Nelson Appleton Miles

Nelson Appleton Miles 1839-1925, American army officer, b. near Westminster, Mass. In 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil War, he left his job in a Boston store and organized a company of volunteers. He served throughout the war, distinguishing himself at Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and in other important battles, and was made brigadier general (1864) and major general (1865) of volunteers. Remaining in the army as a colonel, he led many campaigns against the Native Americans of the West. He helped subjugate the Sioux in Montana and in 1877 destroyed the village of Chief Crazy Horse . In the same year he defeated and captured Chief Joseph of the Nez Percé. In 1886, as commander of the Dept. of Arizona, he accepted the surrender of the Apache under Geronimo, and in 1890-91, in Dakota, he suppressed another Sioux outbreak. He commanded (1894) the troops that were called out during the Pullman strike . In 1895 he became commanding general of the army, rising to the rank of lieutenant general in 1901. During the Spanish-American War (1898), he led the troops that occupied Puerto Rico. He visited the Philippines in 1902, made an official inspection, and reported on the mistreatment of insurgents by Americans. In 1903 he was retired, largely because of his critical report. He wrote Personal Recollections and Observations (1896, repr. 1969), Military Europe (1898), and Serving the Republic (1911).

Bibliography: See biography by V. W. Johnson (1962); study by N. F. Tolman (1968).

Miles, Nelson Appleton (1839–1925) army officer, born in Westminster, Massachusetts. Miles was one of the most aggressive and effective fighters in the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War and was later recognized as one of the most effective fighters in the West against Indians. Appleton received the Medal of Honor (1892) for his actions at Chancellorsville (1863), where he was severely wounded. He first gained fame for his Indian fighting during the Red River War (1874–75), while stationed in Kansas. Transferred to Montana, he drove many tribes into Canada (1876) and won a victory against Crazy Horse (1877). His 1877 campaigns against the Nez Percé cut off their flight into Canada and forced the surrender of Chief Joseph. While he was in charge of the Department of Arizona, Miles's campaign against the Apaches led Geronimo to surrender to him (1886). While in command of the Division of the Missouri, he directed the Ghost Dance campaign, which led to the slaughter at Wounded Knee (1890). Although Miles was at the time the commanding general (1895–1903), President William McKinley in effect directed the Spanish-American War (1898). Miles did, however, lead the successful strike against Puerto Rico.