Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-05-17

u0 ciVahhS inc Stduc VI ucutIdl.
whether this title was ever conferred
upon him or not, IL is professionally
true that unless the apprehension of a
war with France had subsidized or his
own death had interviewed, he would I'M
questionably have been General of the
Armies Of the United States. The theory
of the organization of the higher grades
Of our army evidently demands Gen.
eral TO complete and round of symmet-
really the ascending scale of rank and
authority. The appropriate command
of Brigadier-G General is brigade, OF a
Major-General a division, of q Lieu.en-
ant General an army corps, while TO
! complete the system, an officer of higher
rank and Of more comprehensive power
and ability Is required, who, unchal-
lenged, may direct and supervise and
impart unity and concert of plan and
purpose to the operations Of all the arm
les in the field. And this theory is con-
firmed, without an exception, by the
practice Of the master nations of Eu-
rope, who, in the severe school of gigan-
tic and protracted war, have learned
military wisdom.
OTHER NATIONS.
1t may be safely said that there is not
prominent nation in the world whose
army organization does not eliminate
either in General or Marshal. Prus-
STA, with peaCa establishment in 1863
of 2l0675 men, had, in the same year,
63 Major. Generals, 81 Lieutenant Gener-
ais, 81 Generals and . Field. Marshals
Austria, with a peace establishment in
1868 of 263, 285 men, had 303 Major. Gen.
erals, 209 Lieutenant-G Generals, az Gener-
ais and Field Marshals. England. with
total active regular force in 1868 of
1872, 583 men, had in 1864 1876 Major Gen
erals, l09 Lieutenant, Generals, 68 Gener-
ais and Field Marshals, the last grade
being conferred only on royal person
ages, or general officers most distin-
guished for service in the field. France,
with an army in 1862 of 467 1857 men,
had in 1861 292 Generals of Brigade 175
Generals Of Division, and II Marshals
OF France
THE AMERICAN CLAIM FOR THE GRADE.k
But, Mr.. Speaker, while this bill Gre
ating the grade of General Commends
itself to your favorable consideration by
the symmetry and completeness it will
impart to the graduated scale OF rank
in our army, and while, too, it is vindi-
Gated by the example of those nations
most distinguished for military ability
and success, cannot claim that in our
present circumstances, when the army
has just triumphantly emerged from the
most terrible contest which can ever
assail the integrity of our flag, without
General to command, and when we are
now engaged in reducing it to the peace
establishment, either the symmetry of
grade or the practice and example of
other nations constitute an adequate ar
gument for the passage of this bill |
must admit that the chief claim which
it presents for your approval is a recog-
milton and reward of the extraordinary
services of the Republics most success
ful and illustrious defender; and Lam
therefore constrained, in placing the bill
upon its merits to refreshen your remem-
brance OF the obligations Of the country
to him in many Responding hours of its
recent extremity and peril.
If Gen. GRANTS claims upon his coun-
try were either doubted or impugned,
should rejoice to appear in his defence
but unless greatly mistake the temper
OF this House upon the question Of his
exalted deserts, no discordant opinions
or conflicting sentiments are to be har-
mOniZed here.
HONoRS BESTOWED BY OTHER NATIONS,
Perhaps, however before entering in
to review Of his claims upon the ma
ton, it may be proper and pertinent to
briefly advert to the rewards which
other times and other nations have be-
slowed upon transcendent military ser
vice and ability. Far, far back, at the
very dawn Of history, indeed upon the
very first page of mans tempestuous an
nails, writ in faded heroglyphs on
crumbling columns, we read that long
anterior to these most ancient records,
war had absorbed nearly all the atten-
ton and activities of the race, and the
victorious warrior, from the necessities
Of constantly threatened and embroiled
society, became of course, the king and
founder of dynasties. Sesostris, Ra-
masses, Pharaoh, and the great military
chle1talns who gave to Babylon and
Assyrla their imperial ascendency, are
the names of the Grants, the Shermans
and the Sheridans of that early day,
promoted for martial service to an alb
solute sovereignty, transmissible by de-
scent, over great empires. The war
which for two lustrums ragged round
mighty Hum was, you will remember,
war Of kings who had acquired their
sceptres by previous prowess in the
field. And to descend to later classic
times, the names of Miltiades, Them
istocles. Aristides, Epaminondas, will
instantly occur to all as those of sue
cessful Generals who were rewarded for
military service by the chief civil po-
sltion in their respective States while
the honors bestowed by Rome and Car
thage on Caesar and Hannibal illustrate
the unbounded gratitude of those great
martial nations to their defenders and |
deiverers. Charlemagne won the iron |
crown with his sword. In the old |
regime of France the Luxembourgs, the |
TURBINES, and the Condos, who reared |
and upheld the throne of the Bourbons,
were invested with palaces, subsidies, |
and grants surprising in splendor and
magnificence the tales Of enchantment
or the dream Of avarice. Even under