The Alaska daily empire., 1925-05-15
AMERICAS LAST
GREAT IN DIAN
FIGHTER IS DEAD
Aged General Suddenly Pass
es Away While Attending
a Circus at Capital.

WASHINGTON. May 15.-General
Nelson A. Miles. American Army
Officer, dropped dead this afternoon
while attending a circus. He had
been apparently in best of health.
Angina Pectoris caused the death
Of Gen. Miles, according to an Off
cial statement.
Lieutenant-General Nelson A. Miles
brilliant Indian fighter and one of
the most picturesque and distinguish
ed leaders in American military his
tory was one of the boy generals"
of the Civil War. At the age of
rs he had risen from the rank of
first lieutenant OF volunteers to that
of Major-General and was command
ing an entire army division OF $4,000
men.
General Miles, who at the peak
OF his military career was Command
ing General Of the army, was one
of the few high ranking officers OF
the regular establishment to attain
his position without West Point
training, and also enjoyed the dis
tinction of being among the still
smaller group to be honored with
the rank of Lieutenant.General
From Clerk to Army.
From clerical position in a Bos-
ton business house, he entered the
army at the age of %; participated
In more than 80 of the aeverest en-
gagements OF the Civil War; was
tour times at the point Of death from
wounds, and emerged from the great
struggle the posssssor of many en-
viable citations for bravery and dis
tnguished service. Continuing In
the army, he fought and pursued
Indians on the Great Plains for more
than 20 years; led the army OF Oc-
cupation in Porto Rica during the
Spanish American war. and although
long retired when the United States
entered the World War. he was ready
and eager to participate once again
in the service to which his life had
been devoted.
1t was the saddest disappointment
OF long and adventurous career
when, despite his best efforts. Gen.
eral Miles was not recalled to active
service in 1917 He had been retired
in 1903 upon reaching the age limit.
but when the United States entered
the European war, he asked to be
sent to Siberia with the American
troops. It was decided, however
that an exception could not be made
in his case, hence his last military
service was In 1915. when he pre-
sided over the Medal OF Honor
Board which reviewed the list OF
officers and men who had been hon
ored by the nation with the decora-
ton.
Military Training.
General Miles received his first
training at the hands OF q
former officer Of the French army
who eked out livelihood in Boston
by teaching q number OF young men
the tactics employed by the French
army. II was quite natural that
his ambitions should enter on the
army. for he sprang from long line
Of fighting colonists on the paternal
side. The family traced its ances-
try back to the Rev. John Myles.
fighting parson.' who, upon the out
break OF King Phillips War in 1875.
girded on his sword and led the
Colonists against the Indians. Capt.
Myles home was fortified by the
pioneers and from there he led many
subsequent forays against the red
men.
Daniel Milss and Joab Miles, great
grandfather and grandfather, respec-
lively of General Nelson A. Miles.
fought in the Revolutionary War
and were "in at the death" when