Evening star., 1925-05-23

The remarkable career of Gen. Mel
son A. Miles. veteran of two ma jor
wars and hero of Indian campaigns.
has been sketched for the present
generation by editors all over the
country since the generals death at
Washington recently in his S7th year.
NO more energetic and capable
volunteer officer than the late Gen.
Miles served on the Union side in the
Civil War" says the New York Times.
He belonged TO a family of soldiers.
His great grandfather and his grand
father both fought in the Revolution
'ary War. He had great physical
strength. and in his face there was
resolution which no one ever tam
pered with. Several times he was
wounded during the Civil War, most
severely at Charlottesville. where his
bravery earned him the medal of
honor. 1t would be difficult to match
his record of service. He was the
conqueror of Sitting Bull, Chief Joseph.
Geronimo and Natchez. He was a
survival from a historic period, but in
the sense of physical well being he
was never a relic of the past"
Referring to Gen. Miles "aStonish-
ing and unique success in the Civil
War the Baltimore Sun adds that
his campaigns against the Western
Indians were not less calculated to
appeal to the popular imagination, for
they were conducted with mastery en-
ergy and skill. He does not stand
beside the great generals in the Civil
War, but he deserves remembrance
for his rapid and thorough grasp of
military tactics, his brilliance in lead
ership, his courage in danger, his
coolness and alertness in emergencies
of major Importance
An incident which the South remem-
bers Is cited by the Chattanooga News,
which. however, pays tribute to Miles
as "one of Americas spectacularly
brilliant soldiers" The News refers
to the fact that the general had under
his command the prison in which
Jefferson Davis was temporarily con-
fined and subjected to the humiliation
of wearing irons.'' The paper contin-
ueS: But he was young man then.
His subsequent service in the Army
was of the most honorable and dis
tinguished character. He maintained
his interest in military matters and
affairs generally throughout the whole
of his long life" The Raleigh News
and Observer, mentioning the same
incident, remarks: 1T may have been
the one act that kept Gen. Miles from
going to the White House. 1t is the
one thing that mars his military rec
ord, and while he acted under orders,
they were not peremptory."
The scholarly qualities of Gen. Miles
are emphasized by the Tulsa Tribune.
He was unusual among soldiers" the
Tribune observes, because he always
kept his interest in academic things.
With all his soldering he possessed
the scholarly mind. His recreational
tastes were literary. He was a reader,
a student of the poets and the philoso-
piers" The Nashville Banner adds:
"All in all, his career was brilliant
and inspiring
The Boston Transcript recalls that
Like Dewey he listened a short time
to the promptings Of the politicians,
and would have run for President on
the Democratic ticket; but even great
soldiers, like Grant, who have attained
the presidency, have made their mis-
takes in civil life. Massachusetts, will
mourn Nelson A. Miles as one of her
best loved sons The Butte Daily
Post says, "he rendered enduring serv-
ice in directing movements which
brought the subdued Indians to peace
full vocations, and hastened the indus
trial development of the Rocky Noun
tain region
There was always conadence "a