The Brunswick daily news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1903-1906, 1903-08-06
Commander i'm "a Chief of
the Army to Be Re-
tired
he HAS SERVED tsS TIME
While Miles Has Many Enemies, He
Has Good Military Record
Something About His
Past Career.

Washington, D. c.. Aug 6.-The
official life of gallant warrior ex-
pires at midnight tomorrow night,
when, by reason of the fact that to-
morrow is the 64th anniversary of his
birth. Lieutenant General Nelson A.
Miles. commanding general of the
army. will be retired fl Iom active SER
vice
Totally different from Generals
Schofield, Sherman and others of his
predecessors as head of the United
States army as regards his person
ality as well as his early military
training and subsequent military ca
reer, it is not to be wondered at, per-
haps, that General Miles, retirement
should evoke conflicting comments
from press and public. To find any
thing like a parallel 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 a
general, popular with his friends,
but who. at the same time, made him
self disliked In many quarters by his
want of tact, his overbearing man
ner towards his subordinates and his
ill-advised political ambitions.
1t cannot be disputed that General
Males has a host of enemies and
that they occupy high positions In the
army and in public life. At the same
time he has friends and defenders
both in end 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
manifested this week In outward ev-
idence among his associates Of regret
at his departure.
Whatever else may be said, it
cannot be denied that it Is a spendid
record that General Miles leaves
upon the pages Of the departmnt from
which in a few hours he takes his
final departure From a five-dollar-
a-week clerkship in a little dry goods
store and handicapped by the fact
that he lacked a 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 his greatest
reputation probably as an Indian
campaigner. The ability to make
successful warfare on the red men was
possibly inherited. His ancestor, the
Rev. John Miles, Welsh clergy
man OF Massachusetts, was not only
militant against the powers of spirit
val evil, but he took conspicuous
part in the campaign against King
Philip in 1875
Born in Westminster. Mass, In
1883, young Miles was a mercantile
clerk in Boston before he was twenty.
one years old, but he had already
received an academic education. 1t
was during that clerkship period that
he first evinced deep interest In
military matters, inspired to large
extent, probably, by the prospect Of a
clash between the north and south on
the slavery question,
Miles began his military career
only after d controversy with the
Governor OF Massachusetts; He has
had many controversies since, some
Of which he has won, but he lost tina,
first one with the Governor. Miles
raised g. company OF troops in 1861
and expected to become captain OF it
The Governor, however, declared thai
he was too young to receive such q
nigh commission
Miles was afterwards commissioned
lieutenant colonel OF the Saxty-1rst
New York Volunteers, the commission
dating from May IL, 1867. he DeSal
GO make a reputation immediately
He was engaged in the battles OF th'
peninsula campaign, before Richmonf
and at Antietam. On the 3Oth o
september, in the second year of thu
war. he was made colonel OF hi
regiment, although only twenty-tw'
years old. Colonel Miles fought II
sll the battles of his regiment in tn
campaign or the army OF the Pe
Iomae, with one exception. up to t.
surrender OF Lee at Appomatox Cou'
house. He was wounded three times
Miles full commission as naajor'geners
was given him in 1866. In the folo"
ing year, thu ~ar having ssasd' D