The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-17

i
the proposed Of the brissdsrs
and Supporting each to be constantly in health the
Der would be rather below the wants Of the service
QUESTION by Mr.. FAULKNER What Is your opinion a
to the nunbsr OF Assistant Adjutans General a. con-
tanned in the original bill submitted by the department.
| AsswER-l satisfied the Secretary of War that eight
Assistant Adutsnts General were actually necessary
the OF the service, and he authorised
sug est to the committee the substitution of eight
stead s o. the seven in the original bill
any other changes which occur to You proper the
GENERAL ScorTThe duty Of supplying clothing to the
troops has for twelve years been led the
Department Of the staff il formerly
in the hands OF Commssary General Of Purchases IL il
proposed to transfer 1t TO the commissarat
depari ment,) TO relieve the Quartermaster General
duty; whereas the Commissariat Of sabsstence with
little aid from the lise would be fully competent to exc
There is suggested change in the bill as originally
submitted that the words Sin not provided for In
the esh article Of war be inserted in tn. 10th section
after the words he following rules shall regulate the
command and rank officer"
Here follows ssth article of war.l
This article adopted in 17T5-- before the Decla
ration OF Independence-and is a necessary part of
| the code regulating rank. also suggested an ad
in the bill to prevent junior officer, by virtue Of his
ereyet being placed, oy assignment Of the President,
than senior officers abhor being placed under
| the command of junior
QUESTION Mr.. FAuLksrs-state your opinion of the
importance Of aevet appointments In the army.
ANswkR-l have always been looked upon in the army
sticker for brevet rank am not brevet officer
at this time; have been. am persuaded that IL gives
to government the of stimula ting its officers
the highest deeds Of valor and other distinguished
duct.
In q republican government there can be but few re.
wards for great services Of these system Of
ina be = a. I Il q
officers, and indeed Of officers not so young % the
field when about to 70 the enemy IL common to
" Here goes for a brevet to day. -
Under judicious legislation such this bill proposes
hravo ,aal
burnngs could scarcely be created by bestowing
that reward on officers specially distinguish them
selves
In commenting upon section of the bill relative to
service rations, General Scott said
tive to service raons The secretary Of War
that without consultation with me- In 1889, by the
mis- 81 the ,S an d.
House, providing for additional ration for every five
years service as service ration, which amendment
that the committee had agreed to report it, but that
the chairman would probably Tin the House) speak
YOU sir addressing Colonel Benton) were the occu.
pant then Of position which, believe, you held for
twenty years-that of Chairman Of the Military Com
mittee OF the Senate-and my amendment met with
when the friend in the House Committee found
the amendment in the House, he induced the Com mtse
to send for me to meet them, and to the OBJ
lection Of the Chairman In discussing tho proposition
with him. he very grufhy demanded Of me, .Have you
not pay enoushf' replied. eyes strike the general
-
fcers have since received the service ration except gene
raj officers.
bill Generals ON the same footing with other officers
respect TO service ratons, Is this: if the bill should
placed on the retired list, and without service raons
Major General would receive, in the whole less money
than q Colonel on the same list
Mr. FAULKNER called the attention General Scott to
that provision of the bill which related to the suspension
of an officers raons when absent from his post over
certain time, and requested his opinion upon il.
REMARKS OF GENARAL ScOTT IN REPLY-It is difficult
sometimes to get officers back to their regiment as
promptly as is wished Indeed, this Difficulty, some
years since, nesesatcd order similar the provision
in the bill from which the idea Is borrowed. The bill
gives officer ample time, according to distance to
seems reasonable that his ratons mot pay should
stopped.
the expedency of retired list fer the army.
ASswR-I think highly Of it. We have some forty
otd once,s red by diseased wounds premature
old age, un fit for active duty There who
from Ave to seventeen years my seniors; some Of
low as lieutenant. They are nearly ali officers who
have served most honoraby and continue to be gentle
Of high moral worth; but they impede promotions
snd the activity and efficiency the service Their re.
tirenent would greatly improve the army.
IN the way In the rst place the board for the ex
animation Of cases for retirement Is check and in the
next the senate which has the confirmation of the sue
cessors to the retired officers. We have, then double
cousidsr the additional section, limiting the time for
placing officers the retired list to ysar very
proper. The necessity for renewal OF the power TO
tire officers would hardly arise than in every
fifteen years Indeed, IL would take fifteen twenty
years to accumulate sufficient number OF nfIm OIL.
10 make 1t necessary to invoke Congress to
the power OF retiring them
QrEsroS-state more in detail the views which
caused to differ from the Secretary Of War TO the
eIpediency Of reducing the regiments Of artillery.
AsswER-In the conversation which had with the
Secretary regretted the proposed reduction of two
regiments o. artillery We conversed freely the sub
that he paid the piment 10 that lie had
confidence in my opinion, with reference 10 artillery
than he had in his Ia this connection let say
that the Secretary bred in the infantry and
valry, and was indeed excellent officer In both.
bred arterist and on that account, suppose,
he deferred TO n y judgment on this point.
Our country has nearly finished an excellent sys
tenn Of defence the Atlantic and Gulf seaboard by
FORTH cations, which great amount Of money has
been expended which all military have become
persuaded necessary. Each Of these Notifications
requires small garrisons in time Of peace TO keep them
in order and them from da pidaton The tllery
should garrison these Notifications; but have been
obliged to withdraw and send the artillery into the In
The artillery has made In the field excellent infantry
and light infantry. Wiling, then, as they have ever
been, TO do DUTY, in peace and in which has
been assigned them why should they be deprived OF the
name in which they have gained distinction
The cadets who exceled in artillery duty at West
Point made ocers In the artillery and adapted
To that duty, and also make excellent infantry Seven
eghths Of them now engaged ~ infantry In Mexico
often bad occasion TO witness their excellent conduct
with both arms.
Its members havs never said, when required TO
face Mexieains or Indians, owe canno, ssht with
muskets-we are artillerists"
The chance Of returning to their position artlersts
In permanent forts so long their remains
unchanged, cheers them wherever they are-in the
svamps Of Florida or wilds OF Texas.
Mr. THOMAS N. HowE, a member OF the committee,
called the attention OF General Scott TO that clause OF
the bill reducing the officers Of the ordnance corps and
asked IL II would not be doing injustice 10 those officers
who would, by virtue Of special act Of Congress, be
entitled to captancy after fourteen years continuous
being transferred e other regiments would lose Their
right 10 promotion under that act, and by tina.
be placed ways behndhand in the line OF promo
tom
Gen scoTT said That promotion in the army effect
ed less by the stations OF the different regiments
corps that promotion OF quicker In rexi
ments which posted At remote, exposed AMI
comfortable stations where the mortality grester