The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-13
THE ARMY.

Overhauling the Roster In the Quarter.
masters Department-Ups and Downs of
Officers Through Act of Congress Not
Being Previously Carried Out.
WASHINGTON. Feb. II, 1872
In executive session OF the Senate to-day the
Committee ON Military Affairs reported back Sc
cret list OF nominations sent in by the President
the both OF January Affecting the officers OF the
Quartermaster's Department, clear down TO the
rank OF captain The nominations pur.
port to be made in pursuance OF the act
of July %, 1885, and the late opinion OF Attorney
General Williams as to the rule OF promotion IN the
Quartermaster's Department fixed by existing law.
The act OF July 2S, 1866, which greatly enlarged and
changed the organization or the regular army, al
lowed in the Quartermasler's Department six
colonies, ten lieutenant colonies ana fifteen
majors. This made three vacent colonelcies. six
vacant lieutenant colonecles and four vacant
maorities TO be filed under the law as It stood
theD and, as the Attorney General decdes 1t stands
now. Lieutenant Colonies David II. vinton, Edwin
Il. Babbett and Osborne Cross were entitled to the
colonecies, but the places were given to Majors
Robert Allen, James Donaldson and Daniel II.
Rucker. The next day Charles Thomas and
George ii. Crosman, two OF three colonies already
In commission when the act passed, were retired
and their places given to Vinton and Babbett, who
had just been passed over IN favor Of Allen and
Donaldson but ViEton and Babbett did not
long enjoy their new rank, as they were
themselves retired from active service on
the very day OF their promotion. This
made two more vacant colonelcles, which by
law belonged to Lieutenant Colonel Robert Z.
Clary and Major Morris =. Miller Cary got his
promotion, but Miller was passed over in favor Of
Major Rufus ingalls, who stood four files below
him. not counting Allen, Donaldson and Rucker,
who had already been unlawlully promoted to
colOnecies. The same irregular course was
pursued III framing the new lieutenant colonel
Giles and majoritles, but nothing OF importance
occurred in relation thereto except the remarkable
omission OF all mention OF these promotions IN the
War Department General Order No. II, OF August
81, 1885, which order processes to give all the army
promotions and appointments from date anterior
TO the act of July %, 1866, to the
lst day of August. few weeks ago
some OF the oversaughed Officers among them
Lieutenant Colonel Fred Myers and Major Rufus
of the action IN confirming the Illegal promotions
and pointed out the law governing the subject. A
copy OF the memorial having been re-
ferred to the Attorney General by the War
Department, he lately decided that the vacancies
created by act of July %, 1866 to be filed by
seniority according TO law and not as the President
ana the Senate might choose to fill them. Acting
on this opinion the President sent In the nominal
lions referred 90 liz the beginning of this despatch.
The following is the Presidents message:-
WASHINGTON, Jan. 80, 1872.
To THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
nominate the following named officers OF the
Quartermasters department for promotion IN tue
Army OF the United States under the act OF July %,
1s66. aud the opinion OF the Attorney General OF the
limited states dated Jan. % 1872 COPY herewith
To he assistant quartermaster general with the
rank OF colonel-LeutenanC Colonel David .Vlnton,
deputy quarermaster general, July 2S 1865 To Eli
tytt.nl Uaa m sxyIn
Babbtt. deputy quartermaster general, July 2s,
1866, to ll an original vacancy; Lieutenant Colo
July %. 1885, to iii an original vacancy Lieutenant
Colonel Robert Il. Clary, deputy quariermaster
from au active SSs
Morris s. Miller deputy quartermas.er general,
July 90, 1858. vice crossman renred from active
order that Official records may STAND cor
rected and completed; Lieutenant Colonel
KGer Ae sso deTS ce nica rered rc
active service Lieutenant Colonel James l.. Donald
son, deputy quartermaser general july 80, 1906
vice Ba6bitt, retired from active service Leutcn.
ant Colonel Langdon q. Easton, deputy quarter.
master general. !niy %, 1865, vice Cross, retired
Van Nleet, deputy quarIermaster general, February
~ is6', vice swords, retired from active service;
Lieutenant Colonel Daniel II. Rucker, deputy quar-
termaster general February %, 1869, vice Clury,
Ienred from active service. To be Deputy Quarler-
onei:-Major Morris =. Miller, quartermastcr, July
- lsoo. wee Vinton, promoted; MAJOR Robert Allen,
snafermaster July - 1866, wee Cross, promoted
MAJOR James j. Donaldson, quartermaster, July
70, 1900 10 III an original vacancy; MAJOR Lang
G G e gaston quarermaser, July IS 1896 to
uil an original vacancy; Major stewart Van vleet,
guarretIHaSIer' July ~, 1885, to I'LL an original
master, July 20, 1893, to iii an d6rieinal
vacancy; MAJOR Ralph W. Knkham, quarter
Inasser, july ~ 1866, to I'LL an original vacancy,
hlDcc resigned, Out nomination made IN order that
me oileial record may stand corrected and com.
| pleted; MAJOR John Z. McFcrrin, quartermas err,
] MAYOR Frederick Myers. quarlermasier. July