The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-08-16
LIFE STORY OF GEN.. MILES
Biography Of the General Just Retired From Active Lie
Rose From Obscuriy

3En
The retirement OF Lieutenant General
Miles on August s, after nearly eight
years Of service as the highest officer
on the active list of the army. classes a
distinguished and brilliant career, Be-
ginning as lieutenant of volunteers he
tame out Of the Civil war major-gen-
eral, and bearing the scars OF four
wounds received in as many battles.
Afterwards, by subjugating the Sioux,
ne made safe for settlers a vast region
then harrassed by savages, but now di-
sidcd into prosperous states, while his
conquest Of the Apaches on the south
western border put an end to the dep
relations or centuries.
Nelson Appleton Miles was born IN
ore Of the most rugged parts Of the
Wachusett mountain region. about fifty
miles from Boston. He was taught in
the district school and the local acad-
emy.andat the age of sixteen,like many
another country lad, he went to Boston,
where he served as clerk or salesman In
n store. His pay was very small. and
his uncle. Nelson Curtis for whom he
was named, took him into his family
to live at West Roxbury, and gave him
his board. But young Miles was too
independent 10 consent to such an ar
rangement. So he hired room in Bos-
ton, and, as his earnings would not ad-
NIT. of his going to boarding house, he
took his food to his room and boarded
himself.
The soldiers instinct developed as
soon as the war broke out and fired him
with desire to enlist. He spoke to his
employer about it,being advised to ask
his uncie's consent. They expressed
their willingness, providing he would
take military instruction. His employ
er paid for six months course at
military school. which a Frenchman
had started In Boston at the beginning
of the war. His uncle further equipped
him by recruiting a company of one
hundred men for him to take command
OF. giving liberal bonus to the men,
This company was organized in Ba-
cons hall, on Washington street, a
building which stands in the busy mer-
camille part of the Roxbury district.
There were two older men who aspir-
ed to the Offices of captain and first
lieutenant OF the new company. but.
though Miles was but q, ne was so far
superior to the other aspirants that he
was elected captain. Gov. Andrews.
however, looked upon him as mere
boy" and sent him commission as
second lieutenant. When Miles receiv-
ed 1t he went to his uncle and asked
him what he should do. Take it,, said
the uncle and go to the front. We
don't want any trouble or delay at this
point
Young Miles accepted this sge an
patriotic advice, and had no cause To re
Eret his action, for soon after reaching
the frcnt he was detailed on Howard's
STAFF, in the Peninsula, and at once won
Official praise for great gallantry and
effective service. A specially valuable
and skillful effort at Savage's station
In leading reinforcements to Col. Bar
lows regiment, the Sixty-first New
York, when hard pressed, was followed
by his commission as lieutenant colonel
of that same regiment on Barlow's
greatful recommendation. 1t was
most unusual and significant step to
take a young lieutenant from another
state/and raise him to- command so
high. Barlow's promotion made Miles
colonel of the regiment at little over
% years Of age, and thence he passed
to the command of brigade, and final
" to the First Division of the renowned
Second corps, whose aggregate In killed
and wounded exceeded that of any 9TH
er division in the Union Army Miles
himself, as before stated, was four
times wounded, and twice so as to bare
iy escape death. At Fredericksburg he
was shot In the throat, the scar remain
ing to this day, and at Chancellors-
vile through the groin and hip bone,
this wound at first appearing to be NOR
tai.
General Miles before the end of the
wah reached the full rank of major-gen
eral OF volunteers, and In September,
1855, he entered the regular army as
colonel Of the Fortieth infantry. Rou- |
tine garrison life occupied him for few
years, but in 1s74,as colonel Of the Fifth |
infantry, he began an extraordinary |
series Of Indian campaigns and victor
les. The first Of these was the over
throw of the cheyennes, Arapahoes, Ki |
owas, and Comanches, in what Gen. |
Sheridan declared to be 'the most sue
csssful of any campaign in the country |
since the settlement by the whites"
This was a summer and winter cam
paigR over vast area, including the
,lesolate borders of the Staked Plains,
first In intense heat and then in bitter