Miller was born in
Ithaca, New York, but moved to
Louisiana with his family while still a young child. He attended Louisiana College. He was a veteran of the
Mexican–American War, serving in the army of
Zachary Taylor and was awarded by the government for his service with of land in Florida. He studied law, passed his bar exam, and engaged in a private practice in
Santa Rosa County. He was engaged in the timber and lumber business in northwest Florida prior to the Civil War. Miller formed a unit, the 3rd Florida Infantry Battalion, and was commissioned as its
lieutenant colonel. He and his men eventually were consolidated with the 1st Florida Infantry Battalion, forming the (new)
1st Florida Infantry Regiment. Miller became the regimental
colonel in August 1862. Later that year, he fought at the
Battle of Perryville, suffering a minor wound, and the
Battle of Stones River, where he was severely wounded. He returned home to Florida to recuperate for several months. He was placed in charge of the Confederate Conscript Bureau for
Alabama and South Florida. On August 2, 1864, Miller was promoted to
brigadier general and appointed to organize and coordinate the state's reserve troops as the new commander of the Florida District. He raised and commanded the 1st Florida Reserves, a
regiment recruited to help defend the state, as most of the regular Confederate troops were serving elsewhere. His most prominent action came at the
Battle of Natural Bridge in March 1865, where he served as the tactical field commander in defeating
Union forces under
John Newton. His men repelled three separate Union attacks during the 12-hour battle. The battle helped keep the state capital,
Tallahassee, under Confederate control. It would prove to be the last state capital east of the Mississippi to remain in Confederate hands. Miller and his men finally surrendered in Tallahassee in May 1865. After the war, Miller returned to his timber business and also established a farm. He eventually settled in Port Washington in
Walton County, where he became the
justice of the peace. Miller served two terms in the
Florida House of Representatives and the
Florida Senate. ==See also==