The morning times., 1895-09-22


the new company; but, though Miles wa
but 81, lie was SO far superior to the oldel
aspirants. that under military regulation.
he was elected captain.
Gov. Andrew, however, looked upon hin
as "A mere boy" and sent him a commission
as second lieutenant. Wien Miles received
it he went to his uncle and asked him what
he should do. Take it and go to the front
We don't want any trouble or delay at this
point; but keep your United States Army
commission in your pocket" was his judi
cious relatives advice
The regiment proceeded to Washington
T, and went into camp just outside OF the city.
| When the regiment was drawn up to receive
| the first. months wages the paymaster
| called for Capt. Miles, of - company. He
was told there was no such officer, but
there was second lieutenant of that name.
Miles was called up, answered to the full
name on the army register as captain, and
the officer in charge asked how it was that
he was acting in a subordinate capacity.
Miles made an explanation. You are
| captain" said the officer, ''get your pay
and take command of your company"
Then trouble arose among the Officers
of the regiment because there were two
captains to one company. Senator Henry
Wilson, of Massachusetts, the famous
Natick shoemaker, who bad raised the
regiment, the Twenty-second, was in a
dilemma. He did not want to degrade a
captain appointed by the Governor of his
State, yet he wanted to give Miles the pro-
motion he deserved. So he went to o. C.
Howard, then colonel of a regiment at
Washington,- and asked him if be didn't
want another man on his staff. Yes,
If you have a good man." said Howard
Miles was sent over tCshim, and was dc
tailed to conduct a drin. He did it SO ad-
mirably as to e2site the astonishment of
the colonel, w'1o frankly said to him:
Young man, you have done well. 1
don't understand how you can be so well
qualified without any experience"
Miles took the praise modestly, and told
him there was a certain evolution of COM
panies on the field about which he wouldlike
his opinion After Miles explained his
point Col Howard decided it. Miles then
went out and brought in a book on military
tactics and submitted an authority To the
contrary. Col. Howard at once acknowl-
edged his mistake, and said to Miles, II
am glad to have a man who can correctme."
The ncxt day Senator Wilson went to
Col. Howard and asked, 'if the new man
suited" ---
''If you have got any more extra cap
tains like that you can send them over.
can use a regiment of them,' was the an
swer
The position on Howard's staff was all
that young Miles need as vantage ground,
The first battle he was in was disastrous.
The enemy had surrounded part of Col.
Howards troops, and every staff officer
was wounded Miles was shot in the foot.
But when a retreat was ordered he rode
up to Howard.
IF you will give me a DIVISION he
said, II will drive the rebels out of the
woods. and rescue our men W he are cutoff"
Take your choice" was the answer, and
Miles went forward with an ak 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 back in triumph
three Union men who were about to bemade
prisoners.
The next engagement that Howard's
troops went into did not result SO fortun ately
for Miles II was 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 wound
which was in the abdomen, and said he
could not live The bullet had buried itself
SO deeply and in so vital part that 1t could
not be located or probed for. But Miles
pluckily insisted that he would live, but he
wanted to be taken home to recover. The at
tendants granted what they thought was a
n vino mans request He was placed upon a
stretcher and put aboard a train for Boston.