The sun., 1890-10-01
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Possible PaeceaaorA.

Possible gueceaaotp.
WARRINGTON, Sept sO-The approaching re-
tlremsnt Of Col. Charles Grymes McCawley.
CommandRnt OF the Marine Corps. is note
worthy not only from his long service at the
head OF the corps but from the infreduency
with which changes have been made In its
command since it's establishment 1t is re-
mArkable fact that during the last seventy
years the Marine Corps has had only four com-
mandsnts. Col. Archibald Henderson was ap-
pointed Oct II, 1920, and served until his
death. Jan. @, 1889 Col. John Harris his sue
cessor. held office until his death In 1864.
which occurred when he had been ATTY years
In service. although only fivo In chief com
mRnd. Then came Col. Jacob Zeilin, who was
pla, cd on tho retired list in 1876 at the age OF
20. after total service Of iorty-nve years. He
was succeeded Nov l, 1876. by Col McCawlev.
who will thus, at his ,ompulsory retircm
under the age statute next January, have
served moro than fourteen y, ars at the head OF
tile corps. That this command is one In which
few die and mono resign" seems, therefore, to
be shown by the records since 1920
But tho Marine Corps dates it's origin with
tho beginning Of tho Revolutionary war, and
that carrier stage Of its existence brings In four
more commanders. The Continental Congress,
in November. l775, voted to raise the First
and Second Battalions Of American Marines"
which were to have a Colonel, two Lieutenant
Colonels two Majors and other officers as
usual in other regiments" together with the
number OF prvates usual in such battalions.
1t was especially provided that no persons
should be received as officers or men except
such as are good seamen, or SO acquainted
with maritime affairs as to be ahle to serveto
advantage by sea when required" 1t has Teen
said that the corps was organized before q sin,
gle vessel OF the navy was sent to sea Al all
H9Ssr SsSGs its rt nne e. 7
served In the fleet Of Comm odore HOPKINS, and
won battle early In 1777 by, ATTACKING, and
Island, one OF the Bahamas. The marines also
achieved renown under John Paul Jones IN
in evIF Tcbsd he the
Scraps. Major Nichols continued in com
mand san long after the war AID was sue eeded IN
1904 by Lieut.-Col. franklin Wharton; who
Commanded the corps until 1919, when Lieut.
Col Anthony Gale had it until 1920.
Thus we find only eight commandants in n
per cd OF over IA years; and, save for the new
compulsory retirement law. the record would
spect The present rommandaut Col. McCaw-
lev. has served in the, ,m,orps more than iorty-
corps from Louisiana in 1S47, Just in season
for the Mexican war. He was present at the
Mexico, and for gallantry in those actions re-
ceived the brevet of First Lieutenant pro
motion TO tle lull ErRuS lOuOWInE IN loDD.
Soon after the outbreak OF the civil war he
was made Captain. aud served in the reoccu-
patton of tho Norfolk Navy Yard, and then on
Morris Island during the bombardment of
Fort Sumter. and the attacks on Fort Wagner
detachment Of 100 officers and men in n boat
attack on Fort Sumter in 1868. he received
the hrevet OF Major, and he was promoted to
that grade In 1864. He became Lieutenant
Colonel In 1867.
The record OF Col. McCawley furnishes an
example of the share which has been taken by
the Marine Corps in land campaigns as we'll as
sen lights in the various wars OF the country.
Indeed the history OF the CORPS is very hon.
orable and useful one, and its command may
well be coveted. The senior officer under Col.
McCawley. next therefore, IN the line OF pro-
motion; is Col. Clement D. Hebb. who was APP
pointed q Second Lieutenant from California,
In 1856. Under him are Lieut.. Col. Haywood and
Lieut-Col, Houston, and then come four Majors,
Presumably from the two higher grades Col.
McCawley's successor will be chosen. Col. Hebb
being considered TO have the best chan, ..
that some change In the organization OF the
corps will be attempted, since its duties and
ts career need to be revised in accordance
with the new requirements OF naval warfare.
as we'll as with reference to the increase OF our
navy and the change In the character OF It's
war ships.