The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-18
OUR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEE
An Imposing Volume of the Personal
Recoiiections OF General Nelson A.
Miles.

ner Company OF Chicago, is just out. Ii
10 q sumptuous volume, beautifully
printed and illustrated and andsomely
bound. 10 the charm OF q personal mar
rative emanating from no distinguished
O source is added a chronicle OF stirring
events embracing the widest possiols
field Of adventure. admirably illustrsted
by tho graphic sketches OF Frederic
Remington and other competent artists,
both pen and pencil portrsying VITA
| Vivid strokes one of the mostpmomentous
| epochs in American history, involving
no smaller an issue than .he settlement
and civilization OF the great West.
General Miles has been widely known
as an lnoisn fighter, and tho reader i'm
pressed with the ciamor investing the
aboriginal hero of Cooper's tales will find
abundant food for reelection in the his
torical rather thal romantic rscJr Of
one who has thoroughly soundei the In
dian character. familiarized himself with
the actual type, anu from the ltand-
I point OF a soldier iTnbued with Oh nn-
blemished spirit OF patriotism, delineates
with admirable csndor and impariialiJy
the salient features in the lives and pur-
poses OF the white man, hereditary foa.
Throughout this snnguinary recital of a
commander sworn to obey, in many q
casual reflection and quiet inference de
ouced from personal observation, there is
perceptible sn undertone of Christian
justice and philanthropy. The snimus
Of the Puritan is manifest everywhere;
for General Miles spranc from sturdy, un-
compromising New England stock, and
the principles Of equity, as well es the
dauntless resolution, which animated the
ea'ly coioniss arc too deeply iDgrained
In him TO be ersdcated even by the
stern, often dispiriting, events depicted
In these pages. IL ia this dispassionate
judgment of an eyewitness to the ter RI
bic scenes deacrib,d which gives strength
should 60 far both to modify the views
OF unwise sentinentalists and temper
the animosities awakened by many a
barborous massacre.
The book opsns with thoughtful ret
rosrect Of colonial life and character
and the youthful impress made upon tho
author By perusal Of New England his
tory, resulting In On adherence to the pro-
fession OF arms as his chosen pursuit.
The almost invariably hostile attitude OF
the Indians toward the white settlers Is
traced from tho earliest period OF Amer
lean colonization, and the gradual occu-
patton of the far Wcst consequent to ex-
-r,.nruffOn aud en7otSffi0n Of na,u to,ri
tory, together with the vicissitudes of
frontier Lilo and the incred plo heriships
TO which pioneer omigrsnts were sun-
jscted these and ipnumsrsble minor in
cidents Of the perioi arc narrated with
the fervor and versimilitcde OF an actor
In the drama OF national progress.
Incidentally introduced will be found a
picturesque and fascinating account of
wild sports In the Wes, ere the great
game had teen either cxtarminated or
driven into almost inaccessible mountain
solitudes. 1t Is striking picture of
primitive life in the wildneress, now
only q memory among msn, emphasiz-
the startling rapidity with which the
vast territory bsy yand the Mississippi has
been brought within the domain of civil
ization.
Probably TO most readers the import
ance OF these valuable miuiscences will
center in the six years OF Indian cam
paigns in which the writer was actively
engaged. The territory covered bv mill
tary operations extended from the region
of tho Yellowstone To Texas. and the
scenes enacted on this nugo battlefield
are described with grim tidelity to
fact.
But prominent as is the subject of
Indian control, General Miles st Dry is by
no means limited to this theme. lie
writes graphically OF the closing scenes
OF the Civil War, and that LAST, awful
campaign, the thunder OF who,e cannon
AIDES will ring forever in the ears Of
those who heard them. There is a feeling
the Custer massacre, and OF a pathetic
visit TO tho scene OF that deploreble ca
lamitY. In another portion of The work
the journey across the plains TO Califor-
MIA Is delightfully."- described, includ-
ing notes OF Mormonism and many en-
gaging details by the way. A chapter is
devoted TO the "Arid Region and Irriga-
ton," in which the marvellous achieve
ments OF systematic, scientific effort in
reclaiming waste lands are practically
elucidated. Even remote Alaska and Its
unique psople receive recognition in Gen.
eral Miles extended recollections, the
same original thought end observation
being here as elsewhere oiscernible.
1t should be added that the authors
style is lucid and free from sffecta-
tion, commencing itself to serious read
ers and excellently adapted to the de-
mands OF work of this nature. Alto
get her, 1t Is safe to saw that the volume
W i'll deservedly claim attention ana grate-
ful perusal from those VINO are interested
In the Nations welfare ana advancement
as promoted by the erduous yet now per-
manent settlement OF the great West.
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