New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-08
General orders No. 116.
Headquarters OF the Army,
WASHINGTON. August >. 1903

-.
In accordance with the provisions OF the aCe
of Congress of June 30. 1882 the undersigned
will retire from active service August $. 1903
In relinquishing the command of the army
of the United States, to which he was assigned
by the President on october ,, 1895, he hereby
acknowledges his appreciation of the fidelity
manifested by the officers and soldiers during
the last eventful years
To those who were his companions and asso-
Ciates during one of the greatest of all wars, he
takes pleasure in expressing his qualification
that they have lived through the trials and dan
gers Of long service TO witness the results Oe
their fOrtitude, herOism and unselfsh devotion
to the welfare of their country. They have also
in a most commendable manner exemplifed to
the younger generation OF soldiers those pTinci-
pies of discipline and patriotism which make the
army the protector and defender. and never the
menace. of the nation and its liberties.
The time and occasion considered oppor-
tune for expressing TO the army few thoughts
concerning its past and that which may AFFECT
its future welfare. 1t is from the best impress
sions and influences of the past that the most
desirable results may be realized in the future
Unswerving devotion 10 our government and
the principles upon which it was established
and has been maintained is essential to the
efficiency Of the national forces; and especially
is this so in a democratic government, where
the individual. in order To be perfect soldier.
must first be a true citizen The boast that
every soldier of a great nation carried mar
shaTS baton in his knapSaCk is in a higher
sense more than equalled in significance by the
fact that every American soldier personihes
sovereign citizenship. and may by his
duct exemplify impartial justice to those who
have never experienced IL. and the result OF the
to it, thereby aiding to secure for his country
Z. moral iEifluance not otherwise uttainah hie
During the darkest hour Of history the
first commander of the American forces demon
Strated the grandeur and nobility Of his char
aCtSL oy cOIIodtllIs Jie eVl lhHuehces theu per
Nadlng the army and by manIfestlng the strong
est confidence and faith in the ultimate justice
and integrity of his government His words Of
wisdom uttered at Newburg one hundred and
twenty years ago had the effect OF inspiring
"unexampled patriotism and patient virtue ris-
ing superior to the pressure of the most COM
IL of he of
our country that the army has maintained
these principles for more than century
The commanders of the army succeeding
Washington have by their example. influence
and orders engendered and maintained the high
est degree of efficiency. discipline and patriot
ism. Since its organization the army has been
charged with great variety of responsibilities
all subordinate TO defending the country and
maintaining the rights of its citizens.
CHIvALRIC AS WELL AS BRAVE.
In the discharge of its manifold duties the
stage of human development from the highest
civilization yet obtained to savagery and bar
barism- 1t has ever been it's duty TO observe
in those chivalric and humane principles
by which inevitable horrors are so greatly miti-
gated. while by unyieldtng prosecution Of war
fare against armed forces its valOr has been
demonstrated
All honorable activity and life for the army
must exist within the we'll defined lines of pa
triOtism. untarnished honor. sterling integrity.
impartial Justice, obedience to rightfuI author
ity and incessant warfare against armed enc
justice requires the highest moral courage and is
equally as important fOTtitude in battle Drill.
discipline and instruction are but preparatory
for the perfection and efficiency OF an army.
The events Of recent years have placed upon
the army obligation and opportunity
for a broader eXemphfcatOn OF its cOUntrys
principles. The United States Army is
brought into daily communication with millions
of people 10 whom its individual members OF
every grade are the expOnents Of American civil
lization. \ serious duty and a great honor are
now presented to every officer and soldier.
namely. TO exemplify to those with whom he
comes in contact our COUntrys principles OF
equal ard exact justice immunity from violence.
equality before the law. and the peaceful use
and possession OF his own.
Marked changes at different times have oc-
CURED in the strength and organization Of the
army resulting. from divers influences and
various experiments have been tried Time has
rectihed errors in the past and Will do so in the
future The lieutenant general has faith that
under all Cfrcumst tances the army viii maintain
its high character, and that its future viii be
as honorable and glorious as has been its history
in the past His earnest solicitude and best
wishes 80; ever follow the fortunes Of the army
NELSON A MILES
Lieutenant General. Commanding
The officers OF the army duty in Washing
ton will call on Lieutenant General Miles az
army headquarters tomorrow morning to Fay
their respects before his retirement. Among
those who will call are Major Generals Corbir
and Young