Veteran Bio

On October 31, 1840, Mr. Miles married Mary Ann Sawyer at San Antonio in the home of the former Empressario John McMullin, which stood where the Carnegie Library now stands.

In 1846 he enlisted in the U.S. Army in the war against Mexico, was in charge of the ammunition at Palo Alto and served throughout the war. He was in the Confederate Army from the beginning to the end of the War Between the States. For over forty years he held numerous official positions in San Antonio and Bexar County. He died in San Antonio in 1884, while a member of the Texas Veterans Association.

He had only one child, Mary Esther, who became Mrs. Mary Esther Crawford. She died in San Antonio in Nov. 1933, leaving a number of children.

In a lengthy sketch of the life of Mr. Miles that appeared in the San Antonio Express on April 16, 1933, it is stated the Mr. Miles was one of the captors of Santa Anna. His version of the capture of the Mexican Dictator as related to his child was, according to the writer of the sketch, so similar to Mr. James A. Sylvester's account in a letter the famous artist McArdle, December 7, 1872, that Sylvester's letter was printed. In it Mr. Sylvester stated that one of his companions when Santa Anna was captured was named "Miles". A letter written Sylvester in August, 1836, gives the name as "Miles of Virginia". See Sylvester's letter in this volume. It has been proved conclusively that Alfred H. Miles was one of the captors of Santa Anna.

SEE also sketch of Mr. Miles in this volume.

Mr. Edward Miles as late as July 18, 1879, made no claim to being one of the captors of Santa Anna as evidenced by his letter of that date written to Colonel Francis W. Johnson, Brenham, Texas, President of the Texas Veterans Association. The letter is among the Sylvester Papers in the Rosenberg Library, Galveston, Texas. It follows: "Dear Sir, Your favor of the 11th inst. received. You asked me as to my recollections in the matter of the capture of General Santa Anna on the 22nd day of April 1836. Sergeant James A. Sylvester Company A, Captain William Wood, was a member of the same company with myself at that time and when the president of the Republic of Mexico and the Commander in Chief of the invading army into Texas, was brought into the camp of Gen. Sam Houston as a prisoner of war, I was on camp guard duty on the bayou side of our lines.

Our whole camp, prisoners and all was by such an event thrown into a great fever of commotion and excitement; and I, as soon as possible, hurried to our Commander-in-chief's headquarters and there saw this distinguished prisoner of war.

To put this matter more fully at rest, and in order that all honor be paid to whom honor is due, I exhibited your letter to H.P. Brewster, Esq., who says in substance as follows: "I was the private secretary at the time of Gen. Sam Houston, and was present when he, pointing at the time to Sylvester, recognized him as having been the captor of his person." This he says was done in the presence of Col. Almonte, Cos and many others. He further says he never knew until lately that anyone else ever claimed the credit of the capture of Santa Anna.

I am, very truly yours, Edward Miles District Commander, T.V.A."

NOTE: Miles, Edward Headright Act of Legislature Approved Feb. 9, 1850 1/3 league of land ALL BOUNTIES

J.P. Logan, Pt. A. Oct. 20, 1938

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