Omaha daily bee., 1895-05-06
ARMY OFFICERS GETTING OLD
Several Retirements Of Men in Advanced
Grade Come During May,
GENERAL T. [. CASEY HEADS THE LIST
Chief OF the Engineer Corps viii Go Into
Private Life on Friday - Colonel
Craighill His Probable Success
sor-Promotions Contingent.

| WASHINGTON, May 5,-(Special "A num-
Der OF important army retirements will occur
during the month of May. The grades in
which the officers rank range from a major
to brigadier general. Chief of the retire.
ments is that of Brigadier General Thomas
Lincoln Casey chief Of engineers. General
Casey will go into private life on the 10th of
May, and this is the first retirement that will
occur this month. There is already much
gossip being INDUCED in as to who will be
his successor. The general opinion among
army officers is that Colonel William p.
Craighl will be appointed by President
Cleveland. Colonel Craghll is third in rank
among the colonels Of the engineer corps, but
both Colonel Mendell and Colonel Abbott who
precede Colonel Craighil will retire during
the present year, and 1t is said neither one of
them is likely to receive the appointment on
account Of the nearness of the date Of their
retirement Both Of these colonels who out
rahk Colonel Craighil are excellent officers.
and 1t cannot be said that they shall fail to
secure the appointment on account of an un-
deserving record.
Colonel Craighill however, 1t is under
stood. Is the choice OF nearly all the army
officers interested in the appointment and es-
pecially are the officers of the engineer corps
anxious that he should receive the appoint
ment
WILSON MIGHT HAVE IT
Colonel John NJ. Wilson Is said to be such
| favorite with President Cleveland that II
he should solicit the appointment he might
have no difficulty in securing it. Colonel
| Wilson Is in charge of the public buildings
and grounds of the District of Columbia He
| or course is superintendent of the buildings
and grounds around the executive mansion
and while holding this position has been
thrown in contact with President Cleveland
and owing to the fact that they are warm
friends 1t is the common belief that If he
were anxious to secure the appointment as
chief OF engineers he might easily do so. The
latest rumor, however, and it seems to be
well grounded, is that Colonel Wilson does
not covet the position, and is on the con-
trary, working in the interest of Colonel
Craighill, whom he would like to see
! have the position. If such is the case
| Colonel Craighll will probably be appointed
since the opinion of Colonel Wilson will have
much weight with President Cleveland.
| The president is not restricted to the grade
OF colonel in making the appointment but it
! is believed that he will confine his choice to
that grade, as it is not probable that he would
pass over the deserving colonels and give the
| appointment to any officer in a lower grade
| should either of the colonels be ap-
pointed chief of engineers, with the
Colonel John W. Barlow would be pro-
motei to the rank of colonel, Major David p.
Heap would become lieutenant colonel Cap
tain William L. Marshall would be made
HldJOI, flrst Lieutenant Henry E, Waterman
captain, Second Lieutenant Edgar Jadwin
hrst Lieutenant and Additional Second Lieu
tenant James p Jervey second lieutenant
GENERAL CASEY'S SERVICES.
large part OF the service of Brigadier
General Casey has been performed in or
ABOUT the District of Columbia, as will be
seen from the following sketch of his army
service:
He was born in New York and appointed
from Khode Island cadet at the United
July l, 1852 when he was graduated and
appointed: Breyet. second lieutenant engi-
NJ peers. July l, 1852; second lieutenant June
q, lS9li Irst lieutenant, December 1. 1856
1858; lieutenant colonel, september 2 iS741;:
chief engineer, July g. 1888; brevet lieutenant
colonel and colonel March 13, 1866 for faith
iul and meritorious services during the
Services: on duty at Military academy
July q to September l. 1852: assistant engi-
all works and river and harbor improve
ments in Delaware river and bay, December
tary academy as assistant instructor and as
assistant professor OF engineers, August 2S,
November Is, 1859; commanding detachment
OF engineer troops in Washington Territory,
constructing wagon bridge from Vancouver.
Wash, to Cowltz river, Oregon. and select
Ing and surveying military reservations on
Puget sound, November, 1853 to April 10.
1861; conducting engineer soldiers to West
Point and under orders to June II, 1861; at
Fort Monroe, as assistant engineer. Depart
memt of Vireinta to august i5 1861; super
tifcations on coast of Maine to July 25,
1866. being absent on special duty with
diton to Fort Fisher N. c.. and December
to %. 1861: on leave August l, 1866, to Jan
construction of Forts Preble and scammel,
Me-, March l to November Is, 1879, being
grounds and certain works in the District Of
Columbia; construction of State, War and
Navy departments, March 81, 1877, to May
81 1885, and the completion of the Wash
ington monument, June 2j 1873, and April |
1, 1888, and of other various improvements
at other places and member of various en-
glneer boards and Gommissions issd as chief OF
efpgneetts since - Juiy D. SS ana f IN Gharge
of congress by virtue of act of congress OF |
October 2, 1888. and August 8. 1892, to date.
IN THE @. NJ. G.'S DEPARTMENT.
Another retirement which will occur this |
month is that of Colonel Judson b. Bingham, |
assistant quartermaster general on the 10th !
instant By his retirement Lieutenant Col |
onel George H. Weeks will be promoted to |
the colonelcy, Major Gilbert C. Smith will |
become lieutenant colonel, and Captain John |
L. Glen to the majority, leaving a vacancy |
in the grade of captain. Up to a short time
ago thsre were three vacancies in the grade
OF captain in the quartermaster's department,
but the president filled these vacancies at the
same time that he made the appointments to
fill the vacancies occurring on account of the
retirement of Major General McCook. First
Lieutenants John T. French, jr, Fourth ar
tillery; James b. Aleshire First cavalry,
and Isaac w. Littell, Tenth infantry, were
appointed to fill the vacancies. This vacancy
therefore will be the only vacancy which
Will exist in the grade Of captain. One Of
the candidates for appointment as captain
is Lieutenant j. ]. Pershing, Tenth cavalry
who is professor of military science and tao
ties at the Nebraska State university, in
Lincoln. First Lieutenant Lewis NJ. Koehler
of the Ninth cavalry, stationed at Fort Du-
Chesne, Utah, is also a candidate. as is also
First Lieutenant Gonzales S. Bingham, Ninth
cavalry who is son of the retiring colonel.
The appointments to the three vacancies
which were Just filled had been delayed for
quite long while the first vacancy having
occurred in August last, so 1t Is likely that
the appointment to fill the vacancy caused
by Colonel Bingham's retirement will not
b made Immediately, but may be delayed for
some time. There is a large number Of
and 1t is believed that others
will announce themselves before the time
arrives for making the appointment.
RETIREMENTS IN THE LINE,
On May II Major Frederick NJ. Crandal
Twenty infantry, will retire, promot-
ing Captain Thomas j. Lloyd, Eighteenth
to the grade Of major. First Lieu
tenant Charles l.. Steele, Eighteenth infan-