Personal recollections and observations of … embracing a brief view of the Civil War or from New England to the Golden Gate and the story of his Indian campaigns with comments on the exploration, development and progress of our great Western Empire.

by Nelson A. Miles

First printing of 1896 - NOT a reprint or print-on-demand copy; first state with "General" instead of "Major General" on the frontispiece. Ornate brown cloth binding with gilt, silver, and black decoration and gilt lettering. Profusely illustrated by Frederic Remington.

590 pages, Hardcover

First published May 26, 2006

About the author

Nelson Appleton Miles (August 8, 1839 – May 15, 1925) was an American military general who served in the American Civil War, the American Indian Wars, and the Spanish–American War. From 1895 to 1903, he served as the last Commanding General of the United States Army before the office was abolished.

Reviews

[Davy Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just read his Arlington National Cemetary bio if you want a concise summary of what all he did ... which borders on the miraculous. Forrest Gump-like almost, but not hollywood. I ran out of time and couldn't find his crypt a few years ago. I did see Abner Doubledays grave though. His men called Doubleday ol 48 Hours.

My Moms maiden name was Miles and her paternal grandmother told me once when I was maybe 12-15 years old that we were related.
I blew it off unfortunately, sure wish I could ask questions now. I even read Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee when I was in my 30's and didn't realize Bear Coat Miles may have been somewhat related.

My ancestor was Thomas Miles who fought in the Revolution but he was denied a pension later in life in Eastern Indiana where I was born and raised.
He was supposedly from the same part of Massachusetts as Nelson and I suspect he was an uncle. His grave does say Continental Army Massachusetts and he is in the Miles Cemetary that was on the large family farm that was in the family until lost in the Great Depression. When I got in SAR down here in Texas I got in thru another guy from that same town because it was easier to do. That guy John Saxon was from the lower Hudson Valley and died in that town at age 100, during the Civil War. I had little to no idea who he was prior.

Since Thomas Miles war record was probably sketchy I think the ambitious Nelson sort of sanitized him out of his bio. Nelson even ran for Prez as a Democrat (same as my entire Miles clan) but wasn't even close. I went to the Historical Society in Westminster MA and found there were two different families of Miles there and they helped me to trace my Ancestor in Rev War records but he doesn't show up. Maybe he lied, maybe he was written out. N A Miles was the last Commanding General of the USA so I suspect that he had this power.

Of course he married Tecumseh Sherman's niece (also Ohio Senator Sherman's niece). Nelson wasn't West Point so that hindered him a little at times.

Please reply if you can help my search.
I am working too many hours to research much. At age 67 no less.