At left, photograph of Nelson Miles during the Civil War period. Picture courtesy of http://www.geocities.com/22mass/index.html.
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The Civil War was the
event in Nelson A. Miles’ life that shaped the rest of his life. When
the call for men first came, Miles borrowed money and raised his own
company, only to be denied the Captain’s commission by the Governor.
Later, the Governor again denied Miles a promotion, so Miles resigned
his Massachusetts commission and accepted a commission in a New York
regiment under Francis Barlow. Miles’ first enemy was created and his
path was set for the rest of his career – he had begun a trend of
enemies, disappointments, missed opportunities, backstabbing and
controversy, but also a trend of glory which would continue though out
his years in the army. However, the Civil War also created a military
leader out of an ordinary small-town civilian. Through the Civil War,
Miles was set to become great, but with a price.
At left, photograph of Nelson Miles during the Civil War period. Picture courtesy of http://www.geocities.com/22mass/index.html. |
Recruiting Company E
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When the call for regiments was made, Nelson Miles was working as a clerk in Roxbury, Massachusetts (Johnson 6). Historians say that the only reason he wasn’t in the army was that he was waiting for the availability of officer’s commissions. With the passing of the Army Bill in July, 1861, commissions were being given to volunteers rather than just the veterans of former wars as the need for soldiers increased (Demontravel 5). Senator Henry Wilson, who was raising the 22nd Massachusetts regiment, asked men to raise companies in their towns. Hoping to get a commission, Miles used all the money that he had, along with more borrowed from a wealthy family member, and he set out on September 3, 1861 to create a company of men for the 22nd regiment. By September 7, he had succeeded (Amchan 5 and Demontravel 5). Generally, men like Miles who raised companies of men were elected Captain of the company, and the governor would respect their choice – Miles expected to be no different (Johnson 6). Image at right, PR number (PR-055-3-11) from the Collection of the New-York Historical Society.
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John
Andrew was the governor of
Massachusetts
at the time of the Civil War. He was said to be very outspoken, sometimes cross
and very sensitive to personal attack. He was often called the “war governor”
of Massachusetts due to his obvious understanding of the danger the country was
in (www.wvu.edu).
In choosing officers, he had no prejudice; he seemed to think that the more
criticized the person was, the better choice they were, and would only deny a
commission to people who were absolutely pro-slavery. (Higganson 5-7). However,
on the day before the regiment was to be sent off, Miles was informed that his
Captain’s commission was to be taken and he would be given a first Lieutenant’s
commission. Miles says in his
autobiography, “political influence was used at the
State Capitol to have another man commissioned in my place . . . .” Andrew gave
the excuse that Miles was too young at 21 to be a Captain and the commission was
given to 26-year-old William Cogswell, a supposed friend of the governor’s.
Miles, very untactful in answering, pestered the governor, and through his
words, he accused the governor of outright political peddling. However, as he
says, “I had enlisted to serve my country and not for a war with the Governor of
my State (Serving the Republic 26).” However, he also says, “I certainly
regarded the position he had taken as unwarranted and extreme (Personal
Recollections 30).” There were obviously some remaining hard feelings. He
returned the commission and continued to Washington as a first lieutenant
(Johnson 7).
Photo of Governor John Andrews. above, used courtesy of the Swampscott Historical Commission.
Accepting and Heading off to War
Miles was unhappy with his position, but he continued to fight. He became a very good soldier and accumulated the praise of many of his superiors. He stayed for only a few weeks in the 22nd regiment, and was soon put on the staff of O. O. Howard as an aide-de-camp. An aide-de-camp is a soldier who acts as a secretary or assistant to an officer of higher rank. Miles spent a few months with Howard in the end of 1861 and beginning of 1862 (Serving the Republic 28). Then came the battle of Fair Oaks – Miles’ first real command situation. Riding behind the lines with Howard, Miles met with the 81st Pennsylvania regiment, which was in complete disarray due to the death of its colonel. “General Howard directed me to rally the regiment and hold the enemy until he could bring the rest of his command into action,” Miles says (Serving the Republic 33). Howard reports:
“I learned that Colonel Miller, 81st Pennsylvania Vols. was killed . . . and that the left and right wings of that regiment hand become separated and that one wing was without a field officer. I directed Lieutenant Miles, my Aide-de-Camp, to collect the companies of that wing . . . Lieutenant Miles, Aide-de-Camp, as before remarked, commanded the left wing of the eighty-first Pennsylvania in a manner to my entire satisfaction and approval . . . (Pohanka 31).”
Colonel Francis Barlow of the 61st New York regiment began to gain respect for the young aide-de-camp. Miles, by rallying and preventing the retreat of the 81st regiment, was able to protect the 61st New York also (Amchan 9). At Glendale, Virginia, Miles also provided Barlow with reinforcements and artillery. Barlow was very impressed with Miles’ actions (Demontravel 9). During the Seven Day’s battles, Miles climbed a tree to get a view of the enemy. The soldier who was originally been sent up had been shot down with a cannon. In this manner, Miles gained the support and respect of his superior officers (Amchan 9).
Above left, statue of Barlow at the battlefield in Gettysburg. Photography by Lauren Meitzler.
The Union Army’s Plight
1861 and 1862 had been rough years for the Union Army. The Union Army was formed officially in April 1861. Because the Union Army had started as the United States Army, they lost many of their most skilled and trained officers to the Confederate Army. When the war started men signed up for three months. By the end of 1861, many short commissions, which had been given out with the assumption that it would be a quick war, had expired or would soon. In 1861 alone, the Union Army went through two commanders: Winfield Scott and George McClellan. Scott was getting old and simply couldn’t perform his responsibilities, but McClellan seemed to be an able commander. However, over time he proved to be too over cautious. He led the Union Army on the Peninsula Campaign – a very roundabout attempt to attack Richmond. Eventually giving up the attack and waiting for reinforcements, McClellan lost his strategic position, and caused many causalities on the Union side (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peninsula_Campaign, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Army). This prompted Lincoln to do something to re-supply his army – tired and low in morale (Sewell 87).
On July 1st, 1862, a plea for 300,000 more troops was sent from the White House (www.80thindiana.net). Because these new men would be organized into new regiments, new officers would be needed. Many of Miles’ friends wrote the governor and suggested Miles for a promotion in one of the regiments. John Andrew, still governor, asked General E.V. Sumner to suggest men for these positions. Miles was put at the top of the list, but Andrew, perhaps remembering Miles’ strong words and accusations after his prior assignment, chose to ignore the suggestion. However, there was motion in the ranks of the 61st New York regiment (Serving the Republic 39-40 and Amchan 10).
Colonel Barlow Works Magic in New York
Colonel Francis Barlow wrote to Governor Morgan of New York suggesting Nelson Miles for the replacement of his dead lieutenant-colonel. And although it was rare for a governor to choose a man from out of state for a commission, Morgan was convinced. He offered Nelson Miles the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the 61st New York regiment (Amchan 10).
To read an alternate version of this story, click here.
Calling it “a most valuable promotion,” Miles accepted (Serving the Republic 40). This was better than his original desire to be a captain, and Miles had always sought a promotion (Tolman 22). This was his chance. He was able to become a Lieutenant- Colonel at 26 – the same age as Cogswell when he “stole” Miles’ captain’s commission (Emanuel). Admitting that he would rather be commanding and fighting, Miles gave up his staff position, and resigned his commission as 1st Lieutenant of Company E of the Massachusetts 22nd volunteer regiment on February 25, 1863 (Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors . . . Vol. 2 679 and Serving the Republic 40). This would be a great step towards the rest of Miles’ career – a career that could have been lost if this hadn’t happened. In the New York 61st, Miles followed Barlow up the ranks, until he was able to split ways and keep going up. He would make it to the rank of brevet Major-General before the war’s end.
Conclusion
If John Andrew had not taken away Miles’ captain commission we may have seen a very different Nelson A. Miles. It would be a good guess to say that he wouldn’t have had as much trouble when it came to getting promotions – as it is likely that he would not have carried a reputation of arguing with his superiors. Many of the controversies that Miles would later be involved in had to do with his obsession with promotion. Miles is accused of stealing credit and the position of General George Crook, with whom Miles would battle for future appointments, and battles with Shafter over Major General appointment. Basically, Miles became obsessed during his Civil War years with promotion, and that set the tone for the rest of his career.
For a list of works cited, please click here.
Created by Lauren Meitzler, Grade 11 student at Oakmont Regional High School as part of the Miles Project. To return to the main page on Miles' Civil War years, click here. Last updated in December of 2005.