Evening star., 1893-11-22
THE COMING BRtGADIER
To Be Selected on Gen. Carlin's Retirement
Next Friday.
Several Good Officers From Whom the
President May Make His Choice
Probably One of These.

oPpoiiluiSlt OI d DTlSdQl6T general
In the army and the consequent promotion
in the line which will result from the re-
tirement of Brigadier General w. p Car
lin on Friday next are the principal topics
OF conversation in army circles at the pres
ent time The President has such large
held OF excellent material to select from
that he may find the duty embarrassing.
All the colonels of the line are eligible for
the star appointment and indeed it is with
in the discretion of the President to 60
below that grade in making his selection,
put IL Is not at all likely that he will do so.
The Ranking Colonel.
The ranking colonel of the army is Col.
w. r. Shafter. first infantry, who, in ad-
dition to his seniority claim, is said to have
the support of Mr.. Croker, the Tammany
sachem. He did not enter the army until
after the close of the war; however where
as some of his competitors have been in
active service over forty years. Col.
Shafter was in the war as first lieutenant
of the seventh Michigan infantry, in 1861.
was made major of the nineteenth Michigan
states colored infantry in 1864, lieutenant
colonel OF the forty-first infantry in 1864
and has held his present grade and as,
siSnment as colonel of the first infantry
since March 4, 1879. He was brevetted col
onel in the regular army for Fair Oaks
ana brigadier general of volunteers for
eaiiant ana merftoriouS services during the
war. He Will retire in 1899.
The Next in Seniority,
Next in seniority is Col E. s. Otis.
twentieth infantry, who is said to be the
choice of ex-Secretaries Proctor and Elkins
and Gen. Schofeld. Just before the close of
the last Congress he was nominated by
President Harrison as a brigadier general
10 succeed Gen. Carr. Congress adjourned
without acting on his nomination and Presi-
dent Cleveland appointed Gen. Carlin to the
vacancy. Col. Otis is native of Maryland
and began his army career in 1862 as a
captain In the 14Oth New York infantry
lie mas fine war record, with brevets of
colonel IN the regulars and volunteers for
Spottsylvania and of brigadier general of
volunteers for the battle of Chapel House
IN virginia. After the war he became lieu
tenant colonel OF the twenty-second in
fantry, and for three and half years while
colonel of his present regiment, he COM
manded the infantry and cavalry school. He
VIII not retire until 1902, which fact is ad-
Vanced as good reason why he should give
way 10 older men, who retire before him.
An Infantry Quartet.
Following these candidates in relative
rank come in order Col. NJ NJ Blunt,
sixteenth infantry; Col. =. T. Swanie
twenty-second; Col H. C.Merriam, seventh,
and Col. Il. r. Bliss twenty-fourth. 1t
seems safe to assume that if an infantry
colonel is chosen it will be one of these or
OF the two previously mentioned. Col
Blunt. native of New York. graduated
from the academy as long ago as 1853 and
entered the artillery where he had reached
first lieutenancy in 1855. His captaincy
however. came to him in the infantry at the
outbreak of the civil war and in this arm
he has ever since continued reaching his
present grade about ten years ago. In the
civil war he served wholly with the regulars
and received brevets of major lieutenant
colonel and colonel for gallant and meri-
torlouS services at Malvern HILL Fredericks-
burg and Petersburg.
Col. Swalne. also New Yorker by birth.
graduated still earlier, in 1852, after five
years in the academy, and then Joined the
infantry, in which he reached his present
grade in 1854. During the war he was COL
onel of the ninety-ninth Ohio infantry for
more than two years, and his brevets were
for Shiloh, Murfreesboro and in general for
services during the war. Col Swaine re-
tires in 1895. Col Blunt retires still earlier.
next year, but Col. Merriam not until 1901
and Col. Bliss in 1899
Cavalry and Artillery
The next officer in relative rank is Col J.
W. Forsyth, seventh cavalry famous dur
ing the war on Sheridan's staff A native
of Ohio. he graduated from West Point in
1856, after five years at the academy, en-
tered the infantry, and after the war be-
came major of the tenth cavalry. He was
brevetted from major up to brigadier gen.
eral in the army, and brigadier general of
volunteers for gallant and meritorious serv-
ices at Chickamauga, the various Shenan-
doah battles of 1854, Five Forks and for
field services throughout the war His re-
tirement comes in 1898. The senior artil-
lery colonel, Col II. W. Closson, is consid-
erably lower on the relative list than any
of those just mentioned, and his retirement
comes in 1896
1t is generally conceded that the seec-
tion will be confined to the officers named
above. and ii is even said by persons near
the fountain head of information that the
appointment will surely fall to either Col
Shafter, Col. Bliss Col Forsyth. The
matter will probably be settled beyond con-