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Civil War Soldiers - Miles
| Miles, Nelson A., major-general, U.S.
Army, was born at Westminster, Mass., Aug. 8, 1839, was reared on a
farm, received an academic education, and in early manhood engaged in
mercantile pursuits in Boston. Inheriting the spirit of patriotism, he
devoted all the means he possessed, early in 1861, to raising a
company of volunteers, and offered his services to his country. He was
given the commission of a captain, but, being considered too young for
the responsibilities of that command, he joined the Army of the
Potomac as first lieutenant in the 22nd Mass. volunteers. In 1862 he
was commissioned by Gov. Morgan of New York, as lieutenant-colonel and
colonel of the 61st N. Y. volunteers, and at the earnest request of
Gens. Meade and Grant he was made a brigadier-general of volunteers by
President Lincoln. He was engaged in all the battles of the Army of
the Potomac except one — which his wounds unfitted him to enter —
until the close of the war. He was wounded at the battles of Fair
Oaks, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, and received four brevets
for gallant and distinguished service. At the close of the war he
commanded the district of North Carolina during the work of
reconstruction, and on the reorganization of the army he was appointed
colonel of infantry. He was made a brigadier-general, U. S. A., in
1880, and a major-general in 1890. He successfully conducted Indian
campaigns against the Kiowas, Comanches and Cheyennes in the Indian
territory and the Southwest ; the Sioux, Cheyennes, Nez Perces and
Bannocks in the Northwest ; the Apaches in Arizona and New Mexico, and
the Sioux in South Dakota. He received a vote of thanks from the
states of Montana and Kansas and the territories of Arizona and New
Mexico for his services, and on several occasions prevented Indian
wars by judicious and humane settlement of difficulties without the
use of military power. He commanded at different times the departments
of the Columbia, Missouri and Arizona, and the military divisions of
the Pacific and the Missouri ; was given the rank of
lieutenant-general on June 6, 1900, and he was retired, Aug. 8, 1903.
Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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