In the Civil War he was noted for his audacity and dash. He was a
fighting commander. He never hesitated to obey an order to advance,
and he never wanted to retreat. His courage was an inspiration to his
troops, and undoubtedly prevented disaster on more than one occasion.
Hancock had the utmost confidence in Miles, and put him to the front to
bear the brunt of the enemy: the latter never failed his chief. When
the break took place at Reams’ Station,—that unfortunate battle, the
name of which is said to have been printed on the heart of Hancock like
Calais in the heart of Queen Mary,—Miles and his staff pushed to the
very front to stay the backward rush of the troops, and the gallant
defense which he offered to the victorious enemy saved the day from
becoming one of the great catastrophes of the war.
While Miles is famous for his gallantry as a commander, he is equally
noted for his coolness and good judgment. He always insisted upon the
proper treatment of his men by the commissary department, and his
division, the Second Corps, never had any reason to complain of want
of attention on the part of their general to their comforts. “Good
treatment and good fighting” was his rule.