The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-29
ABOUT A LIEUTENANT-G GENERAL.
The Proposition to Restore the Grade IN
Our Army-A Bit or History. BE-


WASHINGTON. Oct 28.-One more move to re-
vive the grade OF Lieutenant General has boon
made at the present session Of Congress By .
bill introduced for that purpose. That 1t will
succeed is not thought probable. because there
is no real need Of the office.
In our small army the grade OF Lieutenant
General has invariably been conferred either
for immediate use in the conduct OF pending
or prospective military operations or else as
reward for exceptional military services not
otherwise adequately acknowledged in pro-
motions. The first Lieutenant General was
Washington. who received the rank in 1898
on account of the possibility OF war with
France. As Secretary McHenry put it You
see how the storm thickens. and that our ves-
sci will soon require its ancient pilot. May w0
Gatter ourselves that in crisis 80 awful and
i'm portant you will accept the command OF all
our armies?" With the death Of Washington
the grade lapsed. and during more than half .
century the army was commanded by the Sc
nior Major-General. Just as 1t is now. Within
that period two great wars wore carried on.
one with Great Britain and the other with
Mexico. but 1t WAS not thought necessary In
either to create a Lieutenant G General.
At length tho brevet rank Of that grade was
conferred on Gen. Scott. the commanding Of
ncer during the Mexican war; who had made
the memorable march which resulted In the
fall Of the city Of Mexico. 1t was token OF
honor for that illustrious exploit. and was not
at all necessary for the routine command OF
the army In time OF peace. That this was the
fact was made clear by the comforting only Of
the brevet. which is especially used for honor
airy purposes. When the civil war broke out
our highest officers in the field remained with
the rank OF Ma or. General until the year 1854.
when. in virtue OF his supervising the vast
operations both Fast and West as well as In
recognition Of his great victories. Gen.
Grant was made full Lieutenant-Gsn-
eral His reward for the snccesstul COZ.
Gsn"2nl. al and IN" Cen ~ Sherman Then sesame
Lieutenant eneral In 1890 when sherman
became Gencr'.l, Sheridan was promoted e be
time rseoenised that the honorary promo.
lions for war , ssryiees Ind been completes,
iapse with their occupation by those incum-
bents. ,Aiterward, when sheridan was in bis
expected, Congrees gave him tho grade OF
General. from motives that are obvious: but
dicatirG any need OF prolonginG either grade.
The grade Of Lieutenant General lhpsed with
tho promotion OF Gen. Sheridan more than
This review OF the facts shows very oonelu-
sivey that none OF the circumstances which
erals in former years exist to-day. Indeed, .
striking proof Of the fact that Congress. in It's
the grade Of Lieutenant GENERAL. desired that
Il should never be given again for services In
the civil war, Ia that at that time those Illus
trious soldiers. Thomas and Meade, both ex-
ceptionally worthy of II. were At III living. but
Congress took the ground that the prom otions
and the hreyets already given out wore nde-
qnatr. This Is thought to be a SUN Client
ground for not changing the policy at tho
present time
There would. however. be n good ground for
6n & the House Military Il
once discovered an argument in the fact. rs
tts.rcport said that " tho United States 10 dl-
yII al tptn hrnn mil "A Hat -
which should be commanded by Major Gem
eral. There are Mt present but two Major. Gem
erals besides the one who is commanding tho
army Whatever may he thought as to tho
logic Of that argument 1t has no force what
ever At the present time since the three mill
tary divisions are abolished. and only DEPART
ments exist. All this Is outside of the question
OF additional expense on which no stress
needs to be laid as the other considerations
will probably decide the case.