The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-09-30

it may be that their records turned the
thoughts of young Miles towards the
career OF the soldier. He had no ambition.
however. to enter the army in time of
peace, and so when he set out TO learn
how TO become a merchant IL was because
he saw no chance for becoming soioier
in a way that would satisfy his ambition
In the spring of 1860 number OF young
men in Boston showed that they nad
clearer vision than many of the politicians.
They became convinced that there was 10
be a war between the North and the Soutn.
Two or three hundred Of young business
men and Harvard students got together
and organized company for the purpose
of drilling. Miles was in this first organi-
zation; The young men employed an o;o
instruct them. Sellenac was an officer who
fought in the Crimeah war. He was high
himself to teaching the young men under
his charge more than would have been
taught to ordinary military company
He made 1t training school to. turn out
well-equiped officers, who would in turn
be capable Of taking in hand and instruct,
ing raw recruits. This school produced
some of the best officers sent by Massa-
chusetts into the service.
In 1861. when the war broke out, Miles
was given commission by the Governor
of Massachusetts for captaincy in the
Twenty-second Regiment of that state.
Young Miles was very proud of his position,
but before he could get out of the State
with the regiment he greatly disgusted
at receiving a letter from the Governor
asking hin. to send back his commission. as
a lieutenancy was as good a position as ne
| could give him. Ii seems that some poll
| tician with influence wanted a captaincy, SO
| the young soldier had to take step back
ward. He accepted the situation, however,
| and with his regiment joined the Army OF
! the Potomac. There ne met with sudden
promotion TO relatively very high rank. To
| his pleasing address he owed this first pro-
motion He became acquainted with Colonel
| Barlow, who when he first met him was
| the lieutenant colonel of the Sixty-first
| friends. 1t was too early in the war for
| the great disparity in rank between the
two men to stand in the way OF their inti-
HOW HE WAS PROMOTED.
| One day Barlow heard that his colonel
was going to be transferred and that he
was to be made colonel. and so he went to
| Miles and said to him: How would you
| like to be lieutenant colonel of the Sixty
| first New York;" The poor. snubbed
! Massachusetts lieutenant said that he
would like it first rate. He would like also
10 have command of the Army Of the Po-
| tomac. He thought one about as near as
the other to him. Barlow said: You never
mind. l will fix it If you want it," Barlow
wrote TO Governor Morgan. He must have
had good deal of influence with the Gov
ernor, as the commission for Miles, came
right hack. This favor was all the more
marked, as il was the first and only in
stance during that year that Governor
Morgan went outside OF the state for offi-
GERS
General Miles served with the Army Of
the Potomac all through the war, and took
part in all of its noted engagements. He
was all through the terrible struggle in the
Wilderness, and. although severely wounded
a number of times, came out of the war
in fine physical condition He was wounded
once in the groin. and once in the ankle.
There is a wavy ragged lire from his chin
running around towards his left shoulder
to-day, the scar of the first mentioned
wound. The bullet that made this track
just skinned over the jugular vein. The
narrowest call the General had during the
war was in connection with the second-men-
toned wound rifle ball at very. short
range struck the plate of his belt and
glanced down into his left leg through the
groin If Ii had not been for the breast
plate the bali would have gone straight
through his abdomen.
General Miles took part in all the battles
of the Peninsula under Mcclellan, and then
in the Antietam campaign, his regiment be-
ing in the Second Corps. then under Sum-
ner. At Fair Oaks ne was first wounded.
In the autumn of that year he became colo
mel of his regiment. and in the battle of
Fredericksburg commanded a small brigade
of Hancock's division cs the Second Corps.
At Charlottesville he greatly distinguished
himself by checking with his command,
consisting then of three regiments and de-
tachments of three others, Jackson's as
saults on Hancock's front, being then in
| charge of the skirmish line. This service
was performed by the intrepid and skillful
| young officer at a costly price to himself.
| since he was sot through the body and car
| red from the field with what was supposed
| to be mortal wound. When the brevets
| were distributed. his as brigader general in
the regular army was FOR Gallant and
| During the Virginia campaigns Of 1854
and 1865 General Miles added TO bis reputa-
| a commission as brigadier general of vol
| unteers dated from March II. 1864, and
| specifically expressed to be for dfstin-
guished services during the recent battles
| Courthouse" He also afterward received
| the brevet Of major general in the regular
| Amy for gallant and meritorious services
| at Spottsylvania, and of major general of
| volunteers for highly meritorious and
distinguished conduct throughout the cam
paign. and particularly for gallantry and
| valuable services in the battle of Reams
| Station
AS AN INDIAN FIGHTER.
At the close of the war General Miles
received the command of regiment in
| the regular army. being commissioned as
| colonel of the Fortieth Infantry July %,
1866. IN March, 1869, he was transferred
to the Fifth Infantry, and while COM
manding this regiment acquired high re-
nown for Indian campaigning. In 1875 he
| defeated the Cheyennes. and the Kiowas
| and the Comanches on the borders of the
Staked Plains. In 1876 he defeated the hos
| tile Sioux in northern Montana, scattering
| the bands of Crazy Horse. Spotted Eagle
| and other chiefs. and compelling Sitting
| Bull and his followers TO take refuge in
/ Canada. His next great achievement was
| the defeat and capture of the famous Nez
| Perce leader Chief Joseph and his band
| and in 1878 he continued his series OF sue
! cesses by the capture of band OF hos
tile Bannocks his only force being his
armed escort. He was promoted to be
| brigadier general Dec. -, $780, and as
| signed to the Department of the Colum-
years; but in the summer of 1885 he was
ordered TO the command of the
| Department of tho Missouri. and next
| transferred to the command of the Depart
ment of Arizona. and intrusted with the
! important and difficult duty of hunting
| down the hostile Chiricahua chief Ceron-
| imo. This task was at length accomplished
| an expedition under Captain Lawton.
| Fourth Cavalry, pursuing the hostiles into
| the mountains OF Mexico and harassine
| them so that they were driven to surrender
| General Miles received the thanks of the
| Legislatures of New Mexico and Arizona
| for this achievement, as he has also re-
| ceived the thanks of the Legislatures OF
| Montana and Kansas, while the people OF
| Arizona further testified their gratitude by
| presenting TO him a sword, which was de-
| livered with appropriate ceremonies at Tue
son. His most recent claim to public atten-
| tion was the part he took in suppressine
| the Chicago strike of the American Rail
way Union last. year. General Miles was