Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-29
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
How the Grades 81 General aud Lien
tenant-GeneFal were Created.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON As TIE FIRST GENERAL or
TIE ARnY-AN UNTITLED oFF1cH-wHY TIE OFF,
cEs EXPIRE WITH SHERMAN AND sHIRrpAN-HoN.
oRs 10 GREAT SOLDIERS.
Congress, by an act approved May %. 1898
passed law empowering the President to raise q
provisional army Of 10000 men This act grew
out OF the apprehensions OF war with France then
existing. The act authorizing the raising OF the
army also empowered the President by and with
the advice and consent OF the Senate TO appoint a
commander lof the army, who, being commits
stoned as neutenant-general, may be authorized
10 command the armies. General Washington
was appointed heutenant-general but there was
no call for his services on the field as the war was
averted. The next legislation was an act OF Con-
gress approved March 3, 1879, which provided
and commissioned by the style OF general OF the
armies OF the United States" and IL further pro-
vlded that the present ofice and title OF lieu
tenant-general shall thereafter be abolished"
The records do not show that any person was
appointed TO this position OF general. Alexander
Armv For ,ona ysn !, cOmm .hn ane
TON was the ranking commander, but a recent
order found In the files OF the War Department,
signed by him as major-general commanding, is
accepted as settling that controversy. But the
act OF March, 1893, abolished the ONCE OF neuten-
anLgenerai. which, when created in the fear OF
war, was given TO Washington.
HOW SCOTT BECAME LIEUrENANT-GKNERAL.
In the Thirty-third Congress a joint resolution
was passed and approved February u, 1885,
temporarily revivlng the grade Of lieutenant
general, In order that when, In the judgment OF
the President and OF the Senate It 'may be deemed
proper 10 recognize the services OF major general
In the late war with Mexico &c. 1t might be done.
This was the sole benefit OF General Winfield Scott,
OF ueutenant-g eneral shall have been once filled
and become vacant this joint resolution shall
thereafter cease and be OF no effect" Hence when
General Scott died the grade died with him.
proved February 29, 1854, reviving the grade Of
lieutenant-general 1t authorized the President
Dy ana with the advice and consent OF the Senate,
TO select from officers not below the grade OF
major general the most distinguished Tor courage,
be authorized, under the direction and during the
pleasure OF the President, to command the armies
OF the United states" This was for the
BENEFIT OF GEN. GRANT,
who was appointed.to the position; but an act Of
Congress approved July 25, 1866, revived the
grade OF general, which seems to have been re-
pealed by indirection in former acts, making the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT commander OF the armies.
This act was phraSed like that reviving the rank
directing that oicer be selected for his .'cour.
age, skill and ability" and that he should COM
mand by direction OF and during the pleasure Of
the President. Gen. Grant was promoted to the
rank OF general and Gen. Sherman 10 that OF lieu
tenant-general. 1t was subsequently provided
when vacancy occurs In the ONCE or general or
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, such ONCE shall cease, and all
enactmentS creating or regulating such offices
shall respectively be held TO be repealed"
GENERALS SHERMAN AND SHERIDAN
were promoted TO general and neutenant-general
respectively, when Gen. Grant became President
by succession. At that time there was no legal
limitation upon the successorship. Gen. Grants
nrSJ nominations were OF sherman and Sheridan
the former 70 be general and the latter to be
ueutenant-generalV vice Sherman. The act pro-
yfd1ng that upon these Offices becoming vacant
they should cease quoted abOve), was not passed
until 1876, seven years after the promotions of
sherman and sheridan. Hence, as the law now
stands
THE GRADE OF GENERAL DIES
with Sherman and that Of acknowledgement with
Sheridan. II Is also to be remembered that Gen
Scott held the of1ice OF Acknowledgement by bre-
vet only, so that from Washington to Grant the
ONCE was not filled as OF full rank.
TIE NOMINATION. OF WASHINGTON
TO be acknowledgement and cOmmander-in-chief
OF all the armies Was sent to the Senate by Presi-
dent Adams on July 2, 179s and was unanimously
confirmed next day. Upon receiving notification
OF the appointment Gen. Washington wrote long
letter from MI. Vernon, in which he said he would
accept the appointment with the reservation that
ne should not be called to the field until
the army was organized and ready
period was not reached he was not called into ac-
tive service By some 1t is believed that the act OF
March, 1873, abelishing the grade OF lieutenant
general and creating that or general was In
tended as a compliment TO Washington, he being
deemed the commander-in-chief. II SO he did not
accept It, for the office remained vacant until SUBJ
Sequently abolished.