Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1925-05-15
AGED SOLDIER
OF U. S. DROPS
DEAD CIRCUS
Fighter Was One of Few
Men to Reach High
Rank Without West
Point Training
(By The Associated Press.)


WASHINGTON. ID. c., May 15.-Gen-
eral Nelson A. Miles, famous American
soldier dropped dead here today Death
occurred while General Miles was at
tending a circus performance.
The general had apparently been in
the best of health. Mrs Coolidge was
attending the performance.
General Miles was Sc years old but
despite his advanced age, he had taken
his usual interest in public affairs un-
til today. When he started for the cir
Gus performance there was no hint Of
an impending illness.
The old Indian fighter was sitting on
the third row of the circus stands when
he tainted.
Lieutenant General Nelson A. Miles.
brilliant Indian fighter and one of the
most picturesque and distinguished
leaders in American military history,
was one of.-the hoy generals of the
Civil War. At the age of 25 he had
risen from the rank of first lieutenant
of volunteers to that of Major General
and was commanding an entire army
division Of $4,000 men.
General Miles, who at the peak of his
military career was commanding gem
eral of the army, was one of the few
high ranking officers of the regular es,
tablishment to attain his position with
out West Point training, and also en-.
joyed the distinction of being among
the still smaller group to be honored
with the rank of lieutenant general
General Miles was born at Westmin-
ster, Mass, April s, 1889, and received
am academic education there and in
Boston. In later years he was awarded
the honorary degree of LII. d. by Har
ward, Brown and Colgate.
When the Civil War broke out, many
civilian organized units with their own
funds, and later took command Of their
tOwnsmen in the army. When the Rox-
bury Guards were recruited, the en-
thusiastic citizens of that town prom
ised bounty of $50 for each man who
enlisted. The money was delayed,
however, and when the company was
completed and the funds still failed to
materialize, Miles took the only thous
and dollars he had in the world and b..
borrowing $2500 more, paid the men
their bonus. He was never reimbursed
by the forgetful town council.
At the age of &c Miles was mustered
out of the volunteers, when the war
ceased and was recommissioned colonel
in the regular establishment. After
commanding the department of Mary
land and Virginia. he was detailed to
command the department of North Caro-
lima, ond here showed his great ability
Al 1f
ton, 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 country. He won the
thanks of the legislatures Of foui
western states. and the ranks, in sue
cession, of brigadier and Major general
in the regular army.
The name of Miles is woven into the
-omance of the west.
He met, fought and defeated the
Cheyennes, Comanches and Kiowas, in
the southwest He chastised and sub
jugated the Sioux in the northwest.
driving Sitting Bull out of his country.
He made a forced march of 100 miles
| in the winter Of 1877, when the temp.
erature at times dropped to 40 degrees
below zero, and captured Chief Joseph
| and his NeZ Perces who had long caus,
| ed the government trouble.
Crazy Horse, Lame Deer, Spotted
| Eagle. Elk Horn, Broad Road, Natchez
and other Indian chiefs quailed before
his advances Geronimo and his bloody
| Apaches. when chased and cornered by
Miles, refused to capitulate unless they
could do so to Miles personally. He
conquered the last great Indian upris'
| ing. in 1890. during which Sitting Bull,
was shot. and the other rebellious In
dians meekly surrendered when they
! heard that it was the big Chief Bear
Coat" who was on their trail.
AT BATHING REVIEW