Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-07-13
The ARMY.

few of the officers who disng themselves in the
battles the Rio Grande be assistant adutants
raj, with breret rank, grade higher in each than
their actual rank And his suppose is the full
Of the rewards be bestowed upon these gallant for
the vaor displayed in those desperate engagements. So
far from eniing the President gratitude, these
merely nominal disunctons-for, understand ii,
breyet Captain ranked by Lieutenant OF older commits
sion, and other grades-sre but poor reward for
such signal merit, especially when these gallant officers
find themselves holding inferior posts to taken from
the walks OF civil life, and only destitute OF all claim
the Distinction but against the appointment Of of
whom apart from the political influence brought bear
in their favor the substantial objections existed.
Many OF the officers, who distinguished themselves,
are yet unnoced. Among them Col. Payne and Col.
Mcintosh both suffering from the severity of their
wounds and OF the former OF whom il is related that
early in action Of Resaca de Ia Palma he wound
ed by grape muskst shot, yet dsmouned until
the battle over, and then had be taken from his
horse. Why has promotion been denied TO him. while
Pillow OF Tenn, Patterson OF Phiad Hamer of Ohio,
and others Of less celebrity, made Major and Br
gadier Generalsl
The N Y. Courier aud Enquirer records other instances
Of signal merit, passed contempuous silence. 1t
says:
"Younr Lieut.. MoRKIs OF this city, in like manner
kept the field of battle the whole day and marched four
miles with the bullet OF the in him-refusng leave
his post while augh OF service be DONE OF peril
be encountered yet he too was passed over in the
cent promotions.
Another gallant New Yorker Lieut. SLcKTrr Of Water
town, Jefferson Co.. the fine aud decisive cavalry charge,
led by Cspt. May against the enemy's battery-hsd his
horse killed under him At the moment Of plungng upon
foe He instantly sprung his feet mounted the
OF his wounded dragons, and borrowing his
sword-having lost his his fArode into the thick
OF the hight and aided IN clearing the battery OF those
who serving its against columns. Yet
for SAcket any than for Morris Payne Bel
knap, or Mcintosh or Garland Lewis Morriss, Wilson
h0
the Rio Grande. is either favor generosity
tce TO be expected the hands Of the Administration
The glory there for arms, seems, Is to be
appropriated by political speculation while those who
gathered the harvest discouraged by neglect what
worse nsued by having thursi over or among Ihem party
hacks lacking that instinct Of honor which Is soldiers
life and lacking well the knowledge and accomplish
ments that dignity soldiers profession"
Is it cruel mockory parade the names Of some
FIVE or six Of the eusnsns and captains engaged in the
bloody bates Of the 9Th and 9Th Of Msy, brsDst cap
tsns and msjo-whieh, substantially means nothing at
dtonal pay-whis thirty or forty obscure eiaens
who have never welded sword except it may be on
holiday festival, placed above their heads
in his official report Captain Norris Of the Sd infantry
relates the following noble incident OF of his
misSioned officers
must not omit notice in this report the conduct of
Corporal OSulyan, Of Company E. Sd infantry who fired
at body Of the enemy and Immediately rushed in among
them and seized lieutenant by the collar dsaImed him.
and delivered him prisoner Lieut. Graham. He after
wards went with party under Sergeant Kendal, OF
Company Sd infantry, captured gun from the enemy roll
led II out into the road and turned officer of
the 5th infantry"
BonaParte would have given such his epsuletes.
Even in arsiocratc Great Britain, told that large
number Of the commissioned officers who distinguish
ed themselves in the engagements in India were
promptly promoted. But Corporal oSulyan will in all
probability never be heard Of again. unless indeed he should
again perform heroic feat be chronieed in the Of
fetal report to be again forgotten The rank and file are
ht food for gunpowder-but they must presume to
come betwIt the wind and (hesven save the mark .
Democratic nobility He has no political influence.
and influential friends TO be coneiliaed. Why throw
away the sPois upon Of his stamp, when "he honora
bic " Toms, Dicks and Hauys have sons and nephews
and cousins to be provided for 2
Weare surprised that some Of the Adminisra-
ton papers aurmur this rank injustice nervous wri-
the New York Evening Post, upon it with
great force and speaks Of Of the appointments
very fserng the discernment Of the ap
pointing power. we invite attention to his causdc re-
marks. He says:
AFTER victory gained such fearful odds would
captains like Washington, Frederick the Great and Ma
poeon have rewarded the vsor Of those officers and men
by promoting the distinguished vacancies in tho
seryee7 Was called for by the best interests Of the
service and the country Would not have been wise
generous and Jus But, with three exceptions who
the officers Of this regimenn What have they done
TO Snuue them to the positions which have been gal
lanty tor deserved at easD by the army Texasl-
In contrasting chs claims Of Captain May and the major Of
the corps, morning pint has spoken Of the
tho unneard Of MI Burbridge j. you'd have bson
fortunate II many other officers OF the regiment had been
unheard Of o. Major Burbrdge.
"Sevora Of them In service; one az commits
stoned officer, and others cadets. The former was
lauor left West Point for dscrediabo; but
q number Of others discharged the recommonda.
ton OF the Academic Board Of that inuton for mental
or moral incspacity One Of these enlisted into the .t
ofn hrtb ,
reduced to the ranks tho recOmmen Of his
officers and finally discharged from the service These
specimens Of the officers selected command an
important corps In time OF actual can only hope,
ha"t unheard Of" portion Of these officers can
present better credentials than their eompesrs Of un-
enyiablo n0torieiy.
"But with what justice 10 the army have these persons
been sppoini0d7 Their moss-mates, who were cursed
with little character and capacity, graduated az
West Point with honor and have since served faithfully
for years tue army Some u them have been killed In
battle in Florida and Texas and many Of Lsm we're con.
speuous Tor their gasny sud good conduct n the
battles on the Rio Grande The positions Of these Off
almost invariably such give them military rank
and precedence over their former class and
months hence tho officers tho Rio Gfande will see
themselves placed under the command Of these peferans oil
Of whose campaigns have been mads about the obbes Of
the Office and Senate chamber Washington ls this
fair rcquia Tor the services win shoh the country IL re-
sounding from Mexico 10 New Bunsvckf Many Of our
army officers he abored hard M themselves for the
higher duties Of ibof profession and have proved 70 the
sshsaeuon Of tho county upon The field Of baue that they
have not been snSuccessfnli and this il their reward
Docs this look like usiokng Of tho CALAMITY Of
the smy for consideration of influence In the adjustment
Of nice political hargain7 Il IL proelaninR u
the sfmY hs distinguished professional sequirsmsn snd
lopg fshfu add gallant services are positive dsqusih-
cadOn Tor advancement, whe % DO dcfsuer the uea-
sury department ana noapacty suoeesd nWest Point
arc eorsn passports rsnk and consideration In tho sr.
myi Is not announcing practically the country that
political influence and military worthlsssness combined
are moro ee'in Y attain promotion han long service and
professional msnr
10 the Organization Of the 2nd regiment Of Dragons
IN 1888, 30 ohicou were appointed from civil fs and
from the army. Already % Of those from civil lie have
been dismissed from the service have resigned nearly
al ~ ~. k..L.u