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Serving the Republic: Memoirs of the Civil and Military Life of Nelson A. Miles
"Full of exciting episodes." -The American Review, 1911
"Entitled to a place beside such military memoirs as Grant's, Sherman's, Sheridan's and Howard's." - The Dial, 1912
"Worthy of note most particularly because it acquaints us intimately with the Indian outbreaks." - The Outlook, 1911
As detailed by General Nelson A. Miles in his 1911 book "Serving the Republic," his career as a soldier, covering fifty years, was certainly full of exciting episodes. As a young volunteer he took part in many of the battles of the Civil War and was four times wounded. Entering the regular military establishment at the close of the war, he rose to important commands in the Indian campaigns on the Western plains, and in the entire halfcentury of his military experience he was a shrewd observer of the conditions and limitations under which the American army was maintained.
Miles played a leading role in nearly all of the U.S. Army's campaigns against the American Indian tribes of the Great Plains. In 1874–1875, he was a field commander in the force that defeated the Kiowa, Comanche, and the Southern Cheyenne along the Red River. Between 1876 and 1877, he participated in the campaign that scoured the Northern Plains after Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer's defeat at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, and forced the Lakota and their allies onto reservations. In the winter of 1877, he drove his troops on a forced march across eastern Montana to intercept the Nez Perce band led by Chief Joseph at the conclusion of the Nez Perce War.
Campaigns and battles participated in by him are described with soldierly directness and brevity, but not without those occasional turns of expression necessary to impart vividness and picturesqueness to the narrative.
The author's campaigns against the Indians of the Northwest fill several chapters of his book. From the account of operations leading up to the capture of the redoubtable Chief Joseph, of the Nez Perce's, we quote a stirring passage:
"We were early on the march, September 30th, and soon one of our Indians came dashing back, reporting the discovery of the Indian camp. Without a halt our troops formed line of battle, each trooper secured his cartridge belt, and, with carbine or rifle in hand, galloped forward prepared for action. A more spirited, resolute body of men I have never seen go into battle. Every nerve and fiber seemed to be animated, and every eye sparkled with fire. The transformation of our Indian allies was spectacular and almost instantaneous. The old horses and mules they were riding were rushed into a ravine; their old hats, clothing, and useless paraphernalia were cached; their strong, fresh war ponies, with a rawhide lariat around the necks and under jaws, but without saddles or bridles, were quickly mounted. In full war paint, with gorgeously feathered and beaded war bonnets, buckskin girdles about the loins, moccasins, and rifles and cartridge belts, the warriors were fully equipped for the fray, as gamy a looking body of savages as could be imagined."
About the author:
Nelson Appleton Miles (1839 –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.
"Entitled to a place beside such military memoirs as Grant's, Sherman's, Sheridan's and Howard's." - The Dial, 1912
"Worthy of note most particularly because it acquaints us intimately with the Indian outbreaks." - The Outlook, 1911
As detailed by General Nelson A. Miles in his 1911 book "Serving the Republic," his career as a soldier, covering fifty years, was certainly full of exciting episodes. As a young volunteer he took part in many of the battles of the Civil War and was four times wounded. Entering the regular military establishment at the close of the war, he rose to important commands in the Indian campaigns on the Western plains, and in the entire halfcentury of his military experience he was a shrewd observer of the conditions and limitations under which the American army was maintained.
Miles played a leading role in nearly all of the U.S. Army's campaigns against the American Indian tribes of the Great Plains. In 1874–1875, he was a field commander in the force that defeated the Kiowa, Comanche, and the Southern Cheyenne along the Red River. Between 1876 and 1877, he participated in the campaign that scoured the Northern Plains after Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer's defeat at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, and forced the Lakota and their allies onto reservations. In the winter of 1877, he drove his troops on a forced march across eastern Montana to intercept the Nez Perce band led by Chief Joseph at the conclusion of the Nez Perce War.
Campaigns and battles participated in by him are described with soldierly directness and brevity, but not without those occasional turns of expression necessary to impart vividness and picturesqueness to the narrative.
The author's campaigns against the Indians of the Northwest fill several chapters of his book. From the account of operations leading up to the capture of the redoubtable Chief Joseph, of the Nez Perce's, we quote a stirring passage:
"We were early on the march, September 30th, and soon one of our Indians came dashing back, reporting the discovery of the Indian camp. Without a halt our troops formed line of battle, each trooper secured his cartridge belt, and, with carbine or rifle in hand, galloped forward prepared for action. A more spirited, resolute body of men I have never seen go into battle. Every nerve and fiber seemed to be animated, and every eye sparkled with fire. The transformation of our Indian allies was spectacular and almost instantaneous. The old horses and mules they were riding were rushed into a ravine; their old hats, clothing, and useless paraphernalia were cached; their strong, fresh war ponies, with a rawhide lariat around the necks and under jaws, but without saddles or bridles, were quickly mounted. In full war paint, with gorgeously feathered and beaded war bonnets, buckskin girdles about the loins, moccasins, and rifles and cartridge belts, the warriors were fully equipped for the fray, as gamy a looking body of savages as could be imagined."
About the author:
Nelson Appleton Miles (1839 –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.
- GenresCivil War
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2006
8 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Nelson A. Miles
40 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.
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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