Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-09-01
GENERAL OF THE ARMY.

officer in the army, barring the ex-
officic position held by the President,
and therefore it is in reality no
higher than has always been held
by the ranking officer of the army.
whether this title has been General,
Lieutenant General or Major Gener
al. At least the power enjoyed by
the individual has been no greater.
AS a title, however, it means the
highest compliment eve. paid to a
soldier by our Government, and has
been created by actof Congress three
times-once in 1899. as q compile
ment to Washington; again in 1866,
as an additional honor of Grant, and
recently for the behoof of Sheridan.
The story of these three different
acts is interesting. At the end of
the eighteenth century there was a
prospect OF war between the United
States and France, and in 179S Con-
gress empowered the President to
raise provisional army of 10000
men," and by the same act authori-
zed him, with the sanction of the
Senate, to commission Lieutenant
General, who should be command
er of the army. This was on May
%, 1898. On July 2 of the same
year President Adams nominated
General George Washington for the
position, and the Senate unanimous
ly confirmed him the next day.
Washington being notified of his
nomination wrote provisional &C
ceptance, STIMULATING that he should
not he expected to assume the duties
os the office until the army was rails
ed and ready for him to take COM
mand. On March 3, 1899, war still
threatened, and while preparations
were still in progress Congress, with
its customary circumlocution, struck
out the first half of the title, aving
it General" instead Of Lieuten.
General"
Washington died before the war
cloud lifted, but never assumed the
position or title, the highest COM
mission he ever held being that of
Major General Commanding. AT
ter his death, war being averted, no
was issued of the high
est rank, and the legislation was
considered TO be repealed by desue.
tude or indirection, and MajorGen-
eral Commanding remained the
highest military position attainable.
TO this rank Alexander Hamilton
succeeded.
In 1856 the Congress again crea-
ted the title and rank of Lieutenant
General, avowedly as compliment
to General Winfield Scott for his
services as Major-General in the
Mexican war. 1t was enacted at the
same time that the new office, once
having been filled and become va
cant, should thereafter cease. This,
accordingly happened at General
Scott's death.
In 1864 nearly the same thing
was done for General Grant, who
was at once made Lieutenant Gen
eral by President Lincoln. Two
years later the rank of General was
revived, and Grant was appointed
to it. The second rank, that of
General, was awarded to
General Sherman. When Grant
was made President he promoted
Sherman to the rank of General,
and Sheridan. then a Major -Gener-
al, to be Lieutenant General.
In 1876 the Congress again fixed
things up, providing that when the
offices should become vacant they
should cease. This barred Sheridan
from promotion to General when
Sherman was retired two years ago
on account of his age, and had it
not been for the quick action of Con-
gress it is not likely that there would
have been another General Of the
army unless in the future of the
Nation might have desired to honor
some hero as yet unknown.-N. Y.
Graphic.