Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-08-17
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Nh rF1SF Sf tia'fErANr GENERAL.


renew, by brevet only, the rank OF Lieusenan'
General in our Army, as reward % MAJOR Gen.
Scorr for services in the Mexican war, many per-
sons, like ourselves, have inquired what is the his
tory of the grade-Liemenanf General-and
where does il find its place among major generals
generals, and field marshals?
/ A friend has kindly furnished us with notes IN
reply to the common inquiry, which, as they con-
tain some interesting particulars, we annex for the
qualification of our readers
The President hereby authorized to confer brevet rank
on such officers Of the army shall distinguish themselves by
gallant actions or merorious conduct" &C. Act July o
i 1912, section 4.--HetsePs MI La,os, p. l55.
No brevet commission shall hereafter be conferred but by
and with the advice and Of the Senate" Act April
j IS. 1918, section 2--HetzePs NIL La,os, p. 202. And
there is no other provision of law the subject Of army
brevets
Fiji, supposed that amaor general has distinguished him
self by gallant actions or meiorous conduct in the late
war with Mexico, may he not also with hundreds Of bis
brother juniors be rewarded with brevet Most persons
would reply no he has already attained the highest
military rank and be cannot be breyeted beyond that point
unless Congress should first higher grade Que?
In the British army, from which have derived all our
military designations beginning 775 the year before the
Declaration Of Independence the grades above colonel were
and are
Brigadier Generals local and temporary. At present
none
Major Generals. (is6)-- regular commanders Of br
gades
Lieutenant Generals Cls7)-the regular commanders Of
divisions
Generals, (ss full generals-the commanders Of two or
more divisions at
/EN IF
or Of an army in the field. (See any British Army List
That IT, there were in the British army ls45, field
sha SO full generals 1877 lieutenant generals 1856 major
generals, and no brigader general.
All these designations except that Of field MARSHAL are to
be found in our statute book. hta
We now have, in the army Of the United States, two
brgader generals commanders Of bgades and major
general commander Of division, or Of the whole army
and we had many each grade the Revolutionary war Gas
early l775 the Of 1912, and in the recent war with
| Mexico. We also had
In the Revolutionary army full general, WAsHIssros,
see the Journals Of the old Congress- June l5 and l6
l775 but no lieutenant general The gap between major
general and full general not filed up in that war
In the prospect Of war with the French Directory, large
increase of the military establishment called a provisional
army was authorized, and the Presdentwas empowered TO
appoint by and with the advice and consent Of the Senate,
commander of the amy who, being commissioned as leu
tenant general may be authorized to command the armies Of
the United States" Act May %, 1885, section 5.Hetsers
| NIL Laps, p. 73.
Under this provision e1Presden Washington received the
appointment of lieutenant general The rank Of lieutenant
general above that Of major general exists in the
militia Of Illinois.
In 1899, the danger Of with France still pending
and Congress recalling mind that in haste, exPresdent
Washington had been degraded in 1885, step below the
army rank which he had held throughout the Revolution
ary war; speedily enacted "That commander of the army
Of the United States shall be appointed and commissioned
by the style Of General Of the armies Of the United State
and the present office and title Of lieutenant general shall
thereafter be abolished Act March 8, 1899, section o.
Hetsers NIL Lays, p. s2
The quarrel between President Adams and Gen. Hamilton,
the major general Of the provisional army had then
commenced and hence the Office of lieutenant general was
abolished prevent the promotion Of Hamilton to lieutenant
general on the restoration Of Washington his old rank
full generalSee the Life and Writings Of Washington, By
i Sparks.
thus shown that tCo grades above that Of major gen.
era have existed in the army Of the United States lieutenant
general and full general. General Washington died in the
! latter rank t.
Our present establishment consists of eight regiments of in
fanty four Of artillery two Of dragoons and Of smen,
besides two engineer corps, ordnance corps &C.
than sufficient for eight brgadier generals four major gene
rails two lieutenant generals and full general according
to the principles Of military organization and the scale given
in the act Of March 3, 1893, section g. Hze s2 There
been any other legislation the organization Of
| brigades, divisions, &c. for our army