The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-05-15
HEART ATTACK
TAKES AGED
ARMY LEADER
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soner Of war" the results were i'm
mediate.
General Miles was born at West
minister, Mass. April 8. 1889, and re.
ceived an academic education there
and in Boston. In later years he was
awarded the honorary degree OF
LID. by Harvard. Brown and Col
gate.
When the Civil War broke out
many civilians organized units with
their own funds, and later took
command Of their townsmen In the
army. When the Roxbury Guards
were recruited, the enthusiastic cit
liens of that town promised boun
ty of $40 for each man who enlisted.
The money was delayed, however,
and when the company was complet
ed and the funds still failed 10 ma
terialize, Miles took the only thou
sand dollars he had in the world and
by borrowing $500 more, paid the
men their bonus. He was never
reimbursed by the fOrgetful town
council.
Wins COmmendatiOn
Miles passed through the bloody
battle Of Antietam unscratched and
won further commendation. At
Chancsllorsville he again ELECTED
the praise Of Hancock and was mark
ed for promotion. Some years lat
er he was awarded the Congressional
Medal Of Honor, the nations highest
distinction, "for distinguished gal
lantry at Charlottesville 1t was
at this battle that he received his
most serious wound. shit in the
battle of Gettysburg; but he recov
cred in time to take part in Grants
campaign against Richmond.
BY some queer coincidence many
years after the war, Miles met the
Confederate soldier who fired the
bullet. The man was only $50 yards
from his target, and only the fact
that the bullet struck Miles's belt
buckle saved the officer from death.
81 aimed at your heart" the man
said, but think the motion of your
horse carried the ball a little low.
After what has occurred during these
thirty-six years am glad ! missed
that shot
Although only "a years old, Miles
had become famous in army circles,
and Grant, Meade, Burnside, Nc
Clellan, Hooker. Hancock and every
other field officer under whom he
served urged his promotion. He
continued his record at the Wilder
ness, and at Spottsylvania he led his
men with such bravery that he soon
received his commission as BrigaGier
General. He was later honored with
the brevet of Major General, with the
citation. for gallant and meritorious
service at Spottsylvania."
In the campaign around Peters
burg the young general participated
IN nearly every important action.
Here he received his fourth wound
and won another brevet as Major
General. bestowed in the fall Of
1865, for "highly meritorious and
distinguis conduct throughout the
campaign and particularly for bra.
very and valuable services at Reams
Station"
Pursued Lee
His last service in the war was to
pursue Lees forces to their surrend-
err at AppomattOx, winning Grants
highest praise. He was then given
command of eastern Maryland and
Virginia and at Fortress Monroe
was given the custody of Jefferson
Davis, after the plot which resulted
in the assassination of Lincoln. Sew
eral unpleasant duties resulted from
this task, which brought sharp criti-
cism at the time from southern
statesmen who charged him with
having used unduly harsh measures
to safeguard the prisoner, among
which was the shackelin: Of Mr..
Davis.
Jefferson Davis was not held and
arrested for being President Of the
Confederate States, General Miles
said in defending himself, but was
captured for his part in the great
plot which aimed at the deaths of
Lincoln, Seward, Grant and many
other government leaders. A reward
of 100000 was posted by President
Johnson for Davis capture, and |
was ordered to use every precaution
in imprisoning him. He was later
raleased under a similar bond and
died of old age twenty two years af-
ter"
At the age of 26 Miles was mus
tered out of the Volunteers, when
the war ceased. and was recommis-
stoned Colonel in the regular es-
Enlistment. After commanding the
department of Maryland and Virgin
ia. he was detailed to command the
department of North Carolina. and
here showed his great ability in the
tasks Of peace-time reconstruction,
far more difficult than those of war.
His Indian service began in 1870
He then embarked on campaigns
which were to bring to a close the
Indian wars which had lasted
through all the history Of the coun-
try. He won the thanks of the leg
islatures of four western states, and
the ranks, in succession. of Brigadier
and Major General in the regular
army.
The name of Miles is woven into
the romance of the west.
He met, fought and defeated the
Cheyennes, Comanches and Kiowas
in the southwest. He chastised and
subjugated the Sioux in the north
west, driving Sitting Bull out of his
country. He made a forced march
Of 100 miles in the winter of 1877,
when the temperature at times drop
ped to 40 degrees below zero, and
captured Chief Joseph and his Nez
Perces who had long caused the gov
eminent trouble.
Crazy Horse. Lame Deer. Spotted