The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-09-30

NEW YORK, Sept. 29.-There is now
no longer doubt that Major
Miles is to succeed Lieutenant-G General
Schofeld in the office of general-in-
command of the United States army.
General Miles made a statement of
the fact tonight to a representative
of the Associated Press, saying that he
was informed of the presidents deter
mination 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 it is proba-
Bile that the appointment of General
Miles will be announced tomorrow or
very shortly. The general will go to
Washington to assume the duties of his
high position.
Rumors Set at Rest.
The announcement will set at rest
the rumors which have been going the
rounds during the past week concern
ing General Schofield's probable sue
cessor. There was an impression in
some quarters that the office of general
of the army might be left vacant for
some time, ae there is no requirement
of law for such position, and as there
are precedents for leaving it untitled.
Only since the army was organized in
1879 however, has the president failed
to appoint the senior general to the
command of the army.
When General Miles was seen by a
reporter of the Associated Press to-
night at his, headquarters he spoke
of int
My informant" said the general,
was Secretary Lamont, whom 1 met
by special appointment at the Metro
politan club in New York last Friday.
Naturally, L 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 has issued the
order announcing my appointment.
In leaving here l do SO with many
regrets. This is the pleasantest spot
I ever had, although by art of civil
liza ton it is much retired as if it We're
a hundred 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 them with many So
cial obligations"
Ruger's Chances.
General Miles was asked whether
he would recommend any changes in
the army. He replied that if he so
contemplated it would hardly be pro-
per to discuss them at this time
The general would make no direct
reply to the question whether he
thought the grade of lieutenant-gen-
eral might be revived in his case, as
that of General SchoEield. When
asked whAther General Ruger will sue
coed him Ill command of the depart
ment of the east, he replied:
That is the general impression. but
of course 1 cannot speak authorita-
lively"
The rank of acknowledgement ex-
pires with General Schofield's retire
ment, as 1t is a grade only created by
special acts of Congress in reccgnI-
ton of distinguished services. 1t
has been bestowed upon six generals,
Washington. Scott, Gram Sheridan
and Schotie;d
military training in the ranks OF
the volunteers. In 1856 he was
mustered out of the volunteer
service, ana placed in command of :he
Fourth United States infau ~, In
which he remained until 1869 when he
was transferred to the Fifth infantry.
Varied Career.
| 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 expedition 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 de-
! feated and captured a band of Ban
nocks in Yellowstone Park. Not long
after this he succeeded in bringing in
| Sitting Bull. and thus was more a
factor than any man in the settlement
| of Montana and Dakota In 1886
he captured Geronimo and his band OF
| Apaches on the field of experience
instead of in the schools. He will be
| the first general for many years who
was not a West Point graduate. and
| as the West Pointers are reputed tc
esteem themselves the aristocracy OF
the army, it has been reported that a
volunteers antecedents would mitigate
against his appointment, so far as the
influence Of the army circles had to dc
with it.
General Winfield Scott was the las
commanding general who was not {
West Point man.
From Massachusetts.
General Miles is a native of Massa
chusetts, having been born in West
minister on August g. 1929. In 1851 h,
joined the Twenty Massachu
sets Volunteers and served through
out the rebellion with great distinc
ton. He distinguished himself earl,
in his career in the army of the Pc
tomac, and took part in every en-
gagement except one up to Lees sur
render at APPROXIMATIONS. General Mfle
distinguished himself in particular a
Spottsylvania. Attacking the blood,
angle on the right, he broke the enc
mys line, routed him and captures
Lieutenant BuShrod Johnson and hi
division.
At Five Forks Miles saved the da,
by coming to the rescue of Sheridan
cavalry and Warren's Fifth corps
General Miles promotion was marked
by somewhat exceptional rapid strides
only about year elapsing before h
1 was made lieutenant colonel of tn