The New York herald., 1849-02-04
Army intelligence.

GENERAL OhDERs. No.
Wan DEPARTMENT, ADJurANT GENERAL's OFFIcI


Wan DEPARTMENT, ADJurANT GENERAL's OFFIcE,1
WAsHINGTos. January "a, IS49. (
An Act making provision for additional num-
ber OF general officers and for other purposes approved
March 3, l847.
Section IT, And be IL further enacted, That when
any commissioned officer shall have distinguished
hins eli may have hmselfin the Service
the President Of the United States shall be and 10
hereby authorized, on the recommendation Of the
ding officer Of the regiment to which said
officer belongs, to attach him by brsvet
of the lowest grade any corps Of the Army Provd
ed That there shall not be than attached
to any company at the same time; and when any
private soldier snali distinguish HIMSELF the Presi
dent may In like manner grant him . certificate OF
merit which shall eptite him to additional pay st the
rate Of two dollars per month -
1t having been represe ped to the Secretary of War
tn at the Of certificates Of merit under the
Act Of March lS47, has heretofore fallen unequaly
upon the companies of the army; and several com
muuicstiops having been received from time TO time
tiDce the publication VI General Ordere Nos. ~ and
o. OF IS48 urging addition al sus Of certidcate
10 hereby announced, that in al where the
CONNIE received ut the War Departmen Mt from
reginsntsi battalion commanders in the ned, have
designated the particular battles or afsirs with the
enemy in which the soldiers aisti certh
cstes bave been conferred according the terms OF
the law, upen private soldiers.n In many cases
nearly whole companies, including even non commits.
sioI ed officers, have been recommended in general
teIms-"as entitled in the opinion Of their COM
man ders TO the beneficial provisions Of the act"
without the mention either OF date, place, battle,
any particular act or feat OF bravery, which
csuld entits them to the dissingu,shius reward.
In such the recommen dations not been
tertaiped because where all, or a large majority OF
the Army performsd their duty with ach,ns brave
ry whole platoops could not be said to have distn
gLshed themselves above others The subject having
again brought the notice Of The Secretary OF
War. he decided that the spirit and intent Of
the Law would to be- liberal and general par
tiai-but clearly designed to hold out reward the
entiie class Of enlisted to the ned
tfc, brevets Of the lowest commission to all under
the grade OF commi, stoned officer, certificates of
merit and that the technical term, private sodiern
in justice could only be ued Represent ths
numerous class of soldiers Ia centrsdistincti
to non commissioned grades and hence, that artih-
fsrrierr blacksmiths, and musicxna who duty
in the ranks aud battle may the certificate
Of neritr when their conduct entities them to
mark of distinction. With this view Of case, aud
TO possible meritorious soldiers who
II fault Of their own, have hitherto not received
the certificate Of merit, commanders OF Rsgi nts will
forward with as little delay as practicable
dstiops for euch enlisted under the grade OF
commissioned oser, ~ msy have performed any par
ioular acts OF individual bravery for whcn they
have not already received certificate OF merit taxing
care TO epeei;y Gate. place sad battle, affair The
snh death, 0iscnaIge or promotion OF the sol
dier will not prevent his being recon me nded After
tie publication Of the next list further reoommen-
cations will be acted upon.
Ccmmender will acknowledge tho receipt of this Or
der and the uendat;ons wh,oh they may
make, with the acknowledgment.
By ORprn: IL. JONES, Adjt Gen1