Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-30
GEN. MILES CHOSEN
He Will Be Designated to Succeed
Gen. Schofeld.
els GALLANT MILITARY CAREER
Service in the War Of the Re-
beIion and on the Plains.
NOT A WEST POINT Err

Maj. Gen. N. S. Miles will succeed Lieut.
Gen.. Schofed in command of the army
Maj. Gea. T. H. Ruger will succeed Gen.
Miles at New York in command of the mil
itary Department of the East. Orders to
this effect will be issued by the War De-
partment in day or two They would
probably have been issued today but for
the displeasure of Secretary Lamont at the
publication of the news this morning. 1t
is understood that the authorities desired
that the announcement of these orders
should be deferred until their official pro-
mitigation. Consequently, even now that
1t is known as a fact that Gen. Miles has
been selected to command the army. 1t is
impossible to obtain official verification of
the report to that effect. The reason for
this mystery is not apparent, inasmuch as
Gen. Miles himself is authority for the
statement that Secretary Lamont notified
him in person last Friday of the Presi-
dents determination to appoint him. The
two officials met by special appointment at
the Metropolitan Club in New York.
Gen. Miles Career.
Gen. Miles is a gallant soldier, with an
exceptionally fine record and will receive a
cordial welcome in this city, where he has
so many stanch friends and admirers. He
is the first commander of the army since
Gen. Scott who was not graduate Of the
Military Academy.
General Miles is a native Of Massachu-
sets, having been born at Westminster In
that state August 5, 1889 He entered
the volunteer service from Massachusetts,
but was commissioned lieutenant colonel of
the sixty-f1rst New York volunteers in
1862 ard as New Yorker gained all his
laurels. He was three times wounded in
active service, and was brevetted for gal
lantry in the battles of Charlottesville.
the Wilderness and Spottsylvania Court
House. He was mustered out Of the vol
ur teer army with the rank of major gen.
eral and entered the regular service as col
onel. Then more brevet appointments
came to him, and he became successfully
brigadier general and major general in the
regular Service for remembered bravery in
the battles where he had earned distinction
as a volunteer.
As an Indian Fighter.
Afterward he gained by hard fighting dis
tine ton in Indian wars against the Co
manches and the Sioux under Sitting Bull,
and the Nez Perces and Bannaoks. The
states and territories of Kansas, Montana,
New Mexico and Arizona all voted him
either thanks or swords Of honor. He cap
tured Sitting Bull, and subsequently COM
PEELED the redoubtable Geronimo to sur
render. He was in command of the troops
during the turbulent times preceding the
Wounded Knee affair, few years ago, and
1t was his management of that campaign
that undoubtedly prevented a general out
break. At that time he was a major gen.
eral, commanding the department Of the
Missouri, which command he held up to
last autumn. when he was transferred to
New York on the retirement Of Gen. How
ard. Gen. Miles is closely connected by
marriage with Senator Sherman and Sena-
tor Don Cameron. His wife Is niece of
the former and sister-in-law of the latter.
Gen. Miles will be the youngest officer
that has ever been at the head of the army
with the exception Of Gen. Sheridan, who
was ehout tfty-two when he died, and had
been its commander since Gen. Sherman re-
tired. Gen. Miles is now fifty-seven years
of age, and has yet seven years of active
service before he reaches sixty-four years,
which Is the limit allowed al. oni,--s
serve in the active service.
All three of the present major generals
owe their promotion to President Cieve-
land, Miles having been advanced under his
first administration and Gems. Ruger and
Merritt within the last year. The two last
named officers have about two years Of &C
tive service before them, and should there
be TO casualties there will be no further
army patronage for the administration in
the higher grades.
Will Not Add to His Rank.
Gen. Miles new assignment will not add
anything to his present rank. The rank Of
lieutenant general expires with Gen. Scho-
fields retirement, as it is a grade only Gre
ateu Dy special acts OF congress IN recOS-
milton of distinguished services. 1t has been
bestowed upon SIX Observation-Disclosures ton,
Scott, Grant, Sherman, Sheridan and Scho-
field.
An UnfOunded RumOr.
There has been lately a good deal of
gossip in army circles over a widely circu-
lated and apparently well authenticated
story that the functions of the command
ing general of the army are to be greatly
enlarged by the army regulations. now in
course of final revision. According to
the story that officer is to be made chief
of staff and is to act as an intermediary
between the Secretary of War and the
heads Ct all the staff departments.
Such a regulation would give the COM
manding general the right to examine and
comment upon all military questions aris-