Perry Miles Timeline

Timeline of the Life of Brigadier General Perry Lester Miles (1873-1961)

1873 (Oct.15). Perry L. Miles was born in Westerville, Franklin County, Ohio to James Alexander Miles and Mary Esther Longwell Miles.

1880 Census for Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. Perry is 6 years old and living with his father James, mother Mary and 10 year old brother Frank and 2 year old sister Bertha.

1885 Perry was 11 years old when his mother died.

1895 (June 12) Second Lieutenant, 14th United States Infantry, Vancouver Barracks, Washington

1898 (July 1) First Lieutenant, US Army, 14th Infantry

1899 (Oct.10) to 1901 (March 21) Captain, Assistant Quartermaster of Volunteers

1891 (June 17) Appointed from Ohio, Cadet, United States Military Academy (Age 23)

1895 Miles graduated from West Point.

1899 (Feb. 5) With exceptional gallantry and the highest qualities of leadership, Miles dashed forward, many yards ahead of his men, calling on them to follow, and drove the enemy from their position. After his commanding officer was mortally wounded, Miles assumed command, ordered an advance to continue, and went along the line with utter disregard of the hostile fire and urged his men forward on Feb. 5, 1899, near Manila, Philippine Islands. “His splendid example of personal heroism, courage and coolness furnished the needed inspiration to the wavering command and resulted in the successful accomplishment of a seemingly impossible attack.” That’s the description on the Arlington National Cemetery Web site of the 14th Infantry, of which Miles was first lieutenant when he earned the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism from the US Army.

1899 (February 5) Spanish American War the Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Perry L. Miles, First Lieutenant, US Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Manila, Philippine Islands.

During the attack by two companies of the 14th Infantry on blockhouse No. 14 and adjacent trenches strongly held by insurgent forces, when the commanding officer was mortally wounded, the advance was checked and the troops were partially demoralized in the face of a heavy concentrated fire from the front and both flanks, Lieutenant Miles assumed command, ordered the advance to continue, and went along the line with utter disregard of the hostile fire and urged his men forward.

Then, with exceptional gallantry and the highest qualities of leadership, he dashed forward, many yards ahead of his men, calling on them to follow, and drove the enemy from their position. His splendid example of personal heroism, courage, and coolness furnished the needed inspiration to the wavering command and resulted in the successful accomplishment of a seemingly impossible attack.

1901 (February 2) Captain, 14th United States Infantry

1901, March 12 President William McKinley appointed Perry L. Miles as "Captain of Infantry." The commission was signed by President McKinley and Elihu Root as Secretary of War.

1910 Census at Missoula, Montana. Perry Miles is a Captain in the US Army at Fort Missoula Headquarters.

Croix de Guerre with Palm

1917 (September 1)
Colonel Perry L. Miles assumed command of the 371st Infantry. France awarded him the following medals: France Legion of Honor and the Croix de Guerre with Palm.

France Legion of Honor

1920 Census - Leavenworth, Kansas. Perry Miles is at the Fort Leavenworth US Military Reservation.

1921 (December 28) Washington DC, District Of Columbia. Colonel Perry L. Miles marries Mary Latta Stott. They make their home at Fort Leavenworth, KS.

1930 Census Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA. Perry Miles is listed as a university professor. Colonel Miles, professor of military science and tactics, appears on Royce Hall steps in uniform following the Dedication
ceremony. Known formally as the "Dedication of the New Campus and New Buildings of the University of California at Los Angeles", the event brought together regents, professors, students, alumni, and representatives of other educational institutions for four sessions held on March 27 and 28.

1932 Miles was promoted to brigadier general.

1932 (April 1) to 1936 (March) General Miles commanded the 16th Brigade, Military District of
Washington.

1932 (July 28) Troops led by Brigadier General Perry Miles, accompanied by General Douglas MacArthur, US Army chief of staff, drove out demonstrators and destroyed encampments, using tanks and tear gas. One veteran was shot to death, and several veterans and policemen were wounded. Congress then appropriated $100,000 to send the protesters home, and they dispersed.

1936 (Oct.) to 1937 (Oct.) Miles commanded the First Infantry Division. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/perryles.htm

1937 Brig. General Perry L. Miles retired. He served in the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Resurrection, on the Mexican border and in France.

1941 Brig. General Perry L. Miles wrote a booklet entitled The Infantry Soldier. Since Perry had spent most of his life in the Armed Forces of the United States he was well versed in all that pertained to the Army and Army life. There is an article by D.W. Scovell in the Johnstown Independent newspaper that references this booklet and its contents.

1948 Brig. General Perry L. Miles and John Ashbrook obtained a copy of the first recorded census of Johnstown and Monroe Township from the original copy that is stored in the Archives Building in Washington, DC. It was published in the Johnstown Independent newspaper.

1949 (June 23) Mary Stott Miles, wife of Brigadier General Perry L. Miles died at Ocean City, Maryland. Her brother, Clarence, was married to Buffalo Bill Cody’s daughter until his death in 1907.

1950 - 1961 After Perry's wife died he moved to South Main Street in Johnstown and lived there until his death.

1961 Brigadier General Perry L. Miles is the author of two books:
Fallen Leaves: Memories of an Old Soldier
The Infantry Soldier

1961 (Sept. 30) Last Will and Testament of Perry Lester Miles
As he did in life through service to his country, Miles wished to leave a mark on his community by willing his farm and items of historical value to the residents of Johnstown and Liberty Township. In his last will and testament, dated Sept. 30, 1961 -- less than a month before his Oct. 17, 1961 death -- Miles requested his farm, residences, buildings, furnishing and personal effects, books and antiques be kept and maintained as the Longwell and Miles Memorial Estate for the purpose of religious, educational and recreational good and benefit to the residents of Johnstown, Liberty Township and surrounding community. His will further outlined that the estate be used to provide for the safe-keeping of items of historical value to the community; to provide a gathering place for groups interested in the betterment of mankind through religious and education study; and to provide suitable environment for picnics, camping and recreation areas, for the youth of the community.

1961 (Oct. 17) Death. He is buried in the family mausoleum in Section 3 of Arlington National Cemetery.