General Nelson Miles A tasseled oval waist up view, no back mark. Miles joined the Union Army in 1861 as a first lieutenant in the 22nd Massachusetts Infantry. Rising quickly, he became a colonel of the 61st New York Infantry by 1862, fighting at Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, where he was wounded and earned the Medal of Honor for gallantry. Promoted to brigadier general in 1864, he led a brigade and later a division in the Army of the Potomac, participating in the Overland Campaign and Appomattox. Post-war, Miles remained in the Regular Army, commanding the 5th U.S. Infantry during the Indian Wars. Promoted to brigadier general (1880) and major general (1890), he led campaigns against the Sioux, Apache (capturing Geronimo in 1886), and Nez Perce. As Commanding General of the U.S. Army (1895–1903), he oversaw operations in the Spanish-American War, including the Puerto Rico campaign. Miles retired in 1903, leaving a legacy of leadership across multiple conflicts.