The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-30

with General Schofeld's retirement, as IL
is grade only created by special acts OF
congress in recognition of distinguished
services. It has been bestowed upon six
generals, Washington, Scott, Grant, Sher-
man, Sheridan and SchoHeld.
General Miles has received all his mill
tary 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 tho army, it has been
reported that his volunteer antecedents
would initiate against his appointment SO
far as the influence of the army circle had
to do with it. General Winfield Scott was
the last commanding general, who was
not a West Point man.
A Massachusetts, Man.
General Miles is a native of Massachu-
setts, having been born in Westminster
on Aug. s, 1899. In 1861 he joined the
Twenty-second Massachusetts volunteers,
and served throughout the rebellion with
great distinction. He distinguished him
self early in his career in the Army OF
the Potomac, and took part in nearly every
engagement up to Lees surrender ~ APP
pomattox. General Miles distinguished
himself i'm particular at Spottsylvania. At
tacking the bloody angle on the right, he
broke the enemy's line, routed them and
captured Lieutenant General Bushrod
johnson and his division. At Five Forks,
Miles saved the day by coming to the
rescue of Sheridan's cavalry and Warren's
Fifth corps.
General Miles promotion was marked
by somewhat exceptional rapidity, only
about year elapsing before he was made
lieutenant colonel of the Sixty-lrst New
York infantry and a month later, Sept.
30, 1852 he was made a colonel of the same
regiment. In 1854 he attained the rank of
brigadier general of volunteers, and early
in the following year obtained his com
mission as major general OF volunteers.
In 1856 he was mustered out OF the volun-
tocr service and placed in command of the
Fourth United States infantry, in which
he remained till 1859, when he was trans
ferred to the Fifth infantry
OF Wide Experience.
Altogether the new commander has had
varied military career since the war
he has been best known as an Indian
fighter. He did fine work at the head of
the Indian Territory expedition in 1878.
In 1876 he drove Sitting Bull over the Cana
dian line, captured a number of noted
warriors and also succeeded in making
prisoners of Chief Joseph and the Nez
Perces. In 1875 he defeated and captured
a band of Bannocks in Yellowstone Park.
Not long after .his he succeeded in bring
ing In Sitting Bull, and thus was more of
factor than any other man in the settle
ment of Montana and North and South
Dakota. In 1885 he captured Geronimo
and his band OF Apaches In Arizona.
His most recent claim TO public atten-
ton was the part he took In suppressing
the Chicago strike of the American Rail-
way union last year. General Miles was
commissioned brevet brigadier general
March 2, 1867, brigadier general In Decem-
Der, 1880, and major general in 1890, when
he was assigned 10 the command OF the
division of Missouri, which he relin-
quished last year to take command OF the
eastern department on the retirement of
Major General q. q. Howard
In appearance General Miles Is one OF
the most stalwart and soldiefly men In the
service. He Is over six feet tall. aud does
not look his % odd years.
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