Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-08
3REVET RsNE

the following copy Of Memo ial from Major
e'enerai Scott, recently presented to Congress,
VIII be interesting to all our readers:
Memorial Qf Gen Winfield Scott
70 the Honorable the Speaker and Members OF
the House of Representatives OF the u. States
The Memorial of Winfield Scott respectfully
represents
That your memo; ialis, entered the Army Of the
y. States Captain, May 3. 1905 that ne was
promotet to the rank Of lieutenant Colonel. JuIv
o, 1872; 10 the rank of Colonel, March ~. 1919:
TO thc rank OF Brig0dier General, March O. 1914.
and for services Sc, forth in the toiy OF his com
mission, to the rank OF .HGi0r Genera by hreyet.
iIiy 20, 1914.
That from this date. Until very recently, YOUR
Hemorfslist had always been considered and en-
plOyed, in respect 10 all the rights of rank or COM
fnand. az Major General that within the same
period, he mad under his orders at different times
TWO MAJOR Generals oil the Army and three of tho
Militia, neither of whom could he have legally
commanded, If his brevct commission or bTevet
rank had not been perfectly valid and effective ::
aud that for the whole period in question, he was
never under the command, nor was it ever at.
tempted TO subject him to the Command of anv
oicer not OF the same grade, and his actual senior
IN that grade. Your memorialist would most res
pecttully affirm, and he is ready to sustain nv
PROOF, every proposition he has advanced or shall
advance, that the Office of Commander in Chief,
Commander Of the Army or the Mai Gene
rel, as importing either, is at this time Unknown
70 the laws; that there now exists in law, or in
fact no higher tide or grade in the Army, than
that oil Major Gener0l--a title or grade which
your meTnoraIist has the honor TO hold in common
with two other officers that military rank mr.
command Convertible terms is always ieiermip-
ed IN the foreign armies, well as i'm ot;F oyyn
Jirsf oy difference 10 grade. and seco,diy bv pr-
or'ty Oh date In Tho same grade that from the com
mencement OF our Revolutionary war down 10
the present year. breyet rank has uniformly been
held 10 give command in common with ordi-
nary rank--except ouiy (.or reasons easily ex-
pianed) within the body Of an unInxcd regiment,
detachment OF the same regiment: that tl,;s Ia
evidenced by every decision OF the Executive and
every precedent OF the Army recorded or remen-
bered and, that your memoralist cannot fall with
IN the exception mentioned, is evident from the
fact, that he is in rank and title equally above
every regiment in tho service of tie U. States
Such, your rnernosislist humbly conceivrs Iias
been the law, the construction OF law, and the set
tied practice IN Che Army, down TO a recent event
the death of Major General Brown; who. under
an arrangement purely Executive, and by virtue
of his seniority in the highest grade, that OF Major
Gen. had commanded the Army from June, 1921 q,
10 FEBRUARY 9th, 1925, the date Of his deceasc
On the promotion Of General Macornb TO the
yarsncy OF the deceased. with rank as Mai Gen.
6eom Stay rs, 1928, the President of the United
States, without any new legislation changing the
faw and principles, which have been stated b.,
an order bearing date May %, 1928, placed Mai.
Gen. Maconb in command over the Army, and
requffed all officers, &c. TO obey his ordet- with
ont any exception in favor Of your mernorialis,.
one senior. and therefore. the superior Major Cen
ersl.
Aziinst Gfrs order, which your memorials, has
honestly believed 90 be equally repugnanl TO his
rights end 10 bis honor, nc has, from the first re-.
sptetfuliy and steadily protesicd he has bjunbly
prayed TO be sent before court marital "a The
charge Of disobeyjng The commands Of the alleged
superior Major General, IN order that the Law and
che principles Involved in the case might b. iudi-
cisly, promptly, and dehnlvely settled; and he
has respectfully suggested all exemption from the
commands Of his inferior Major General. by an
arrangement Of the several general officers Of the
ine, 70 separate geographical districts or depart
Insufs, ~ prior 10 the Executive arrangement Of
1921. Ills cr;reatles have all been rejected, and
finally. .hcu, any ffial by hrs peers, your me.
snofiolisi lsa -sn s''s-'let frott al command in
srs = -rr :.