THOMAS MIFFLIN caused large numbers of its citizens to flock to the standard of Washington before the attack on the enemy at Trenton. He was quartermaster-general, and, in 1777, was a member of the board of war. Mifflin was one of "Conway's Cabal," a conspiracy to put Gates in the place of Washington. Late in 1782 he was elected to Congress, and was president of that body in the last month of that year, when Washington resigned his commission into their hands. General Mifflin was a delegate to the convention that framed the national Constitution (1787), and was president of the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania (1788-90). He was also president of the convention that framed his State constitution (1790), and was governor of the State from 1791 to 1800. He was very efficient in quelling the Whiskey Insurrection in 1794. He died in Lancaster, Pa., Jan. 20, 1800. he was chosen a member of the first Con- Mifflin, FORT. The firing of the first tinental Congress in 1774; was appointed gun upon FORT MERCER (q. v.) was the major of one of the first regiments raised signal for British vessels to approach and in Philadelphia, and accompanied Wash- attack Fort Mifflin, opposite. They had ington as aide-de-camp to Cambridge in made their way through the obstructions the summer of 1775. All through the near Billingsport. The Augusta, ship-ofRevolutionary War Mifflin was a faithful war, and other armed vessels, came up the and efficient officer, rising to the rank of river, but were kept at bay by American major-general in 1777. He was eloquent galleys and floating batteries. The attack in speech, and was efficient in rousing his was deferred until the morning after (Oct. countrymen to action when necessary. In 23, 1777) the assault on Fort Mercer. A this way, traversing Pennsylvania, he heavy cannonade was brought to bear on the British fleet by the American flotilla, Sept. 9, 1861; promoted lieutenant-colonel and at the same time an equally heavy 61st New York Infantry, May 31, 1862, fire was kept up by the royal vessels on and colonel, Sept. 30 following; brigadierFort Mifflin, the little garrison of which general, May 12, 1864; major-general, Oct. was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel 21, 1865; and was mustered out of the Smith, of Maryland. Smith made a gal- volunteers, Sept. 1, 1866. On July 28, 1866, lant defence. A hot shot from the fort he was commissioned colonel of the 40th set fire to the Augusta, and she blew up. United States Infantry; March 15, 1869, After an engagement of several hours, the was transferred to the 5th Infantry; British fleet retired, and the Americans re- Dec. 15, 1880, promoted brigadier-general; mained masters of the Delaware a short April 5, 1890, major-general; June 6, 1900, time longer. Finally the British erected lieutenant-general, under an act of Conbatteries on Province Island, that com- gress of that date; and Feb. 5, 1901, manded Fort Mifflin, and brought up a was appointed lieutenant general under large floating battery, and four 64-gun the law reorganizing the army. During ships and two 40-gun ships to at the Civil War he distinguished himself tack the fort. On Nov. 10 the British at Fair Oaks (wounded), Malvern Hill, opened their batteries on land and water. Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville (woundLieutenant-Colonel Smith, with his garri- ed), Ream's Station, and in the operason of 300 men, sustained the siege six tions against Richmond; and after the consecutive days. When every gun was war conducted a number of campaigns dismounted, and the fort was almost a against the hostile Indians, notably ruin, the garrison left in the night (Nov. against the Apaches under Geronimo and 16), after firing the remains of the bar- Natchez, whose surrender he forced. He racks, and escaped to Fort Mercer, which represented the army at the seat of the Colonel Greene, despairing of relief, evac- war between Turkey and Greece, and also uated Nov. 20. During the siege of Fort at the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria Mifflin, about 250 men of the garrison were in 1897. In the war against Spain in killed and wounded. The British loss is 1898 he visited Cuba and commanded the not known. expedition to PORTO RICO (q. v.). Milan Decree. See BERLIN DECREE, THE; EMBARGO ACTS; ORDERS IN COUNCIL. Milburn, WILLIAM HENRY, clergyman; born in Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 26, 1823; was educated in Philadelphia, Pa., Jack sonville, Ill., and at Illinois College. When five years old he lost the sight of one eye by an accident, and subsequently became totally blind. He was licensed as a Methodist preacher in Illinois in 1843, and since that time has travelled about 1,500,000 miles, by all kinds of conveyances, in America and Europe. He has lectured and preached in nearly every State and Territory of the Union, as well as in many parts of Canada and Europe. Since 1845 he has been chaplain of Congress several times. His publications include Rifle, Axe, and Saddle-Bags; Ten Years of Preacher Life; Lance, Cross, and Canoe, etc. Miles, NELSON APPLETON, military officer; born in Westminster, Mass., Aug. 8, 1839; was engaged in mercantile business in Boston till the outbreak of the Civil War; entered the volunteer army as a captain in the 22d Massachusetts Infantry, Milet, PIERRE. See JESUIT MISSIONS. Military Academy, UNITED STATES, a government institution at West Point, N. Y.; established by act of Congress, March 16, 1802, for the purpose of educating and training young men in the theory and practice of military science, to become officers in the United States army. Attempts had been made by Washington in 1793 and 1796 to have Congress establish an institution for this purpose. Cadets are appointed, one from each congressional district, Territory, and the District of Columbia, by the Secretary of War, at the request of the Representative or Delegate in Congress of the district or Territory in which the applicant is an actual resident. There are also thirty appointments at large, specially conferred by the President of the United States. In 1901 there were three extra cadets at the Academy, who were authorized by Congress to enter it at their own expense, from Venezuela, Costa Rica, and Ecuador. The Representative may nominate a legally qualified second candidate, to MILITARY ACADEMY, UNITED STATES be designated the alternate. The alternate ties for offences is inflexible rather than will receive from the War Department a severe. Examinations are held in each letter of appointment, and will be ex- January and June, and cadets deficient amined with the regular appointee, and in either conduct or studies are disif duly qualified will be admitted to the charged. From about the middle of June Academy, in the event of the failure of to the end of August cadets live in camp, the principal to pass the prescribed pre- engaged only in military duties and reliminary examinations. Appointees to the ceiving practical military instructions. Military Academy must be between seven- Cadets are allowed but one leave of abteen and twenty-two years of age, free sence during the course, and this is grantfrom any infirmity which may render them ed at the expiration of the first two unfit for military service, and able to years. pass a careful examination in reading, year. The pay of a cadet is $540 per writing, orthography, arithmetic, gram- academy is usually about 425. An an nual board of visitors is appointed, seven by the President of the United The course of instruction requires States, two by the president of the Senfour years, and is largely mathematical ate, and three by the speaker of the House and professional. The principal subjects of Representatives. They visit the acadtaught are mathematics, French, draw- emy in June, and are present at the coning, drill regulations of all arms of the cluding exercises of the graduating service, natural and experimental philos- class of the year. The superintendent ophy, chemistry, chemical physics, min- in 1901 ALBERT L. MILLS, eralogy, geology, and electricity, history, U. S. A. (q. v.), and the military and international, constitutional, and mili- academic staff consisted of seventy-two tary law, Spanish, civil and military engi- persons. neering, art and science of war, and ordnance and gunnery. The discipline is very strict, and the enforcement of penal was COL. Upon graduation, the class is divided by the academic board into three sections of varying and unequal numbers, |