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Serving the Republic : Memoirs of the Civil and Military Life of Nelson A

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Serving the Republic : Memoirs of the Civil and Military Life of Nelson A "^f^ Ave ^l*4ii^ f>HAS-E''AURIATCoi lMPORTeRSS(800t(S6uLEBS bsSWash'n St.Boston] Digitized by the Internet Arcliive in 2010 witli funding from The Institute of Museum and Library Services through an Indiana State Library LSTA Grant http://www.archive.org/details/servingrepublicmOOmile SERVING THE REPUBLIC MEMOIRS OF THE CIVIL AND MILITARY LIFE OF Nelson A. Miles LIEUTENANT-GENERAL. UNITED STATES ARMY ILLUSTRATED HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS NEW YORK AND LONDON M C M X I COPYRIGHT. 1911. BY HARPER A BROTHERS PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PUBLISHED OCTOBER I9I1 1 CONTENTS CRAP. PAGE Introduction vii I. Mid-Century Massachusetts i II. From Home to the Battle-field 20 III. The Campaigns in the East 47 IV. Closing Scenes of the War 76 V. The Aftermath of War 95 VI. In the Indian Country 107 VII. Fighting on the Plains ........ 122 VIII. Campaigning Against the Sioux 137 IX. The Capture of Chief Joseph 169 X. Indian Life and Problems 182 XI. From Alaska to Arizona 209 XII. The Last Indian War 233 XIII. Commanding Middle Division 248 XIV. Commanding the Army 259 XV. The War with Spain 268 XVI. Campaigning in Cuba 285 XVII. The Capture of Porto Rico 296 XVIII. The Close of Active Service 306 Appendix A 315 Appendix B 328 Index 33 ILLUSTRATIONS LIEUTENANT-GENERAL NELSON A. MILES Frontispitce PARENTS AND BIRTHPLACE OF GENERAL NELSON A. MILES Facing p. 8 LIEUTENANT NELSON A. MILES, 22D MASSACHUSETTS " VOLS., 1861 26 MAJOR-GENERAL NELSON A. MILES, COMMANDING 1ST DIVISION, SECOND ARMY CORPS, U. S. VOLS., 1864- " 1865 26 NELSON A. MILES, COLONEL U. S. INFANTRY, BRIGA- DIER-GENERAL U. S. ARMY, 1866-1879 .... " 26 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL NELSON A. MILES, COMMAND- ING U. S. ARMY, 1895-1903 " 26 BATTLE OF MALVERN HILL, VIRGINIA, 1862 .... " 56 CAPTURE OF FIELD WORKS, SPOTTSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA, " 1864 66 " ABRAHAM LINCOLN 96 " MRS. NELSON A. MILES 108 " CAVALRY CHARGE 124 " SITTING BULL, SIOUX INDIAN CHIEF 148 " CHIEF JOSEPH, OF THE NEZ PERCES INDIANS ... 148 " WINTER CAMPAIGNING 156 GERONIMO, CHIEF OP THE APACHES " 228 THE MEETING OF THE GENERALS TO ARRANGE THE SUR- RENDER OF SANTIAGO " 286 SPANIARDS SURPRISED AND CAPTURED BY COLONEL " HULING'S REGIMENT NEAR COAMO 302 CUBAN, PORTO RICAN, AND PHILIPINO PATRIOTS .. " 306 MAP OF WESTERN UNITED STATES SHOWING MILITARY POSTS AND ENGAGEMENTS SPOKEN OF IN THE TEXT " 330 INTRODUCTION IN writing these memoirs I have a threefold object. My hope is to interest the reader in certain sub- jects which should rest near the hearts of all patriotic citizens, since they are topics dealing to some extent with the history, conditions, and welfare of our coun- try; also, in doing this, to add a leaf to the crowns of those noble men who, as my self-sacrificing com- panions in arms, labored heroically in her service; and, finally, to be able to set forth some information that may attract and prove of value to the future student and historian. I trust these chapters may awaken their readers to a broader interest in the establishment and development of our government, and to a justifiable pride in our country, its influence and its glory. The recording of one's personal opinion, judg- ment, and observation of historical events appeals to me as a sacred duty, since out of such narratives the facts of history are culled. I think grave error may result, and often arises, from the inclusion of inac- curate reports and sensational statements, and I be- lieve that literary indifference or recklessness should be avoided at all times. To this end I shall devote my earnest efforts in order that what I have to say may at least be authentic. vii INTRODUCTION That part of our country's past history which treats of the expansion of our civiHzation in the terri- tory west of the Mississippi, and the causes thereof, will come in for notice in the course of my narrative, as will also the more salient features of our present conditions, the possible trend of our country's future, and the responsibilities and possibilities which lie before us. I hope that what I have to say may pro- mote confidence in the young men of to-day and in- spire them with patriotism, since, of necessity, the destiny of our great Republic depends chiefly upon them and those who shall follow them. SERVING THE REPUBLIC — SERVING THE REPUBLIC I MID-CENTURY MASSACHUSETTS was my good fortune to have been born and IT reared in one of the old New England States Massachusetts—and in the goodly town of West- minster, a community typical of a civilization which for more than three hundred years adhered to the traditions and principles of the Pilgrim Fathers—in brief, a New England civilization. A climate that led to mental and bodily development, a physical setting richly endowed by Nature, and a community actuated and controlled by the highest motives of public in- tegrity, are some of the charms and advantages of my birthplace, whose merits certainly have not been sur- passed by other localities. I find it in my heart to wish that every district, home, and hamlet in our country enjoyed equal blessings. It was in part because of their experience, their environments, and the primitive condition of their rugged country that the heart, body, and mind of the early settlers of New England were so strong and resolute. They had courage, physical, mental, and moral, as emergency demanded, and, thus equipped. SERVING THE REPUBLIC they were qualified for the hardy Hfe to which they had given themselves, to the crossing of unknown seas, to the transforming of a wilderness into peaceful com- munities and happy homes. Under such desperate and exposed conditions the sturdy manhood of the colonists was ripened and matured. Physical as well as intellectual strength was needed to lead them victoriously in the two hundred years of hardships and warfare. Life and vigor are inherent in the very atmosphere of New England. The four contrasting seasons call forth an answering alertness in the inhabitants of that section. A spring whose beauty is famed is followed by a joyous summer, which in turn gives way to the wonderful New England autumn, and the year is rounded out with a sharp, dry, invigorating winter. Of all New England, I think Massachusetts is espe- cially favored as regards the nature of its people and its climate. The civilization of this Republic owes much to the sturdy settlers of that colony. Their admirable qualities have been reflected not only in the history of the colonies at large, but also in the record of that larger commonwealth which succeeded them—a record of progress marked with events of importance to the human race considered in connec- tion with the mental uplift and enlightening develop- ment of civilization. It was a high purpose and laudable ambition which embarked the Pilgrim Fathers upon what was in their day a perilous and arduous voyage. No gain of spoil beckoned them onward; no hope of avarice, that modern recompense for the pillaging of new lands, MID-CENTURY MASSACHUSETTS lured them on. They were seeking a home, a home in which they could enjoy political and personal liberty dear to their hearts, free from the oppression of a tyrannical power. Like a seed blown across the seas from the sterile fields of the old world to the fertile, virgin soil of the new, the little colony germi- nated and grew until it was firmly rooted and finally burst forth into blossom, bearing fruit in such abun- dance that this in turn furnished seed for many an- other planting. Thus the Massachusetts Common- wealth blazed the way and broke ground for others to follow, and when the tide of American advance flowed toward the West, New England customs and New England ideas were borne along to be deposited for all time on the farthest shore reached by the advancing civilization. In the contest which the colonists, under that redoubtable leader, Miles Stand- ish, had to maintain with the Indians whose hostilities dated back to near the first landing, Massachusetts was ever contributing men and money to the cause. The struggle for our national independent existence found this colony ready to furnish daring, resolute, experienced men in goodly numbers, and, when the "shot heard 'round the world" was fired, Massachu- setts became the first field of action in that great struggle for American independence. New England to-day presents the appearance of a country largely denuded of its native forests and covered with towns and cities which are supported chiefly by the manufacturing industries. I well re- member when it was quite different. Then the farmer was more independent of the towns and cities, 3 SERVING THE REPUBLIC and his farm establishment more completely equipped and well stocked. A good farm at that time pro- duced nearly all that was required by an ordinary family, and subsistence was easily obtainable. The forest and wild fields provided what the farm itself did not produce. No more ideal setting for innocent and happy childhood could be found than my home, the recol- lection of which I naturally cherish, and my happiest memories are of that period of my life and the pleas- ures, influences, and associations that it held. Those influences and associations w^ere well calculated to bring out that mental and physical growth which count for so much in meeting the responsibilities of later life, and in the full accomplishment of a man's whole duty. I attained the usual accomplishments of the country boy during my childhood. I cannot remember when I w^as not at home on the back of a horse.
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