The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1895-10-03
MILES is THE MAN
To Succeed Lieutenant General
SchofieId in Command.
VAGUE RUM0RS SET AT REST
the Field OF Experience-A
Varied Career.

New York. Sept. 29.-There is now no
longer any doubt that Major General
Miles Is to succeed Lieutenant General
Schofield in the Office of general in COM
mand of the United States army.
General Miles made that statement
OF the fact tonight to a representative
of the Associated Press, saying that
he was informed of the presidents de-
termination to appoint him on Friday.
by the secretary of war. whom he met
In this city by special appointment at
the Metropolitan Club.
General Schofield retired from active
service at noon today and 1t is probab BILE
that the appointment of General Miles
Will be announced tomorrow or very
shortly. The announcement will set at
rest the rumors which have been going
the rounds during the last week con-
cerning General Schof1eld's probable
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 as there
are precedents for leaving 1t untitled.
When General Miles was seen by a
reporter of the Associated Press to-
night at his headquarters he spoke free
der announcing the appointment
My informant" said the general,
was War Secretary Lamont, whom
met by special appointment at the Met
ropolitan Club in New York last Fri
day.
Naturally. was much gratified. In
a sense, however, my appointment is
not promotion, as the grade of lieu
tenant general becomes extinct with
| the retirement of General Schofield.
Il Will enter upon my new duties
with as little delay as possible, in fact,
as soon as the secretary issues the or
der announcing the appointment
In leaving here, do so with my re-
| grets. This Is the pleasantest spot |
ever had. although by the art of civil
ization 1t Is as much retired as If it were
hundreds of miles away instead of be-
ing within gunshot of the metropolis.
| Then. too, the people of New York and
Brooklyn have been very hospitable,
and 1 shall leave them with many So
cial obligations"
General Miles was asked whether he
would recommend any changes in the
army. He replied that If he so con-
templated it would hardly be proper to
discuss them at this time
The general would make no direct
reply to the question whether he
thought the grade of lieutenant genera
might be revived in his case, as that OF
| General Schofield. When asked wheth.
| er General Ruger will succeed him ir
command of the department of the east
he replied:
THAT Is the general impression, but
OF course. / can not speak authorita.
lively"
The rank of lieutenant general ex
pires with General Schofield's retire
ment, as 1t is a grade only created b,
special acts of congress in recognition
OF distinguished services. 1t has beer
bestowed upon six generals. Washing
ton, Scott. Grant, Sherman, Sheridan
and Schofield.
General Miies mas received all hi
military training on the field of TX
perience instead of in the schools. H
Will be the first general for man,
years who was not West Point grad
uate.
General Miles is a native of Massa
chusetts, having been born in West
minister on August 8, 1899. In 1861 h
joined the Twenty-second Massachu
sets volunteers and served throughou
the rebellion with great distinction
General Miles distinguished himself 4
particular at Spottsylvania.
At Five Forks Miles saved the da,
by coming to the rescue of Sheridan
cavalry and Warrens Fifth corps Gen
eral Miles promotion was marked b
somewhat exceptional strides. onl
about a year elapsing before he wa
made lieutenant colonel of the Sixty
first New York infantry, and a mont
later, September 4, 1862, he was mad
colonel of the same regiment. In 1876
he attained the rank of brigadier gen
eral of volunteers and early in the fo
lowing year obtained his commissio
as major general of the volunteers.
Altogether the new commander ha
had a varied military career. Since tn
war he has been best known as an Ir
dian fighter. He did fine work at tn
Indian territory expedition in 1873.
1876 he drove Sitting Bull over the Ca
madam line, capturing a number {
noted warriors and also succeeded
making prisoners of Chief Joseph an
the Nez Perces. In 1873 he defeate
and captured a band of Bannocks /
Yellowstone Park. Not long after thi
he succeeded in bringing in Sitting Blu
and thus was more a factor than an
other man in the settlement of Nor
tana and Dakota. In 1886 he capture
Geronimo and his band of Apaches
| Arizona.
J His most recent claim to public a
tention was the part he took in SUI
pressing riots during the Chicago stril
! | of the American Railway Union la
year. General Miles was commissions
3 brevet brigadier general March 2, 1876
: prigadier general December, 1880. ar
: major general in 1890, when he was a
| aiQned IN the command of tho dfyiaiC
of Missouri. which he relinquished la
r | year, to take command of this depar
ment on the retirement of Major Ge
c eral o. o. Howard.
In appearance he is one of the mo
e stalwart, sturdy men in the service.
e is over six feet tall, and does not lot
: his fifty odd years.