The Portland daily press., 1895-09-25
MILES TO COMMAND.
He Will Succeed General SchOfield as
Commanding Officer of the Army.


Some Little Known Incidents in the
Career of this Famous Soldier.
The retirement of General John M
SchoJield on September 80 from the posi-
| ton of general commanding the army Of
the United States is expected to lead tc
the appointment of General Nelson A.
Miles to fill the vacancy says the
New York Herald General Miles
is the senior major general of the army. II
is the prerogative of the Chief Executive
to appoint any major general, but GUS
tom has made it almost a law to promote
the senior officer of that rank.
General Miles will be the first soldier to
hold this high position who enlisted as q
volunteer; heretofore it has been held in
unbroken succession by West Point
graduates.
From the fact that Nelson A. Miles en-
tered the ranks as citizen soldier at the
beginning of the civil war. his career has
all the more popular interest. He was q
clerk in Boston store at the time, hav-
ing come to the Hub in his seventeenth
year from his native place. Westminster,
in Worcester county, Mass.
In one of the most rugged parts Of the
Wachusett Mountain region is the house
where he was born, in 1910, as we'll as
the.one to which he was taken home to
die when dangerously wounded in one OF
the early ssbattles of the war The old
white Schoolhouse on rocky hillside,
surrounded by apple orchards, is still in
use; and all the children are familiar
with the story of the great general who
conned his lessons there. He got-his;taste
for battle young, when, in the winter
evenings, he would listen to his uncle's
wonderful Indian STORIES which had a
peculiar charm for his boyish ears.
TIRED OF THE FARM.
When he became seventeen his resolute
spirit asserted itself, and he went to this
uncle and said, Il don't want to work on
theyfarm. want to go to Boston. -
"That is the best thing you can do. .
aid his ambitious relative. "Your
uncles George and Nelson will find you
something to do when you get there. "
Following this suggestion young Miles
started upon his journey dressed in a
green jacket, short trousers and green
tarpaulin hat made of straw and covered
with cloth. He was a laughable spectacle
of new country lad when he arrived In
Boston. His uncles, who were men OF
means. at once fitted him out with a
more conventional costume.
His uncle, George Curtis, father OF the
present Mayor of Bsoton, found him a
place in John Collamore''s large crook
cry store on Washington street. his pay
was very small, and his uncle. Nelson
Curtis, for whom he was named, took
him into his family to live at West Rox-
bury, and gave him his board. But
young Miles was too independent to con-
sent to such an arrangement so he hired
room in Boston, and as his earnings
would not admit of his going to board
ing house he took his food to his room
and boarded himself.
But the soldiers instinct developed as
soon as the war broke out and fired him
with desire to enlist. He spoke to Mr..
CollamoreabOut it and was advised to ask
his uncle's consent. TheyEexpressed..t their
| willingness, provided he would take mill
tary instruction. His employer paid for
ASK months course at military school,
which Frenchman had started in Boston
at the beginning of the war. His uncle,
George Curtis, further helped him by re-
cruiting company of one hundred men
liberal bonus to the men. This company
was organized in Bacon's Hall, on Wash
ington street, building which still
stands in the husy mercantile part of the
Roxbury district.
HOW MILES BECAME CAPTAIN.
There were two older men who aspired
to the Offices of captain and first lieuten-
ant of the new company, but though
Miles was but twenuy-one. he was so far
superior to the older aspirants that he
was elected captain. Governor Andrew,
however, looked upon him as "a mere
boy,'' and sent him commission as
second lieutenapt. When Miles received
it he went to his uncle and asked him
what he should do "fTake it and go to
the. front. We don't want any trouble or
delay at this point " ~,
While at the front Senator Henry Will
son, of Massachusetts, the famous Natlck
shoemaker, who had raised the regiment
the Twenty second-wanted to give
Miles the promotion he deserved. so he
went to o. o. Howard, then colonel of a
regiment at Washington, and asked him
if he didn't want kanother man on his
staff. "Yes, if you have good man. !"
said Howard. Miles was sent over to
him and was detailed to conduct drill.
He did it so admirably as to excite the
astonishment of the Colonel, who frankly
saidsto.him, "Youngaman, you have done
we'll. I don't understand how you can
be so we'll qualified without any expert
ence." -,
The position on Towards staff was all
that young Miies needed as vantage
ground. The first battle he was in was
disastrous The enemy had surrounded
a part of Colonel Towards troops, and
every staff officer was wounded. Miles
was shot in the foot. But when retreat
was ordered he rode up to Howard:
eff you will give me division" he SAID,
"I will drive the rebels out of the WOODS,
and rescue our men who are cut off.
Take your choice" was the answer,
and Miles went forward with an axe
brigade, followed by several companies
of troops. The enemy, who swarmed In
the timber, were driven back from their
ambush. The young staff officer led pack
in triumph the Union men who were
about to be made prisoners. =,
The next engagement that Howard S
troops went into did not result fortunate
ly for Miles, 1t was a fierce conflict,
and he was in the thickest of it. He was
shot from his horse. When he had been
taken to the hospital the doctor examined
his wo1lnd which WAS in the abdomen