Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-14
CASE Of GEN. ORD
His Retirement Not Due to
Gen. Miles.
P0LITDAI REASONS
WHY MILES WAS NOT PROMOTED
ON MYERS DEATH.
What Older Men in the War Depart
ment Say About the Cir
cumstances.

e NSiica oti 4hiicS refused aDSOlulely tHlS
morning, as ne has for some time past. to
discuss the situation in the War Depart
ment or to enter into any controversy in
regard to statements published in the press.
Officers Of the War Department. however,
who are entirely familiar with the military
political history of the past twenty-five
years state emphaticaIly that it was not at
the instance Of General Miles or with his
previous knowledge that the retirement of
General E. o. G. Ord was brought about.
In fact this retirement was a great sur
prise TO General Miles and to his uncle by
marriage, General W. T. Sherman, and the
source of considerable emba ira sment to
the former.
The circumstances under which General
Miles became a brigadier general are well
remembered by the older men in the War
department. General Myer died August
"a 1880.
He was then chief Of the Signal Corps
This made vacancy in the rank of briga
der general but in a staff department.
General. then Col Miles, was an applicant
Tor the vacancy. President Hayes was
very friendly to him. Miles had been
colonel for fourteen years. and at that time
was perhaps the most conspicuous officer
IN the army, and the most popular espe-
cIaily IN the west He had just captured
chief Joseph and made memorable In
olan campaign from the southern to the
northern boundary line of the United
States.
Gen. Garfield's Request
Upon receiving Miles application for the
vacant generalship President Hayes asked
MIN IL ne would not prefer position in the
line instead of in the staff. Miles told the
president that he would like to have the
promotion, and believed he could do well
with the signal corps of the army. but that
he naturally could make no conditions.
Ihus the matter stood when Garfield.
then President-elect. went to President
Hayes and asked him to appoint Hazen
brigadier general and chief of the Signal
Corps. President Hayes was then anxious
to secure the appointment of Stanley Mat
theWs on the Supreme bench. and he agreed
with GARFIELD to appoint HaZen a brigadier
general with the understanding that Mat
thews was later on to be made a Justice.
General Hazen was appointed December
10, 1850, and at later day President Gar
heid fulfilled his part of the agreement. In
December President Hayes, to the surprise
Of then Colonel Miles and General w. T.
sherman. also retired General r. o. c.
ord. then in comma nd of the Department of
Texas. General Sherman went Immediately
to President Hayes ard made an earnest
protest against the retirement of Ord
President Hayes said that he wanted to
there were other reasons for the retirement
OF Ord General Sherman is quoted as say
ing, Miles can wait"
Political Reasons.
1t was stated in the newspapers the day
following Gen. Ord's retirement that the
reasons were political and a telegram al
legged to have been sent to Gen. Ord to Gen.
Hancock. after the latters nomina ton for
the presidency by the democratic party. was
put in evidence as being of an extremely
partisan character for an army officer in a
republican admlnistra ration.
The telegram from Gen. Ord TO Hancock
is said to have read Congratulations from
Texas and from Ord" Political reasons
were assigned at the time for the retire
ment of Ord though it is believed also that
President Hayes was inspired by desire
10 recognize the popularity and ability Of
Col Miles, demonstrated as a result Of his
Indian campaigning. Gen. Ord was retired
as brigader general, and in 1881 was re-
tired as a major general by act of Con-
gress.
1t is a matter of record in the War De-
partment that Gen. Ord was not retired at
the instigation with the approval Of Gen.
Miles, nor was he retired as the result of
any influence brought to bear by Gen Sher-.
man or his brother. OF any other influential
politicians or military clique In fact, it is
known that Gen. Sherman was very indig-
nant with President Hayes and opposed
Ord's retirement vigorously.