Indian Wars Nelson A. Miles

mary hoyt sherman

in july 1866, miles appointed colonel in regular army. in march 1869, became commander of 5th u.s. infantry regiment. on june 30, 1868, married mary hoyt sherman (daughter of charles taylor sherman, niece of william t. sherman , john sherman, , granddaughter of charles r. sherman).

miles played leading role in of u.s. army s campaigns against american indian tribes of great plains. in 1874–1875, field commander in force defeated kiowa, comanche, , southern cheyenne along red river. between 1876 , 1877, participated in campaign scoured northern plains after lt. col. george armstrong custer s defeat @ battle of little big horn, , forced lakota , allies onto reservations. in winter of 1877, drove troops on forced march across eastern montana intercept nez perce band led chief joseph @ conclusion of nez perce war. rest of career, miles quarrel general oliver o. howard on credit joseph s capture.

while on yellowstone, developed expertise heliograph sending communications signals, establishing 140-mile-long (230 km) line of heliographs connecting fort keogh , fort custer, montana, in 1878. heliographs supplied brig. gen. albert j. myer of signal corps.

miles portrait @ united states army center of military history

in december 1880, miles promoted brigadier general in regular army. assigned command department of columbia (1881–85) , department of missouri (1885–86). in 1886, miles replaced general george crook commander of forces fighting against geronimo, chiricahua apache leader, in department of arizona. crook had relied heavily on apache scouts in efforts capture geronimo. instead, miles relied on white troops, traveled 3,000 miles (4,800 km) without success tracked geronimo through tortuous sierra madre mountains. finally, first lieutenant charles b. gatewood, had studied apache ways, succeeded in negotiating surrender, under terms of geronimo , followers agreed spend 2 years on florida reservation. geronimo agreed on these terms, being unaware of real plot behind negotiations (that there no intent let them go native lands). exile included chiricahuas had worked army, in violation of miles agreement them. miles denied gatewood credit negotiations , had him transferred dakota territory. during campaign, miles s special signals unit used heliograph extensively, proving worth in field. special signals unit under command of captain w.a. glassford. in 1888, miles became commander of military division of pacific , department of california.

in april 1890, miles promoted major general in regular army , became commander of military division of missouri. same year, last major resistance of sioux on lakota reservations, known ghost dance, brought miles field. efforts subdue sioux led sitting bull s death , massacre of 300 sioux. included women , children @ wounded knee on december 29, 1890. miles not directly involved @ wounded knee , critical of commanding officer. 2 days after event, miles wrote wife, describing wounded knee abominable criminal military blunder , horrible massacre of women , children . after retirement army, fought compensation payments survivors of massacre. overall, believed united states should have authority on indians, lakota under military control.