The New York herald., 1874-10-03

the subject was much discussed, and soon alter
Congress enacted the bill reyiying the grade OF
general, and provided tnat when commissioned
he "may be authorized under the direction ana
during the pleasure OF the President TO cominano
the armies of the United States" Prior 10 ths
time General Grant did not hesitate TO make
orders to all parts OF the army the Military
Academy aud sta1, and it was under ms asvlce
that the new regulations were compiled III 1855 that
drew The line more clearly between the duties OF
tine Secretary OF War and the commanding Gen.
eral sherman states that Grant assured him many
time, before being called to succeed him, tnat ne
wanted MN 70 perfect the aishGson ana a' on N
| assuming command OF the army specincaIiy acea
the heads OF san corps tn Washington Ia the exact 6
relation TO the army which theY Woulu Dear W an
army In the field. One or
THE FIRST ACTS OF PRESIDENT GRANT.
on entering upon the duties OF Chief Maglstrate,
was TO appoint sherman hs successor. The oloers
issued on the occasion were all that the 0eheTar
in Chief could expect. had they been adhered TO-
They are dated March D, 1862 ana READ as ior
lows:-
BY command OF the President General William IT. g
United states he chies of STAFF corps depsrmens
orders OF the General commanding the army A Official
business wnleh BY law or resITMns M sne ed
by General the Army to TIE Secretary o. war ana
an re b the nn OF or s W be
transmitted through the General of the Army.
VINO COMMANDS THE ARMY
But short time elapsed when the duties set
forth in the preceding order were entirely changed
as iu is said to please the late Secretary Rawlins
General sherman was reduced almost TO a clpner.
The only authority left in his hands was to sane
leaves OF absence. At length, In August, 1870, he
called attention to the subject, as General Grant
haa Of zone 91 n ne ha e.
long as this Is the case surely do not command
the army OF the United States" In q very recent
letter General Sherman remarks:-"Whh US to-day
the law and regulations are that no matter what
may be the emergency, the commanding general
in Texas, New Mexico and the remote frontiers
cannot draw from the arsenals pistol, cartridge,
or any sort or ordnance stores without first pro-
curing an order from the Secretary of War in
washington. general,
entrusted with the lives OF his soldiers and with
e 81 a be In rnsaed %b o
stores or property, and that Is declared to be the
law.n A glance at the powers exercised by gen.
eras-in-chlei IN past times will show what radl-
cal change has been effected.
POWERS OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL.
By the army regulations OF 1347 the military estab
Eshment was placed under the orders OF the Com
manderin-Chief in all that regarded Its discipline
to belong to the administrative department OF the
staff The General OF the Army was to watch over
to the expenditure OF money, supply OF arms,
clothing, equipments, medical and hospital stores,
barracks. quarters, transportation. military acad-
emy, pay and subsistence, In short everything
which enters into the expenses or the military
establishment, whether personal or national. He
will also see that the estimates for the military
service are based on proper data and made for the
objects contemplated by law and necessary
to the support and useful employment Of
the army. Prior to 1s47 the duties OF
the commanding general were that he should
dispose of the military force in such manner as to
give protection to the maritime frontier and to
the in terror border. He is to superintend the re-
cruiuing service; the discipline and police OF the
army; order courts-martlal and give decisions on
all cases except when the lie OF an Ofcer OF q
soldier is affected, or the commission of an officer
1t is his province TO see that the laws and regula
tions governing the army are enforced, and that
justice is done to all concerned. In his duties he
whose oifice ali orders are issued to the army and
the returns OF Its strength made, as well as the
the service The commananS General is also SOL as
sisted by Inspector generals, who, under his or
ders, viii inspect the condition OF the regiments,
corps and posts and inquire mlnutely into every
subject relative to the welfare OF the army, and
recommend such improvements as may add to the
comfort OF the officers ana men.
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE.
In all military establishments the adutant gen.
eraps offlce is under the control OF tue General
Commanding-n-Chief. It's always with the head
quarters OF the army and through 1t, Dy authority
OF the commanding General ali orders should go
to the army. But under the regime that has ex-
listed some time in Washington the Secretary
of War has taken entire control OF the ONCE and
rules the army independent OF any other officer
the President. In a recent report OF the Ad-
jutant General there Is given statement Of the
operations OF his ofice, which, 1t Will be Observed
takes IN the direction oil the entire economy OF the
military establishment Besides the authority ex-
ercised by the secretary and mentioned else
where, detachments are assigned and forwarded
from depots TO regiments, stations are changed,
recruiting superintended, leaves OF absence
granted, measures taken for the apprehension and
trial OF deserters, miscellaneous correspondence
aad with ou ocers eoncernng @ accounts and
returns, claims examined and reported upon.
funds drawn from the treasury DOCKS
OF military regulation and instructions and blank
forms lor muster rolls, showing the strength OF
companies and regiments, and the military his.
tory OF each soldier distributed; inquiries from
accounting, pension and pay OInces ans Wered;
courts-martial ordered; applications Tor dis
charge oil minors examined and supervision eXer-
cised over military prisoners Wherever confined
OF all these various functions, according TO The
regulations OF 1s47, the latter only properly be-
long TO the war Department. me Secretary,
however, has highly important duties to discharge
in communicating with Congress on all subjects
role OF inn m m
railroads and military roads and OF river and har-
bor improvements, and IN approving contracts
time relating to matters OF a non-milltary char
acter. and these taken In connection with his
duties as a constitutional adviser OF the PreSldent
afford ample occupation for his abilities.
HOW THE MATTER STANDS.
AS the matter stands at present General Sher-
man has no duties to perform at washington II
he had he would remain at the capital lie has
no authority nor is his position recognized IN the
government oil the army. Orders go from the Sec
retary OF War OF which General sherman Is en-
tirely ignorant. In fact, 1t would be dlhlcult to
imagine more annoying position to man oil
General Sherman's known ability character and
independence than the one he has occupied In the
war Department. Of course, the secretary or
War could not assume the authority he does
nor ignore so completely the existence OF the
General without the sanction OF the President,
who by law has the power OF entrustlng him with
such duties as he thinks proper; and 1t would
lurtner that the act OF July IS 1866, reyivlng
the grade OF general, and winch coners on tnat
oficer the right durlng the pleasure OF the Presl-
dent, to command the armies OF the United
States,n is not much regarded by the Executive.
ARMY ADMINISTRATION.
General Sherman in recent article published in
the Arhay ana NdUy Journal refers TO a message
made in the French Assembly by Marshal Mac
Mahon, IN which he submitted a. project OF law
with a port prepared by board OF generals on
army administration. He thinks the suggestions
OF the President OF the French Republic are as ap-
plcaoe Us as TO the French Inc separation OF
the administration and command, each lndepen-
dent OF the other, which paralyzed both and an
nulled the duaism, was condemned. 1t was de-
Cided by the Board that this error should be 'pr0-
scrlbed3' in the new military system. The report
then goes on at great length discussing the pro.
visions oil the "new law" which IS described to be
a radical change from the old one on the same
subject. While conceding to the Minister OF War
in Paris the general control and supervision OF the
entire military establishment, primarily, espe-
ciay OF the estimates, or budget, and the great
depots OF supply 1t distributes TO the commanders
OF the corps d'armee In time OF peace, and 10 all
army commanders generally In time OF war, the
absolute command of the money, provisions and
stores with the necessary staff officers to receive,
Tina anfa tnf . latr