Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-08-07
Americas Most Brilliant Soldier Yields Place at
Head Of the Army to General Young.
SKETCH OF GENERAL NELSON A. MILES
Splendid Record Military Pages From FveDolar-a week
Clerkshp to the Highest Rank. unhampered BY
West Point Training

WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. THE
official life Of gallant warrior ex-
pires at midnight tonight, when, by
reason of the fact that tomorrow is
the sixty-fourth anniversary Of his
birth. Lieutenant General Nelson A.
Miles, commanding general Of the ar
my, will be retired from active SER
vice,
Totally different from General Scho-
field, Sherman and others OF his pre-
decessors as head OF the United
States army as regards his personali-
ty as well as his early training and
subsequent military career, it is not
to be wondered at, perhaps, that Gen.
eral Miles retirement should evoke
conflicting comments from press and
public. To find anything like paral-
lei of his case it is necessary to turn
back the pages of American history
to the career of General Winfield
Scotia man OF undoubted courage
and ability as general, popular with
his friends, but who. at the same
time, made himself disliked in many
quarters by his want of tact, his over
bearing manner towards his subordi-
mates and his ill-adyised political am
bition.
1t cannot be disputed that Gener-
al Miles has a host of enemies and
that they occupy high positions in the
army and in public life. At the same
time he has many friends and defend.
ers both in and out Of the service.
The sincere affection with which he is
regarded by many of those with whom
his official position has brought him
In contact has been abundantly mani
tested this week in outward evidence
among his associates of regret at his
departure. I'M
Whatever else may be said it can
not be denied that it is a splendid rec
ord that General Miles leaves upon
the pages Of the department from
which in a few hours he takes his final
departure. From a five-dollar-a-week
clerkship in little dry goods store
and handicapped by the fact that he
lacked West Point training he has
worked his way step by step to the
highest rank within the gift of the
United States army.
Nelson A. Miles made the greatest
reputation, probably, as an Indian
campaigner The ability to make sue
cessful warfare on the red men was
possibly inherited His ancestor, the
Rev. John Myles, Welsh Clergyman
of Massachusetts,, was not only mill
tant against the powers Of spiritual
evil, but he took CONSPICUOUS part in
the campaign against King Phillip in
1875.
Born in Westminster Mass. in
1889, young Miles was q mercantile
clerk in Boston before he was twenty
one years old, but he had already re-
ceived an academic education. 1t was
during that clerkship period that he
first eyinced a deep interest in militia
ry matters, inspired to large extent.
probably by the prospect Of clash
between the north and south on the
slavery question.
Miles began his military career on
ly after controversy with the COVER
nor of Massachusetts,. He has had
many controversies since, some Of
which he won. but he lost that first
one with the governor. Miles raised a
company Of troops in 1861 and expect
ed to become captain Of 1t. The gov
ernor. however, declared that he was
too young to receive such high COM
mission. al !
Miles was afterward commissioned
lieutenantcolone Of the Sixty.first
New York Volunteers, the commits
sion dating from May 81, 1862. He
began to make reputation immedi-
ateIy. He was engaged in the battles
of the Peninsula campaign, before
Richmond and at Antietam. On the
s0th of September in the second year
of the war he was made colonel Of
his regiment. although only twenty
two years AID. Col Miles fought In
all the battles Of his regiment in the