The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-09-30
AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
The Rank of Lieutenant-G Has
Expired
The New Commander Has Had a Varied
Career and Will Take a Most
Satisfactory Louder


tonight to a reporter OF the Associated
Press, saying that he was informed of
the presidents determ nation to appoint
him on Friday by the secretary of war
whom he had met i'll this city by special
appointment ut the Metropolitan club.
General Schofield retired from active ser.
vice at noon today. and it is probable
that the appointment of General Miles
will lie announced tomorrow or very
shortly. The general will go to Washing
ton to assume the duties of his high posi-
ton.
The announcement will set at rest the
rumors which have been going the rounds
during the last week concerning General
Schofielu's pro ga BILE successor. There was
an impression in some quarters that the
Office of general of the army might be left
vacant for some time, as there is no re-
quirement of law for such a position and
as there are presidents for leaving it I'M
filled. Only once since the army was Or
gained in 1879. however, has the presi-
dent failed to appoint the senior general
to the command of the army.
When General Miles was seen by a re-
porter OF the Associated Press at his head &.
quarters he spoke freely OF his appoint
ment.
My informant" said the general,
was Secretary Lamont, whom l met by
special appointment at the Metropolitan
club IN New York last Friday.
Naturally 1 was much gratified. In a
sense, however, my appointment is not a
promotion, as the grade of lieutenant
general becomes extinct with the retire.
ment OF General Schofield.
II will enter upon my duties with as
little delay as possible, in TACT, as soon as
the secretary issues the order announcin 6
my appointment.
''ln leaving here 1 do so with many re
| grets. This is the pleasantest spot 1
ever had. Although in the very heart Of
| civilization, it is as much retired as if 1t
we're hundreds of miles away, instead of
being within a gunshot of the m etropolis.
Then, TOO, the people of New York and
Brooklyn have been very hospitable and
l shall leave them with many social OBJ
| legations
| General Miles was asked whether he
would recon- mend any changes in the
army. He replied that if he so contem-
| plated it would hardly be proper to dis
| cuss them at this time.
| The general would make no direct re-
| ply to the question whether he thought
the grade of acknowledgement might be
| revived in his case, as in that of General
! Schotield. When asked whether General
| Ruger would succeed him in command of
| the departmet OF the east. be replied
| That is the general impression. but of
course l cannot speak authoritatively."
| The rank of lieutenant-geneIal expires
with General Schofield's retirement, as it
do x,t,lx tad hxy oil of nf
congress in recognition of distinguished
! services. 1t has been bestowed upon six
| nerals--Washjngton, Scott Grant. Sher-
man, Sheridan and Schoteld. General
Miles has received all his military train
ing on the field of experience. instead OF
| in the schools. He will be the first gen.
eral for many years who was not a West
Point graduate, and as the West Pointers
| are reputed to esteem them selves the
aristocracy of the army, it has been re-
ported that volunteers antecedents
would initiate against his appointment
so far as the inference of army circles
had to do with it. General Winfield
Scott was the last commanding general
who was not West Point man.
General Miles is a native of Massachu-
sets, having been born in Westminster
on August g. 1889. In 1861 he joined the
Twenty-second Massachusetts, volunteers
| and served throughout the rebellion.
He distinguished himself early in his
career III 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 line. routed him and cap
tured Lieutenant General Bushrod John
son and his division. At Five Forks
Miles saved the day by coming to the
rescne of Sheridan's cavalry and War
| yen's Fifth CORPS. General Miles pro.
motion was marked by somewhat exoep-
| tionai rapidity, only about year elaps-
| ing befure he was made lieutenant colo
mel of the Sixty-frst New York infantry
and a month later. Septem Der 4. 1852, he
was made colonel of the same regiment.
In 1864 he attained the rank of brgadier
| general of volunteers and early in the
| following year obtained his commission
as major general Of volunteers. In 1866
| he was mustered out of the volunteer SER
vice 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 a varied military career. Since the
| war he has been best. known as an Indian
| fighter. He did fine work with the In
dian Territory expedition in 1873. In.
| 1876 he drove Sitting Bull over the Cana
1 olhu iluts capturing a iuIuD6T VI UOtcu
| warriors and also succeeding in making
| prisoners of Chief Joseph and the Nez
| Perces. In 1878 he defeated and captured
| band of Bannocks in Yellowstone park
| Not lcng after this he succeeded in bring
ing in Sitting Bull and thus was more
| factor than any other man in the set.
item ent of Montana and Dakota. In
| 1886 he captured Geronimo and his band
| of Apaches in Arizona.
HIS most recent claim to public atten-
| ton was the pant he took in SURPRISING
| the Chicago strike of the American Rail-
way Union las year. General Miles was
com m issioned brigadier general March 2,
| 1867; br. gadier general December l. 1880,
and major general in 1890, when he was
assigned to the command of the Depart
| ment of the Missouri. which he relin-
| pushed last year to take command of this
| department on the retirement of Major
| General o. o. Howard. IN appearance
| he is one of the most stalwaft, sturdy
| men in the service. He is over six feet
| tall and does not look his fifty odd years.
heterogeneous from whom the selection
| might have been made are General Miles,
| Gen eral Roger, on special duty in Wash
ington in connection with the revision OF
the tactical branch of the service, and
General Wesley Merritt, in command of
| the department of the Missouri with
headquarters at Chicago. OF these Gen.
eral Miles might fail to secure the APP
| pointment because of the alleged fact
| that his report on the Chicago strike diu
| not meet With the presidents views. The