The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-02-02
OFFICIAL.
GENERAL oapEas, No. 4

| GENERAL ORDERS, No. 4.
| WAN DEPARTMENT, Adnlant Generals Office
Washington, January "a, le49.
IAN Act making provision for an additional num-
Der Of general officers, and for other purposes ap.
proved March 3, 1877.
"Section II. And belt further enacted, That when
any non commissioned officer shall distinguish him
self may have distinguished himself In the ger
vice. the President Of the United States shall be and
Is hereby authorized, the recommendation of the
commanding officer Of the regiment 10 which said
non-commissloned officer belongs to attach him by
brevet Of the lowest grnde any corps OF the Army:
Provided That there shall not be more than one 20
attached TO any one company at The same time, and
when anyprivate soldier shall so distinguish himself
the President may In like manner grant him Ger.
| tihcate Of merit which shall enle him to add.
tional pay at the rate Of two dollars per month"
1t having been represented to the Secretary of War
that the distribution OF certificates of merit under tho
Act Of March 3, 1917 has heretofore fallen UNEQUAL
ly upon the companies of the Army; and several
communications having been received from time to
time since the publication Of "Geisral Orders Nos
81 and 3d. of l949 urging additional issue of Ger.
tcates IL Is hereby announced thatln all cases where
the Recommendations received at the War Department
from Regimental or Battalion Commanders In the
with the enemy nwhch the soldiers were distinguish
ed certificates have been conferred according TO the
terms of the law, upon "irirate Soldiers"
In many cases nearly whole companies including
even nom commissioned officers, have been recom-
mended In general terms--''as entitled In the opn.
ion Of their commanders TO the beneficial provisions
Of the AclN-without the mention either of date,
place. battle any particular act feat of bravery
which could entitle them 70 the distinguishing re.
ward. In such cases the recommendations have not
been entertained because where ALL or large major
ty Of the soldiers Of the Army performed their duty
with nnhinching bravery, whole platoons could not
be said TO "hape distingIished themselves above
others.
The subject having been again brought 10 the no.
tice of the Secretary of War, he has decided that
the spirit and intention Of the law would seem 10 be
liberal and general, not partialbut clearly designed
TO hold out reward TO the entire class Of enlisted
men;-to The non commissioned officers breyets of
the lowest commission TO all under the grade Of
non-commissoned officer certificates of merit; and
that the technical term, private soldier, in common
justice could only be used TO represent the more nu
commissioned grades, and hence, that arfcers far
riers, blackemha and musicians who do duty in the
ranks and in battle may receive the Certificate of mer
IT, when their conduct entities them to such mark of
dstintion. With this view Of the case and to secure
far possible meritorous soldiers who from no
fault Of their own have hitherto not received the GER
llfcate Of merit, commanders of Regiments will
forward, with rs little delay as practicable recom-
mendations for such enlisted men, under the grade
OF non-commissioned officer an may have perform
ed any particular act or acts of individual bravery
cate OF merit, taking 10 specify date place and
battle, or affair. Tho subsequent death, discharge
or promotion Of the soldier will not prevent his being
recommended
After the publication of the mex, list no farther re.
CONNIE ndntions will be acted upon
Commanders will acknowledge the recent Of this
order, and forward the Recommendations which they
may make, with the acknowledgment
br ORDER; r. JONES, Adjt Gen'l.