The times., 1898-07-29
LEADERS oF THE ARMY.
2ten Who VIII Conduct the Porto
[. Rican Invasion

The army's work in Porto Rico Will
not fail for want of able leaders Aside
from Gen. Miles, two Of its commanders,
Brooke and Wilson, are officers of the
highest rank in the volunteer army, while
among its brigade commanders are such
veteran and capable soldiers as Schwan,
Rodgers Ernst, Randolph, Haines and
Garretson.
The central fact in the career OF Gen
Miles is that a young lieutenant of 1851
who had none Of the aids that West
Point training gives, has reached the top
round Of the military ladder in this
country Grant. Sherman. Sheridan and
schofield were ali graduates of the mill
tary academy, but Miles began his serv-
ice in the ranks of the Union volunteers.
However, he comes of fighting stock.
One Of his ancestors was captain in
King Philips war, while Daniel, his
grandfather. and three Of Daniels sons
one Of whom was Joab, the generals
grandfather. were in the revolutionary
army. and one of the sons died on his
way home from the final battle Of York
town.
Gen. Miles had just attained his ma
lieutenant of a company he had raised
himself He was working in Boston
crockery store when lincoln issued MS
first call for volunteers. He drew from
q savings bank the 81 600 he had man
aged 90 lay from his scant salary and
with that money and with 1853 which
he borrowed on his personal note, ne
raised and equipped a company Ihe gov
ernor Of The State mustered in the COM
many and commissioned Miles as the cap
tain. Then a political friend wanted the
commission. This caused the governor TO
declare that Miles was too young to COM
rland a company, and TO demand BACK
the commission. Offering instead TO MAKE
him 4 first lieutenant As sGch ne en-
tered the war his company forming
mart Of the Twenty-second MassachUsvllS
Infantry.
Lieut. Miles had been only short tlihe
IN the service when Gen. o. o. Howard
hapDened TO be attracted to him and took
him upon his staff. Miles was one OF
Foward's aids at Fair Oaks and there
gave shining proof of his resoiute pray
cry IL was the first day OF battle bN-
erv move made by Mcclellan was met
and matched by Johnson. Longstreet ana
HiU were pounding Casey unmerctully
and making great gaps in the hnes OF
Fitziohn Porter. Howard and Franklin
were also subjected 10 a withering nfe-
Howard had some orders that had 10 be
delivered at once. The chances were thai
the man who carried them would never
live 10 bring back his report ana Howard
knew it, Miles was the man chosen LOT
the work Half an hour after he started
ont Howard. standing in front OF MS
tent saw a stretcher approaching nm
with a wounded man upon 1t. As II came
closer Howard and those about him saw
by the uniform that the man on the
stretcher was an officer. They saw also
q great ragged wound in his neck, the
Cow Of blood from which he was Yainly
trying 10 stanch by gripping the torn
flesh in his fingers. When just in front
OF the ten the wounded man saluted with
his free hand and in as steady voice as
he could command he said:
General. / had myself brought here be-
fore being patched up TO tell you that
your lines are weak over yonder and you
must seId re-enfOrcements at once or
there viii be trouble there"
The speaker was Miles. As the stretch
er-bearers We're carrying him away How
ard asked one Of them where he had been
picked uo.
Down there near the far end of the
line. about a mile and a half, I would
say. sir
Hearing this. Howard. turning to the
officers about him. said:
Holding that wound for A mile and a
half 10 bring that report If that young
fellow lives he viii be heard from again
He did live and was heard from again
a. Savage's Station. White Oak Swamp,
Glendale ard Malvern Hill At Freder-
iCksburg he was shot in the throat by a
bullet that left track on the neck sev-
eraI inches long the scar Of which lasts
10 this day. Riding back to the field hos
pital holding one hand to his throat. he
met Gen. Hancock. to whom still intent
on he fortunes Of the day, he pointed out
the value Of a bayonet charge against
1.-The stone wall" and offered 10 lead it,
His escape from death al ChancellOrs-
vile was even narrower. In charge OF
Eanc0ckS skiTmish line. consisting Of
three regiments and detachments from
three more, he held that line successfully
against all the attacks Of Lees veterans
But on the second day ne was struck OF
the belt plate by q rifle bullet that glanced
into the groin. crushed through the hiI
bone and imbedded itself in the muscle.
o. his left leg. Il was feared that ihC
wound was mortal and there was du.
bi0us IF in Gen. Hancocks letter urg
ing his prOmOtiOn-"If Col. Miles lives h,
VIII be one OF the distinguished officers &
the service"
In the end. however. the bullet wai
found and removed, and when Grant. II
the spring Of 1864, moved ag>inst Lee
Miles commanded the First Brigade o
the First Division Of the Second Corps
After the Civil War Miles saw abou
twenty years Of Indian fighting, partici
pating IN all of the notable campaigns
Nal Gen John r. Brooke, second II
command 10 Niles, IS, like his chief,
veteran Of the old volunteer army. II
was born IN Pennsylvania about siXt,
years ago and went 10 the front tn
week after Sumter was fred on, as cap
tain in the Fourth Pennsylvania volun
teers. In November. 1861. he was made
colonel Of the Fifty-third Pennsylvania
and. with his regiment. participated gal
lantly in every campaign and nearly ever.
battle Of the Army of the Potomac. H
was promoted 10 be brigadier-g general o
volunteers in May. 1861, for distinguishe
services in the battles Of the WILDERNESS
and Sp0ttsylvania Courthouse. and i
August Of the same year was brevetted
major general Of volunteers. At the bat
ties Of Gettysburg and Talopotomy h
was specially mentioned for gallant ser
vices.
Upon the reorganization of the regula
army in July 1856. Gen. Brooke was ap
pointed lieutenant colonel OF the Thirty
seventh Infantry, and when that regimen
was consolidated with the Third Infantr
was made lieutenant colonel OF the latte
regiment. He was promoted 10 the ran
Of colonel in March 1873 with comman
first of the Thirteenth and later of IN
Third Infantry He was made brigade
general in April. 1855. and attained hi
major generalship with command of tn
Department Of Missouri in Nav 1885,