Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-18
soUTHERNERs IN THE ARMY.
Captain Lambert Delivers an Interest
ing Address at Rochester.

ROCHESTER, MY. Sept. 17.-The reunion
of the Army of the Cumberland began here
to-day, with Gen. Sheridan presiding and
large number in attendance. The usual
reports were read and the customary
literary exercises held. A banquet will
be given tomorrow night.
William H. Lambert, of Philadelphia,
late Captain of the Thirty-third New
Jersey Volunteers and Brevet Maicr of
United States Volunteers, in an ora
ton before the Society on Mai.
Gen. George H. Tbemas tonight, in
speaking of the estimation in which
Thomas was held by his brother officers
when young man, said:
Referring to the appointments in the four
new regiments, two of infantry and two of
cavalry, authorized by the act Of Congress
March 3, 1855, Mr.. Jefferson Davis, who was
then Secretary of War, states that he was
indebted to Col. Samuel Cooper, the then
Adjutant General, for assistance in making,
the selection from the army of officers for APP
polntment in these regiments, and that when
the list was submitted to the President
difficulty was found to exist which
Cooper or to Mr.. Davis: ''the
officers selected purely on their military rec
ord did not constitute a roster conforming
to that distribution among the different
States, which for political Considerations it
was thought desirable to observe: that is to
say, the number of such officers of Southern
birth was found to be disproporti0nately
great" The list was therefore revised under
instructions from the Preside 1t land modified
In accordance with this new element of geo
graphic Il distribution"
What was the number of Southern officers
comprised in the original list of recommended
tlons for appointment is not now N record;
if, h 'wever. il exceeded the number on the
modified list of appointments, the dispropor-
mar Ao-r L
ceedingly great. OF the seventy officers ap-
pointed to the cavalry regiments, forty four
were of SOuthern birth of the eight field Off
GERS Sumner, Albert Sydney Johnston, Joseph
Il. johnston. Lee. Bragg, McCulloch, Hardee
and EmOry-but one was of Northern BIRTH
Sumner, the Colonel OF the First Cavalry
The prepOnierance of Southern men in these
regiments suggests, az least the possibility
that the Secretary Of War may have had
forecast of the approaching conflict, and that
he may have had some consideration of the
advantages which might result from having
Southern men In high stations in that emer-
gency.
Whether or not, however, other motives
than the good OF the service, and his natural
desire to efficiently officer regiments created
during his administration of the War DeDart-
arm. actuated Mr.. Davis, 1t is certain that
the official personnel of the First and Second
Cavalry was unsurpassed for bravery and
ability by that of any other regiments in the
army.
McCulloch having declined the commission
as Major because of his chagrn at not receiv-
ing the Colonelcy for which he had asked,
john Sedgwlck was appointed in his stead;
and Bragg, intending to quit the service, hav-
ing also declined the appointment as Major in
the First Cavalry, Maj. Emory, of the Second,
was transferred. and to the position thus
vacated, Capt. Thomas was promoted upon
the suggestion of Capt. Bragg, who,in declin-
ing the commission, said that he did not know
a, a, better man for the place than George II.