What do you think?
Rate this book
Serving the Republic: General Nelson A. Miles
One of the most remarkable military careers in American history, the life of Nelson A. Miles encompasses the sweep of the American Civil War, the Indian Wars, and the Spanish American War.
As a college-educated volunteer officer in the Civil War, Miles fought at Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Spotsylvania Courthouse, and the Wilderness, among other important campaigns, and was wounded four times. A major-general at only 26, he was a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions at Chancellorsville.
As a commander in the Indian Wars, he had admiration and respect for many of the Indians he met, despite carrying out a ferocious war to subdue them. Under his command, the massacre at Wounded Knee occurred. Miles was not present, criticized the officer at the scene, and lobbied later for compensation to the survivors.
He had face-to-face negotiations with Sitting Bull shortly after Custer's defeat at the Little Bighorn, and later met with Geronimo (accepting his surrender), Chief Joseph, Natchez, and other leading Native Americans.
Miles eventually retired as Commander of the Army in 1903.
For less than you'd spend on gas going to the library, this long out-of-print volume is available as an affordable, well-formatted book for e-readers and smartphones.
Be sure to LOOK INSIDE by clicking the cover above or download a sample.
This edition is Abridged, Annotated.
As a college-educated volunteer officer in the Civil War, Miles fought at Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Spotsylvania Courthouse, and the Wilderness, among other important campaigns, and was wounded four times. A major-general at only 26, he was a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions at Chancellorsville.
As a commander in the Indian Wars, he had admiration and respect for many of the Indians he met, despite carrying out a ferocious war to subdue them. Under his command, the massacre at Wounded Knee occurred. Miles was not present, criticized the officer at the scene, and lobbied later for compensation to the survivors.
He had face-to-face negotiations with Sitting Bull shortly after Custer's defeat at the Little Bighorn, and later met with Geronimo (accepting his surrender), Chief Joseph, Natchez, and other leading Native Americans.
Miles eventually retired as Commander of the Army in 1903.
For less than you'd spend on gas going to the library, this long out-of-print volume is available as an affordable, well-formatted book for e-readers and smartphones.
Be sure to LOOK INSIDE by clicking the cover above or download a sample.
This edition is Abridged, Annotated.
- GenresCivil War
246 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2006
7 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Nelson A. Miles
39 books4 followersNelson 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 11, 2022
I wrote a paper about Nelson A. Miles for one of my graduate classes. I depended heavily on this book for my work, though found plenty of obscurity and bias in such a work. I'd recommend this to anyone studying the American West, though caution them that General Miles was nicknamed "the Brave Peacock" by Theodore Roosevelt for a reason: he was a self promoter. My analysis of his work appears to be one filled with moments of advocacy, not typically found in such histories. I really enjoyed it.
November 26, 2022
I have skimmed this and plan to give it a full read along with all my other Nelson Miles books.
I have skimmed this and plan to give it a full read along with all my other Nelson Miles books.
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 relatHollywood.
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.
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.
I have skimmed this and plan to give it a full read along with all my other Nelson Miles books.
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 relatHollywood.
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.
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.
September 8, 2022
Found this e-book on Barnes & Noble instead:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/serv...
(The Amazon link went to a blank page with a picture of a dog.)
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/serv...
(The Amazon link went to a blank page with a picture of a dog.)
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews