Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-11
POLITICS IN THE ARMY.
maj. Gen. POpe's romO-
tiOns Talked of aud Hoped for.

Maj. Gen. POpe's Promo
tions Talked of aud Hoped for.
From the Mem York Tribune.
WASHINGTON, March There is great
activity in what may be styled "Army
politics." and Washington, OF course, is
the centre of the disturbance. Never be-
fore in time of peace has President of
the United States had so many military
prizes to bestow at one time. Within a
week Maj. Gen. Pope will be retired, and
then it will become the duty OF Mr.. CleVe-
land to appoint a new Major General, two
BrigadieT Generals, two Lieutenant Colo
nels and two Majors, and so on down to
the grade of first lieutenants. to say moth =
ing of several other officers below the rank
OF Lieutenant Colonel, to ill existing va
cancies. The army contains large number
OF field OH Gers aud some line officers who
held much higher rank during the war
than they now do after 20 years add
tlonal service. 1t also contains many
Captains and First Lieutenants who have
been Captains and Lieutenants ever since
the war closed, whose hair has whitened
in the service and some OF whom Will soon
reach the age Of retirement. Except by
operation of the laws governing retire.
ments, the yearly number OF casualties 10
small. Nobody, except the friends of
Col. ID. Sturgls, of the Seventh Cavalry,
and they are numerous, seems to expect
that the President will go below the list
OF Brigadiers to find a successor for Pope,
and nearly everybody believes that Brig.
Gen. Howard VIII be chosen.
IL is well enough known that earnest
efforts are making to have him passed by
again, this time in favor of Miles or
Crook-the junior officer is named be-
cause he is not less aspiring than his
competitor, and his friends seem TO be far
more active and aggressive. Probably
Gen. Crooks chance would be better
were it not for his ''tailure'' IN Arizona.
Gen. Howard has remained quietly at the
headquarters Of ms department attending
TO his duties, aud there ia no visible evil
dence that he mas sought to interest any
outside influence in his behalf In the
field during the war Gen. Howard was
distinguished for his sOldierly qualities Of
sub0rdinatiOn, and he feels doubtless that
he can afford to let his cause rest upon
the record of his military services alone.
His friends are confident that be will re-
ceive the promotion be so Justly deserves.
There are forty colonies on the active
list and each one of them is r candidate
for one OF the vacancies in the rank of
Brgadier General. Among them are three
men who held the rank of Major General
during the war aud seventeen who held
the rank of Brigad1er General. The list
includes the names OF such officers as
Grover, John p. Hatch, Merritt, Carr,
Sturgis and GrIersOn. Of the cavalry /;
Ayres and Getty, of the artillery; and
Carlln, McCO0k, kantz, o. B. Wilcox,
Brooke, Ruger, Morrow and Potter, Ofthe
infantry. 1t is reported that the Presi-
dent several days ago sent over to the
War Department for the service records
OF seven colonies of infantry as follows !:
Wilcox, Ruger, Carlin, Morrow, Potter,
Brooke and kautZ. OF course it was
surmised that this was done with view
to comparing them for the purpose Of
making a selection for at least one
OF the vacant Brlgadier General
ships. Each one of these officers held
the rank of Brigadier General during the
war. The friends of Col. Wilcox are hope
full because he is the senior Colonel in the
army and his military record is excellent
Moreover, it appears that when Mr.
Cleveland was Governor of New York he
recommended Col. W ilcOx for promotion
to the rank OF Brigadier General. The
friends of Carlin seem TO base their hopes
not only upon his distinguished military
recOrd-he commanded a division under
George II. Thomas at Chickamauga -bui
also upon the fact as stated that IN 1851
when he was a Captain in the sixth in,
fantry, he was stationed at Buffalo
Among the services he performed was &c
instruct Mr.. CleVelend in drill and tactics.
Perhaps at that time the future Presi
dent thought Of going to the front himself
Col. j. Il. POtter's friends hope the fact
that he is the only classmate OF Gen.
Grant at West Point who is now on the
active list in the army will not seriously
injure his chance Of promotion.
The friends of Gen. Kautz remarked
that he is the only Colonel OF German
birth in the army. He went to the Next
can war as private in an ONO regiment,
was DISCHARGED after a years service in
order that he might enter the military
academy. After his graduation he was
assigned as Brevet Second Lieutenant to
the Fourth Infantry, in which regiment al
that time Grant, q. e. Augur aud Long
street were serving as Captains. The
only Colonel OF infantry who held the
rank OF MaJor-General during the war
was not included in the reported list. He
10 A. Med. McCo0k, one OF the ''fighting
McCOoks." The cavalry COlOnels who
held the rank of Major General are Mer-
rift and Grierson, both of whom rendered
distinguished services during the
war. Coils Ayers and Getty,
oil the artillery, DOLu rose u
the rank of Brigadier General during
the war. The friends Of Ayers are hope,
iul that in this distribution of prizes the
artillery arm will be remembered and
that he Will be the fortunate man. 1t is a
saying often repeated that "there's nc
politics IN the army" The saying is not
true just now; besides, the ''army is ia
politics." Gen. Sturgis, IL Is SAID, has
obtained the names of nearly a hundred
Senators and representatives. TO mis- appli.
cation for promotion TO Major General
ship. Every applicant for promotion 60
the rank of Brigadier General also has
sought and secured the "backing" OF a
number of Senators and Representatives,
many OF whom are taking personal
interest in the great contest, which wall
grow hotter daily until the promotions
are announced.
DnnGrrru II LEsHR,a DON ATf,Ur