Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-08-07
Notable Military Career Now Ind
ing Under Age Limit
HOW HE WON FIRST SPURS
A Glimpse OF ilis Early Lie -~ now
ue Quickly Rose From store
Clerk 10 Commander.
SPECIAL Correspondence.

ride ut Zen. Miles from I"lN -" ~
Fort Reno, distance Of 90 miles IN
little more than nine hours without APP
parent fatigue, orowas as an example
OF physical endurance and soldiefy
bearing a long ana remarkable military
career, now about to terminate under
the age limit. II Is doubted If many
army officers much younger than Gen
Miles could have made this ride across
the semiarid plains OF Oklahoma In the
heat Of summer aud Gismounted at ats
end as fresh and smiling as dI->this Old
campalgner at the age Of "a For aman
Of his years, who Is about to be retired
from the service by reason Of age, 1t
was a remarkable feat But to those
who are acquainted with Gen, Miles
and know his habits Of llfe II was not
surprising,
Whatever may be said about Gen.
Miles anent his retirement from tn
command Of the army by either MS
friends or foes Cand he has some very
intense ones OF both s0rts) all must ad-
NIT that his record in active service
from the time he entered the volunteer
army In the Ciyil war as a lieutenant
at u until the close Of his last campaign
against the hostile Indians In the lar
West. was one Of exceptional briliancy.
Regarding his career since the close OF
the Indian wars, critics will differ but
none. | think, Will attempt to impeach
his courage or devotion to his country,
in whose service the greater part OF bis
life has been spent,
Gen. Miles comes Of good fighting
stock, his ancestors having been con-
spiCuous in the Revolutionary war and
the Mexican war and he early devel-
Oped the qualities OF a soldier. He got
his taste for battle young, when in the
winter evenings he would listen TO q
soldier uncles wonderful Indian sto-
ries, which had peculiar charm for
his boyish ears He never wearled Of
hearing Of the time when the Indians
infested the Wachusett mountain re-
gion, IN which be was born and where
his boyhood was passed, and Of thell
raids upon the early settlers. Here he
was wont to play at war with his
youthful companions, chasing lmagi-
nary redskins and Britishers with the
yig0r and persistenCy which character
lied his actions ON many battlehelds In
later years.
At the age Of Il he left his ma
tive place Westminster IN Worcester
county, Mass, an ) went 10 Boston,
whore he became clerk in the crockery
store OF John COllamOre, one OF ll0s-
toms old time merchants The mer-
chant apparently set great store by
the boy as New Englanders would
say IN those days. despite the fact, II
reminiscent stories are true, that Miles
was none too careful IN handling the
orockery IL is related that shortly az
ter he entered the store and had caused
a great smash up OF crockery he sur
yeyed the havoc with such GOODNESS
that Mr.. Collamorf said THAT boy
could see men shot all around him on
battlefield and not get excited After
he had gone % the war Mr. CollamOye
expressed the opinion that II Nelson
Miles could XIII COnfederates ms well as
he could break crOckery he would make
a good soldier
After his days work In the crockely
store was over he attended night school
and later took up the study OF military
tactics under the instruction Of an old
French soldier then living in Boston,
devOting an his spare moments to the
study Of the science of war In which
he took a deep interest Thus he was
wen prepared 10 enter the service OF
his country when the CiVil war broke
out With the assistance of his employ
er and two uncles who were influential
business men Of Boston he recruited
company OF 100 men, being chosen It's
captain. though then barely OF age and
contributed $1,000 which he had re-
Ceived from his father To- Us equip
lnent This company was organized
in Bacous hall, on Washington street
building which still stands In the
busy mercantile par, Of the Roxbury
district.
Though originally commissioned as
captain, the governor of Massachusetts,.
protesting to believe that he was too
young 90 command a company. ap-
pointed an older man in his place. re-
duclng Niles to second lieutenant. This
was O bitter and humiNating thing for
the ambitious young soldier but he
took the matter philosophically feeling
that Il was his duty 10 fight the enc.
my IN The field rather than The poll,
ticlans at home, and went 90 the front
with his company which was attached
% the Twenty Massachusetts
volunteers
After leaving Boston the regiment
went into camp just outside the city
OF Washington. When the officers and
men were drawn up 10 receive the first
months wages the paym9ster called
for captain Miles. He was told there
was no such officer, but there was a
second lieutenant OF that name Miles
was called up, answered TO the fun
name on the army register as captain
and the officer in charge asked how a
was that be was acting In a subordi-
nate capacity. Miles made an eXplana.
don You are captain said the on
GER Get your pay and take command
OF your company"
Then trouble arose among the on.
GERS OF the regiment because there
were tive captains % one company.
Senator Wilson, the famous Naick
shoemaker. subsequently vice prosl.
dent N the Tinted states. who had
raised he regiment, was In a dilemma
Tie ala NOT want TO degrade q cautaI1
appointed uy the governor Of the state.
yet he wanted 20 give Miles the promo.
ton ho deserved. So he went 10 o q
Howard then colonel Of regiment az
Washington, and asked him n he dldn',
want another man on his stan yes
II you have a good man" said How
ard. Miles was sent over 20 him ana
was detailed 20 conduct a dru. he ana
Il so admirably as 10 excite the aston.
khment OF the colonel, who frankly
said 90 him
Young nan. you have done we'll |
don't understand how you can be- s5 |
Vel qualified without any experience "
TIE ne,u day Senator Wilson went IN |
Colonel Howard and asked I'D the neV
man suited
~ You have got any more extra can. |
tains IKE hat sou can send Them cra- |
J can use regiment Of them" was /
the answer
The position on Howard'a stan WAS 1
all that yoaug Miles needed as "a ylu-
age groUud The first battle Dc Mas
in was disastrous The enemy had sun.
rounded a pan Of Coi Howards uo8ps
and every stan officer was wounded /
Miles was shot in the foot. But when
a retreat was ordered he rode Nd 10
Howard
III ven wiIl give me the men," he
said, Ivlli drive the enemy out q the