Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-02
TWO RETlREME NTS.
Of Great Interest to Officers in the q. g.
Army.
Speculation as to the Successors OF
AdJutant General Williams and
BriRadier General Carlin.

Two retirements Of great interest to the
army will occur during the present month.
The first in chronological order is that Of
Brigadier General Robert Williams, adju-
tant general Of the army. which will occur
on Saturday next. The other is that of
Brigadier General w. P. Carlin Of the line,
which will take place on the oath instant.
For the vacancy in the former case the
most prominent candidates, and practically
the only ones with any chance of selection,
are the senior assistant adjutant generals,
Col. g. d. Ruggles and Col T. NJ. Vincent
Both are competent officers. with good war
records, the former the senior in rank in
the department and the latter with a longer
army service to his credit, he having grad
uated at the Military Academy In 1862 two
years earlier than Col Ruggles. They re-
tire on account Of age. not far from the
same time. Col. Vincent in November, 1886,
and Col. Ruggles in September. 1897.
Two Good Records.
Col. Ruggles entered the Military Acad-
envy from his native state of New York in
1851 and was appointed to the infantry on
graduation four years later. When the war
broke out he was appointed a first neuten-
ant. and In the summer Of 1861 he was ap-
pointed captain in the adjutant generals
department where he has since remained.
reaching his present grade Of colonel June
Z, 1859.
Col. Vincent. a native of Ohio, gradua ted
from West Point in 1853. two years earlier
than Col Ruggles. and entered the artillery
as a second lieutenant He became a first
neusenant in 1855, a captain in the adtutant
generals department in August, 1861 was a
captain In the second artillery from july
%. 1858. TO June ii, 1864, and reached his
present grade as colonel in the adjutant
generals department August 2, 1890 over a
year later than Col. Ruggles.
Each officer was brevetted lieutenant
colonel, colonel and brigadier general in the
regular army-Col. Ruggles for gallant and
meritorious services during the civil war and
In the campaign which ended with Lees sur
render and CoLVincent for faithful and mer-
ftorious services during the war Col Rug
giles was also brevetted brigadier general Of
volunteers: Although Col. Vincent ranked
Col: Ruggles in the line. their commissions
both as captain and as major In the adju-
tant generals department are dated the
same day. Col Ruggles, however became a
lieutenant colonel in the department nearly
a year earlier than Col Vincent. Col Rug
giles, therefore. has the advantage in rank
and Col. Vincent the advantage in length Of
actual service.
Where the Odds Lie.
Both are excellent officers and are well
qualified for promotion. There is considera-
BILE speculation as to the prospects Of each,
with the odds slightly in favor Of Gen. Rug
giles, who, It Is said. has the powerful sup
port Of Secretary Lamont. Col Vincent is
backed by Gen. Schofeld and other persons
Of strong influence. The appointment rests
entirely with the President, and il It is
true that Secretary Lamont favors Col
Ruggles. 1t Is almost a foreGone conclusion
that he will win. II the President follows
the plan adopted by him In the case Of
other vacancies in the stan of the army and
the navy. the appointment Of Adtvtant
General Williams successor WIFI be an
neunced by Monday next at the latest. A
vacancy already exists IN the list Of majors
In the adtutant generals department. and
Gen. Williams retirement will make anoth-
er in that grade.
The Other Vacancy.
The candidates for the vacancy caused by
Gen. Carlin's retirement are far more nu-
merous than those for the adjutant general
ship. The six officers highest in rank are COL
onels Of infantry-Shafter Of the first, Otis
Of the twentieth. Blunt Of the sixteenth,
Swaine OF the twenty-second, Merriam of
the seventh, and Bliss Of the twenty-fourth.
OF these Col. Blunt retires in 1884, Col.
Swaine in 1885. Coils. Shafter and Bliss In
1899. Col Merriam in 1901. AMI Col. Utis in
1902. Following these officers in relative
rank is Col Forsyth of the cavalry. who re-
tires in 1898. Col. Closson, fourth artillery,
is the ranking artillery officer who retires
in 1886. He is. however number fourteen on
the relative list of regimental commanders.
To exhaust the possibilities for this pro-
motion, 1t would be necessary to name the
forty eligible eolonelS Of the line. 1t is
generally accepted that the appointment
above. The selection will not be made until
the