San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-08-11
NEXT IN RANK.
JOHN MCALLISTER SCHOFIELD
PROBABLY THE NEXT COMMANDER
IN-CHIEF OF THE UNITED
STATES ARMY.

There is no law requiring it, but the
custom of promotions by seniority has
prevailed in the army to such an
extent that it has rarely been devia-
ted from, end the next highest officer
is reasonably certain of promation to
commander-in-chIef when a vacancy
occurs. At present John NJ. Schofield
is the senior major-general and he
will probably be appointed to sue
coed the late General Sheridan. The
other major-gen erals in order of
seniority are o. o. Howard, Alfred
H. Terry and George Crook.
Major-General John McAllister
Schofield is a native of New York
state, having been born in Chautau-
qua county, september 20, 1881, the
year that General Sheridan was born,
and he graduated in the class with
him. Young Schofield was assigned
to the second artillery, and for five
years acted as instructor in natural
philosophy at West Point. Next he
went to st. Louis Oh leave of
absence from the army and filled the
chair of natural philosophy in Wash
ingtOn University of that city.
In May, 1861, he was appointed a
captain and was almost Immediately
promoted to major of the First Mis-
souri, infantry, and subsequently be-
came chief of staff to General Lyon,
and was with him when the latter
fell at the battle of Wilson Creek. In
November, 1861, he had been pro-
NOTED to the brigadier-general and
assigned to the command of the Mis-
souri, militia, and in April, 1862, he
became commander of the District of
Missouri. General Schofield saw
much active service in Missouri. In
the fall of 1862 he was given command
of the frontier, including the Kansas
as we'll as the Missouri troops. He
signalized his promotion by forcing
the cOnfederates down into the Ar
kansas valley, at Maysville. near Pea
Ridge, Ark. He was made ma jOr-
general of volunteers November 20,
1862. In May, 1864, he joined General
Sherman's army and participated in
all the movements up to and includ-
ing the battle of Atlanta, command
ing the Twenty-third corps. In No
vember he was sent to assist General
Thomas, repulsed Hood and was in
command at the battle of Franklin,
one of the hottest of the minor engage
ments. He also participated with dis
tinctiOn in the battle of Nashville,
December Is and Is. Previous to this
battle, November 80, 1864, he had been
made brigadier-general in the regu-
lar army.
After the defeat of Hoods army.
General SchOfield was transferred to
North Carolina and his command took
possession of Wilmington February
%, 1860, and then advanced to Colds
bOro, which he reached ahead of Cen
eral Sheridan's army, after defeating
the cOnfederates in several engage
ments. On March IS, 1865, he was
breveted major-general in the regular
army for bravery at Franklin. On
the reorganization of the regular army
at the close of the war, he assumed
his rank of bri gadier and brevet ma
jor general, and in July, 1867, he was
appointed to the command of the first
military district, comprising the
of General Grant from that position,
General Schofield was appointed Sec
rotary of war for the time being, and
May 80, 1868, he was confirmed in the
office by the senate, but resigned the
following March. He was then as
signed to the command of the depart
ment of the Missouri, and March A
1869, was made a full major-general
When General Hancock died he was
assigned to the command of the
division of the Atlantic, and has since
been stationed OH Governors Island