MILES.
Placed I'm Command Of the Army TO
Succeed chOAeld

to succeed Lieutenant General Schofeld in the
office Of general in command Of the United
States army. Miles made a statement OF the
fact tonight to a reporter Of the Associated
press, saying that he was informed OF the
presidents determination to appoint him on
Friday last by the secretary of war, whom
he met in this city by special appointment
at the Metropolitan club.
General Schofeld retired from active serv-
Ice at noon today, and 1t Is probable that the
appointment Of General Miles will be an
nounced tomorrow, or very soon thereafter.
The general will go to Washington to assume
the duties of his high position. The an
nouncement will set at rest the rumors which
have been current in many circles during the
past week concerning General Schofeld's prob
able successor. There was an impression In
some quarters that the office OF general OF
the army might be left vacant for some time,
as there Is no requirement of law for such
a position and there are precedents for
leaving 1t untitled. Only once since the army
was organized in 1879. however, has the presi-
dent failed to appoint the senior general to
the command Of the army.
When General Miles was seen by a re-
porter of the Associated press tonight at
his headquarters, in Governors Island, he
spoke freely Of his appointment. my in
formant," said the genral, was Secretary
Lamont. whom l met by special appointment
at the Metropolitan club in New York last
Friday. Naturally / was much gratihed. In
a sense, however, my appointment is not a
promotion, as the grade of lieutenant general
became extinct with the retirement of Gen
eral Schoield. l will enter upon my new
duties with as little delay as possible, in fact
as soon as the secretary issues the order an
nouncing my appointment.
"In leaving here | will do so with many
regrets. This is the pleasantest assignment
| ever had. Although in the very heart of
civilization. it is as much retired as If it were
hundreds Of miles away, instead Of being
within gunshot of the metropolis. Then, too,
the people of New York and Brooklyn have
been very hospitable and l shall leave with
many social obligations"
General Miles was asked whether he would
recommend any changes in the army. He re-
piled that IL he so contemplated, it would
hardly be proper to discuss them at this
time. The general would make no direct re-
ply to the question, whether he thought the
grade of lieutenant general might be revived
in his case, as in that of General Schofield.
When asked whether General Kruger will
succeed him in command Of the Department
of the East, he replied: That is the general
impression, but of course | can't speak
authoritatively."
The rank of lieutenant general expires
with General Schofleld's retirement, as it is
a grade only created by special acts of con-
gress in recognition of distinguished service.
1t has been bestowed upon six generals
Washington, Scott, Grant, Sherman, Sheridan
and Schoield. General Miles has received
all his military training on the field of ex-
perience, instead of in the schools. He will
be 1.-THE first general for many years who was
not a West Point graduate and as the West
Pointers are reputed to esteem themselves
the aristocracy OF the army, it has been re
ported that a volunteers antecedents would
initiate against his appointment so far as
the influence Of the army circles had to do
with 1t. General Winfield Scott was the last
commanding general who was not a West
Point man. .r.,
General Miles Is a native of Massachusetts
| having hepD horn in Westminster August
8. 1899. In 1861 he Joined the Twehty-second
Massachusetts, volunteers and served through
out the rebellion with great distinction. He
distinguished himself early in his career in
the Amy Of the Potomac and took part in
every engagement except one up to Lees
surrender at Appomatox. General Miles dis
tinguished himself in particular at Spottsyl-
vania. Attacking the "bloody angle on the
right, he broke the enemy's line, routed him
and captured Lieutenant General johnson and
his division. At Five Forks Miles saved the
day by coming to the rescue of Sheridan's
cavalry and Warren's Fifth corps.
General Miles promotion was marked by
somewhat exceptional r%apidity, only about a
year elapsing before he was made lieutenant
colonel OF the Sixty-frst New York infantry
and a month later, September 4, 1862, he was
made a colonel of the same regiment. In
1864 he attained the rank of brigadier gen
eral of volunteers and early in the following
year obtained his commission as major gen
eral of volunteers. In 1865 he was mustered
out Of the volunteer service and placed in
the Fourth United States infantry, in which
he remained till 1869; when he was trans
ferred to the Fifth infantry.
Altogether the new commander has had a
varied military career. Since the war he has
been best known as an Indian fighter. He
did fine work at the Indian territory expedi-
ton in 1873. In 1876 he drove Sitting Bull
over the Canadian line, capturing a number
Of noted warriors, and also succeeded In
making prisoners Of Chief Joseph and the
Nez Perces. In 1878 he defeated and cap
tured a band Of Bannocks in Yellowstone
park. Not long after this he succeeded In
bringing in Sitting Bull, and thus was more
q factor than any other man in the settle
ment of the Montana and Dakota war. In
1856 he captured Geronimo and his band of
Apsches in Arizona. His most recent claim
to public attention was the part he took in
suppressing the Chicago strike Of the A. r.
U. last year. General Miles was commits
stoned brevet brigadier general March ~,
1867, brigadier general December, 1880, and
major general in 1890, when he was assigned
to the command of the Division of Missouri,
which he relinquished last year to take the
command of this department on the retire
ment Of Major General O. o.. Howard, In
appearance he is one of the most stalwart,
soldierly men in the service. He is over six
feet tall, and does not look his so odd years.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 29.--Secretary La
mont declined to. make any statement tonight
iO6diuiI6 me hAS pibopENNiNo dppOlhl-
ment to succeed General Scho6eld as general
of the army, but his appointment is generally
regarded here as certain. II is thought his
commission will be issued within a few days
and that he will thereupon come to Washing
ton at once.
The major generals from whom the selec-
ton might have been made are General
Miles. General Thomas ii. Ruger, on special
duty in Washington in connection with
the revising of the tactical branch of the
service, and General Wesley Merritt, in COM
mand Of the Department OF the Missouri,
with headquarters In Chicago. OF these
General Miles was the ranking officer. 1t
was rumored that General Miles might fail
to secure the appointment because OF the
alleged fact that his action on the Chicago
strike did not meet the presidents views.
This rumor of Mr.. Clsveland's displeasure
was denied at the time by Secretary La
mont, who said that neither himself nor
the president has any fault to find with the
character Of the general.
CHANGE AT JEFFERSON BARRACKS.
Order superseding Colonel white