ColorizedPast
Corporal
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2016
- Location
- Hangzhou, China (Wisconsin, USA)
Colonel Dixon Stansbury Miles (USA)
Miles was born 4 May 1804 in Maryland. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1824 and was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant in the 4th U.S. Infantry regiment, but was immediately transferred to the 7th U.S. Infantry, with which he served until 1847. He served on the western frontier earning promotion to captain 8 June 1836. He fought in the Seminole Wars in Florida from 1839 to 1842.
At the start of the Mexican-American War, he received a brevet promotion to major for his "gallant and distinguished conduct" in the defense of Fort Brown, Texas. He fought in the Battle of Monterrey and the Siege of Veracruz, which he then governed as military commandant for four months. He was appointed a brevet lieutenant colonel for "gallant and meritorious conduct in the several conflicts at Monterrey, Mexico."
In 1857, he fought against Indians along the Gila River, New Mexico, and against the Navajo in 1858. In 1859, he was promoted to colonel and commander of the 2nd U.S. Infantry, stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
When the Civil War started, Miles briefly commanded a brigade in the division of Maj. Gen. Robert Patterson before being transferred to the army of Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell commanding the fifth division of the Army of Northeastern Virginia. During the First Battle of Bull Run, his division was held in reserve, but he was accused by Brig. Gen. Israel B. Richardson of being drunk during the battle. A court of inquiry validated this accusation. After an eight-month leave of absence, he was reassigned to what should have been quieter posts. In March 1862, he commanded a brigade that defended the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and, in September 1862, he was given command of the U.S. arsenal at Harper's Ferry.
During the Maryland Campaign, Colonel Miles' garrison at Harper's Ferry stood directly on Lee's supply line through the Shenandoah Valley. He was ordered by General-in-chief Henry W. Halleck to hold the important arsenal and railroad bridges until relieved by Union forces under Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan. Lee sent columns converging from three directions to surround Harper's Ferry. Miles misplaced most of his 14,000 men just outside the town to the west on Bolivar Heights, and neglected to defend the commanding heights to the northeast (Maryland Heights) and to the south (Loudoun Heights).
When his token force on Maryland Heights was defeated, the town was surrounded and virtually indefensible. Maj. Gen. Stonewall Jackson began to bombard the town on 15 September 1862. Miles held a council of war and decided to surrender. Before the white flag could be raised, he was struck in the left leg by an exploding shell, mortally wounding him. Some of his men accused him of being drunk on duty again and were so disgusted by his inept defense that it was said to be difficult to find a man to carry him to the hospital. Miles died 16 September 1862.
Some historians have concluded that Miles was struck by deliberate friendly fire. The surrender of 12,419 men was the largest number of U.S. soldiers surrendered until the Battle of Bataan in World War II. The court of inquiry into the surrender denounced Miles for "incapacity, amounting to almost imbecility."
Miles was born 4 May 1804 in Maryland. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1824 and was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant in the 4th U.S. Infantry regiment, but was immediately transferred to the 7th U.S. Infantry, with which he served until 1847. He served on the western frontier earning promotion to captain 8 June 1836. He fought in the Seminole Wars in Florida from 1839 to 1842.
At the start of the Mexican-American War, he received a brevet promotion to major for his "gallant and distinguished conduct" in the defense of Fort Brown, Texas. He fought in the Battle of Monterrey and the Siege of Veracruz, which he then governed as military commandant for four months. He was appointed a brevet lieutenant colonel for "gallant and meritorious conduct in the several conflicts at Monterrey, Mexico."
In 1857, he fought against Indians along the Gila River, New Mexico, and against the Navajo in 1858. In 1859, he was promoted to colonel and commander of the 2nd U.S. Infantry, stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
When the Civil War started, Miles briefly commanded a brigade in the division of Maj. Gen. Robert Patterson before being transferred to the army of Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell commanding the fifth division of the Army of Northeastern Virginia. During the First Battle of Bull Run, his division was held in reserve, but he was accused by Brig. Gen. Israel B. Richardson of being drunk during the battle. A court of inquiry validated this accusation. After an eight-month leave of absence, he was reassigned to what should have been quieter posts. In March 1862, he commanded a brigade that defended the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and, in September 1862, he was given command of the U.S. arsenal at Harper's Ferry.
During the Maryland Campaign, Colonel Miles' garrison at Harper's Ferry stood directly on Lee's supply line through the Shenandoah Valley. He was ordered by General-in-chief Henry W. Halleck to hold the important arsenal and railroad bridges until relieved by Union forces under Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan. Lee sent columns converging from three directions to surround Harper's Ferry. Miles misplaced most of his 14,000 men just outside the town to the west on Bolivar Heights, and neglected to defend the commanding heights to the northeast (Maryland Heights) and to the south (Loudoun Heights).
When his token force on Maryland Heights was defeated, the town was surrounded and virtually indefensible. Maj. Gen. Stonewall Jackson began to bombard the town on 15 September 1862. Miles held a council of war and decided to surrender. Before the white flag could be raised, he was struck in the left leg by an exploding shell, mortally wounding him. Some of his men accused him of being drunk on duty again and were so disgusted by his inept defense that it was said to be difficult to find a man to carry him to the hospital. Miles died 16 September 1862.
Some historians have concluded that Miles was struck by deliberate friendly fire. The surrender of 12,419 men was the largest number of U.S. soldiers surrendered until the Battle of Bataan in World War II. The court of inquiry into the surrender denounced Miles for "incapacity, amounting to almost imbecility."
Bringing the