Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-10-08
SiTl RDiY MORNING. OCT. s. 1861.
Rapid Promotions.


In lsGO Gen. Sheridan, who has been car
ryinc all before him in the Shenandoah valley
lately, was Il Lieutenant under Capt. Russell,
in command of Fort lalnhill, Oregon. At
the beginning of the war, his company was
ord, rcd East, and he given the command of
regiment of volunteers. Capt. Russell also
took command of a voluntcerregimcnt. Sher-
idan has fought his way up to the position of
Major General of volunteers, and to most
important command, his old captain serving
under him as commander of division-and
we regret to learn that he was killed in the
late sangui nary battle with Early in the She
nandoah valley. The victory obtained by
Sheridan we req Yard as more important and
decisive than any victory yet achieved in Vir-
gina.
The tclegraphic announcement that Sheri-
dan had been made a Brigadier- General, as
n reward for his distinguished services, struck
most of people as promotion domnmards, he
having been Major-General for some time
past. But this apparent Inconsistency is east
ly explained. A law was passed by Con-
gross authorizing officers Of tho regular army
TO accept of commands in the volunteer SER
vice without affecting their lire Of promotion
in the regular army. Consequently, many of
the captains and first lieutenan:s were made
colonies and generals, and given the command
of regiments and brigades in the volunteer
service. Gen. Sheridan's rank at the time of
his recent promotion, could not have been
higher than major or lieutenant. colonel in the
regular army, and his appointment as brig
adler general was, therefore, a very high COM
plment to his galantry. OF the four or five
general oic, RS of the regular army at the begin
ming of the war, most if not all have retired
from active service, and theirplaces have been
filled by Grant, Sherman, Meade, Sheridan,
Kautz, Russell and others, who were lieutcn-
ants, captains and majors in the regular army
three years ago. Grant had only reached
the rank of captain, and Hooker Of lieutenant
in the army when they resigned.
academy, that almost all our successful gener-
al officers were educated ut West Point.
Among the officers that have been taken from
the ranks of civilians, Butler has been the
most successful. Banks has done we'll, but
not as well as he would have done with his
opportunities if he had had a little practical
experience in military matters. We think
him better suited for a military governor than
a fighting general. There is no reason to
question his courage and energy. or his fdcl-
ity to the Union cause, as both are above sus.
icion. If lie had been educated at West
Point, he would no doubt have made one of
our most successful general officers.
Gems. Logan, McClernand, Oglesby, and
many others, who had little or no military
experience to start with. have fought bravely
and well. and are entitled to the lasting graf
itude Of their country. Intellectually they
are far superior to many West Pointers who
set out with tLcm in the command of regi.
ments, and who have far outstripped them in
tht 'oSc A"t uiSiluCilpu,
simply because their knowledge Of military
science was greater than that possessed by
those who had not the advantages of a militia.
~ education.
We would not. however. be understood as
disparagins the volunteer service On the
contrary. Ne believe il should b. our main re-
lance for defense. Large standing armies
should never eAis; under Government, Ike
our. IL should he merely sufiicieu; TO sarri-
son our usili'ar, pets and Prot-c, our From
iicf isom laiian oaibr,ak. There should.
however. BE- a sufficient numi,-r II our Young
mn -Gae,ied bv the Government. to of;oer
the militia Of the eoun;ry. M, belonging to
tke regular army. hut Who shsuld BE- under
o5..- TO enter the service .. officers Of
VOLUNTEERS. shen.vrr the Gov.rnmcu, mi-h,
require III II servic.s. a. a ennsid. rattan for
ther education Vel o-=anized militia. With
educated Officers in 'n'asnd- would prove q.
etheient for defense a. thousb they composed