The National tribune., 1884-02-14
THE LEGION OF HONOR,
Which General Roseerans Undertook 10 EstablEsh
in the Amy OF the CaasaeTsaad.

" hhieh General RoseeraRs Undertook 70 EstabiIsh
in the Amy OF the Cumberland.
The praiseworthy attempt made by MAJOR
General William S. Rosecrans to foster spirit
of esprit dc corps and encourage bravery in the
field among the solliers Of bis army, by tie
formation OF q Legion Of Honor is fully ex-
planned in the following order establishing il
There is no doubt that the existence Of corps
q elite, composed Of the bravest aud best SOL
dieTs in any army, with the honor and privi-
leges pertaining to it, honestly earned at per-
son4l peril Of life. would be welcomed by the
best soldiers. both comm ssios.ed and pirate
The official notice takel OF deeds of daring
by commanders of regiments In official reports
often Influenced by personal feolHg.-and nee
essauiy limited 70 a few 70 secure the brevisy
required ia such reports. comprises al tie
mention made Of the eouGHef o. sG5O1dinats
officers and enlisted men il action.
History, based upon Official reports, is, there
fore, necessarily silent upon the gallant con-
duet OF thousands of brave Ilen, whose names
would have found their way TO future genera-
ti0ns, coupled with due need OF praise for the
exploit that caused them TO be enrolled in the
Legion OF Honor, had it been established on a
permanent footing IN every army OF tAe United
States.
WAsHIEGToS, ID. G., Feb I, ISS4
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
Two inquiries from comrades on record and
others writing. wishing TO know about my
order for the establishment OF the Legion Oi
Honor Of the Army Of the Cumberland IN
dueed me to ask the Adjutant- General Of the
Army for copies OF the orders IN reference
/ thereto. IL occurs to me now that il may be OF
general interest 70 the officers ard soldiers Of
4 -
Others 10 read both tae order creating It and the
/ one announcing the Obstacles in The way Of is
being carried ont- Truly, yours,
". 5. ROsECE4Ss.
HEADQRs, DEPARTMENT. or TIE Cu1IBERE4SD,
HuzrEEEssoEo'. TEyy., Feb. "A, 1863.
General Orders, No. I9.
To establish a method Of pointing out 70 this
army and the Nation those eliieers and soldiers ol
tiiss commend wno shall distinguish themselves
by ssFaFarF blitie by coaEazge, enterprises. and
soldleriy ecaGuet a-e, slsso, 20 pro10,e The eli-
cheney OF the service;
Ii IS ordered that in every company IN this army
/ infantry, artillery, and cavalry Included there
shall be kept q roll OF honor, on which shall be
entered the names of I've prIvates most distin-
gGished for bravery in battle. enterprise ensiur
ance sOldcriy conduct and skill in the use of arms
The soldiers entitled 70 THIS distinction VII be Sc
ieeted by she noE-eoTill officers and prt-
/ Yates IN each company by ballot approved oy ths
( company commander.
/ In every brigade there shall be kept a brigade
roll OF honor, on which shall be Inscribed the re-
/ mental rolls and. IN addition thereto, the naI1es
/ Of four ieufenants, four captains, aad two Geid
Z officers, below the rank OF colonel most listn-
suishe for gallaatEy in action, professional knoVI-
edge. skill, and zeal IN the performance Of Ggty.
4 Brigade rolls o. honor shall be published N bri-
gade General Orders, and copies sent 70 division
[ and departments headquarters.
Each army corps shall have a roll OF honor COM
posed OF brigade rolls and IN addition thereto t. Q
names Of general field and staH officers who win
especial distinction 6y noble and heroic conduct.
The names of any one on the roll Of Aolsor may
be stricken thsrerCut Tor ulscoues, for lslliIsg :
below the standard, by reglrlental. Brigade d.
vision superior commanders by sentence of
courts martial Vacancies arising from these OF
other causes shall be Immediately hliet N the
manner already prescribed. " hoever shall receive
medal for distinguished service shall have his
name placed on the roll Of honor
Officers niIlissoneG{ officers ard pTIvatsa
! may have their names placed upon the rolls Of
honor by the general commanding for particular
acts of heEOism that may come under his ObseEva-
tion-
II Each infantry and cavalry brigade shall In
mefiIateiy organize light battalion. De formed
from The rolls OF honor follows: Three prEVltes
from each company, commissioned CEieer. two
serEeantS and three corp0rals from each regiment
and one field ofliesr from each brigade, As COM
mRnder OF the battalion. to DC selected according
to tae method designated n establishing the rolls
I OF honor. The detail from each regiment shall
constitute 8 company.
rilied arms revolving arms II pOss.iei and VIII be
mounted rs soon as practicable. II shall be always
kept fun BY selections Haasic from brigade Tcgi
mental or company rolls OF honor
Officers and soldiers may be dismissed from the
battalion Tor misconduct by its commanding on
Ger with the approval OF the brigade cC1a aasier
or by order of a superior commander The hghi
battaIan VIII be excused from picket duty. and
when not on detached service. VIII De eneaHped Al
brigade headquarters II Elgsst be kept u al tn.el
fully armed and equipped and provided with water
proofs and shelter tents and tAe necessary tTs1ls
portatiou-
These light battalions viii be looked upnn as ths
elite Of the army and models for their profession
and fson them wiz be expected sueh deeds Of dar
ing and enterprise as VIII prove them worthy o
the distinction conferred upon them and Justify
the choice Of their companions
BY command of Major General Posecrans,
c. GODDARD
ASST Adjutsnt-esenerAI and Chief Of STAFF.
Official:
--. Assistant Adjutans-tieneral
HEADQR's. DEPARTMENT. OF TfrE CUMBERLAND.
General Orders, No. So
The general commanding Hhding that the Wa
Department objects to the organization Of the Ign
hattaion5 s-on the rolls cf honor contemplated
by paragraph I'd, General Orders No. 10 cuFTen
series, from these headquarters. Directs
That those whose appear the rolls o