The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-10-03
NO FURTHER DOUBT BUT THAT
HE WILL SUCCEED GENERAL
SCHOFIELD.
THE GENERAL INTERVIEWED BY
A REPORTER.
Says He Was Notified of the Presidents
Intentions Last Friday-First Cen
eral in Years Who Was Not a
West Pointer.

as commander in chief of the army.
General Miles made statement of the
fact tonight to reporter of the Asso-
ciated Press, saying he was informed of
President Cleveland's determination to
appoint him ON Friday last by Secretary
of War Lamont, whom he met by spe-
cial appointment. General Schofield re-
tired from active service at noon today
and it is said the appointment of Gen
eral Miles tomorrow or soon thereafter
will be made. The general will go to
Washington in a few days to assume his
high duties.
This announcement will set at rest
question which has agitated army cir
cles during the past few days.
While General Miles was senior major
of the army, and one of the most popu-
lar with his subordinates, it was report
ed that he was for some reason persona
non grata to the president and that the
fact that he had no diploma from West
Point might weigh against his chances.
General Ruger was the principal rival
for the appointment mentioned. There
was also an impression in some quarters
that the place might be left vacant for
some time, as there is no requirement of
law for such position and as there are
precedents for leaving it untitled. Only
once since the army was organized, in
1889, 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 tonight at his headquarters on
Governors island, he spoke freely of his
appointment.
was Secretary Lamont, whom | met by
special appointment at the Metropolitan
club last Friday in New York.
Naturally l was much gratified. In
sense, however, my appointment is not
promotion, as the grade of lieutenant
general became extinct with the retire
ment of General Schofeld.
81 will enter upon my new duties with
as little delay as possible; in fact, as
soon as the secretary of war issues the
order announcing my succession. In
grets. This is the pleasantest station
ever had, although in the very heart of
civilization, it is as much retired as If 1t
were hundreds of miles away instead of
being within gunshot of the metropolis.
Then, too, the people of this city and
Brooklyn have been very hospitable; l
shall leave them with many social obi
cations"
General Miles was asked whether he
will recommend any changes in the ad-
ministration of the army. He replied
that if he so contemplated it would hard
ly be proper to discuss them at this time.
The general would make no direct re-
ply to the question whether he thought
the grade of lieutenant general might
be revived by congress in his case as i'll
that of General Schofield. =,
The rank of lieutenant general expired
with General Schofeld's retirement and
it is a grade only created by special act
of congress in recognition OF dlstln-
guished services. 1t has been bestowed
upon six generals-Washington, Scout,
Grant, Sherman, Sheridan and Scho-
field. :,
General Miles has received all his mil
itary training on the field of experience
instead of in the schools. He Will be
the first general for many years who was
not West Point graduate and as the
West Pointers are reputed to esteem
themselves the aristocracy of the army,
it has been reported that his volunteer
! antecedents would initiate against. his
appointment. General Winfield Scott
was the last commander who was not
West Pointer.
General Miles is native of Massa-
! chusetts, having been born in West
minister on August 8, 1889. In 1861
he Joined the Twenty-second Massachu-
setts volunteers and served throughout
the rebellion with great distinction. lie
distinguished himself early in his ca
reer in the army of the Potomac and
took part in every engagement except
one up to Lees surrender at Appomat-
tOX. :.
General Miles distinguished himself in
particular at Spottsylvania. Attacking
the bloody angle on the right he broke
the enemy's lines, routed them and cap
tured Lieut.. Gen. Bushrod Johnson and
.. his division. At Five Forks Miles saved
! the day by coming to the rescue of the
Sheridan cavalry and Warren's Sixth
corps.
! General Miles promotion was marked
, by somewhat exceptional rapidity, only
about year elapsing before he was
made lieutenant colonel of the Sixty
| first New York infantry, and month
later, September 80, 1862, he was made
colonel of the same regiment. In 1864
| he attained the rank of brigadier gen.
eral of volunteers and early in the fol-
! lowing year obtained his commission as
major general Of volunteers. In 1866
he was mustered out of the volunteer
! service and placed in command of the
Fourth United States infantry, in which
he remained until 1869, when he was
transferred to the Fifth infantry.
Altogether, the new commander has
had varied military career. Since the
war he has been best known as an In
dian fighter. He did fine work at the
head of the Indian territory expedition