The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-10-03
sCHOFIELD's RETIREMENT

MAI. Gen. Miles His Probable Successor
Short Sketch of the Retiring Lieutenant
General
WASHINGTON, Sept. 30-The rank Of
lieutenant general of the army expires
with the retirement at noon Sunday OF
John M. Schofeld, he then again hav-
ing attained the age limit Of 81 years.
This title was revived in favor of Gen.
Schofield by a special act Of congress
last February, and had previously
been bestowed but three times-on
Grant, Sherman and Sheridan. By
reason of this extinction of title, Maj.
Gen. Miles, as senior officer Of that
rank, will probably become the maipr
general commanding the army, butShe
retirement will not, asis usual in such
cases, promote any junior officer.
Gen Schofeld was born In CdautauQua COUP
~, New York, in 1881. He was appointed d.
det at West Point from NAnofAIin 1849, being
graduated four years later, No. = in the GLASS
with Phil Sheridan and Gen. James B. No
Pherson, and assigned to duty at Fort Moul.
trie, s, c., as brevet second lieutenant Of Or,
tillery. From 1855 to 1860 he was assistant
professor CT natural and experimental philos-
ophy at the military academy, having in the
meantime been made full-fedged lieutenant,
and was subsequently professor Of physics at
the Western university at st. Louis At the
outbreak OF the war he was detailed as mus
tering officer for the state Of Missouri, and
commissioned major OF the First Missouri vol
unteers. In May, 1851, he became captain
OF the First artillery, and o few months
later chief OF stan to Gen. Lyon, taking
part in the engagements at Dug Spring Cur
ran post office and Wilson's creek, at the last
named place Gen. Lyon being killed. In Mo-
vember Of that year he was made brigadier
of IN iaS 0uri Tn Apr
1868, he attained the rank Of major general Of
of the volunteers and was assigned, early in
tho following year. to command the Army Of
the Ohio, which formed the left wing Of Sher.
mans army, and participated in the famous
march to the sea and its numerous battles.
In November, 1864, he was made brigadier gen.
eral in the regular army and shortly after
brevet major general commanding the de.
partment of North Carolina. where his serv.
Ices In the war ended.
In 1865 Gen. Schofield was sent ON special
diplomatic mission to France in connection
with the establishment of the Maximillian
government in Mexico, the result of which
was an understanding between the two coun.
tries that the French withdraw their troops
from Mexican soil On returning from EUROPE
he commanded the department of the Potomac
until June, 1868, when he entered the cabinet
Of President johnson as secretary of war, re-
tanning that portfolio until March IA, 1869.
when he was made major general and placed
In command OF the department OF Missouri,
and later OF the division of the Pacific.
1t was during his command Of the Pacific
division (Which he held until 1870 that he was
sent by President Grant on special mission
to the Hawaiian islands in search Of informa-
ton, the question of annexation being under
consideration. While his report has never
been made public, his views were probably
adopted by Secretary Fish, who in 1873 stated
the position of the government to be against
the control of the islands by any foreign DOW
er-which declaration was reiterated by reso-
luton of the last congress
Gen. Schotield was superintendent of the
military academy in 1875. and commanded va
ed Lieut. Gen. Sheridan as mator-general COM
manding the army.