New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-05
LTEUTENANTGENER or The iEMf'

INTEREST IN THE PROPOSED REVIVAL OF THE
GRADE NOT CONFINED TO ARMY PEOPLE.
Interest in the bill for the restoration OF the grade
OF leutenan; general in the Army has no; oeen
confined TO the proceedings in Congress nor 10
Maior-General John NJ Schofeld and his admirers.
but il has been the subject Of much comment
among other officers of the Army and people out
side OF the Army circles The Senate bill simply
provided that the grade should be revived in order
that .'when in the opinion of the President and
Senate. IL shall be deemed psoper TO acknowledge
DISTINGUISHED services OF major-Seneral OF me
Army the grade of Acknowledgement may be spe-
claly conferred" but ito expire and be OF no
effect after the grade shall have once been nlled
and become vacant" The object OF the resolution
was to enable the President 10 appoint Major
General Schoiied to be A Acknowledgement IN
order that he might be retired with that RANK.
The friends in Congress of the other major-seneras'
and also OF some Of the brgadier generals were
so urgent in the matter that the House AMENDED
and passed the bill making the rank OF lieutenant
general permanent I'm the Of the senior MAJOR
general of the Army in the discretion OF the Presi-
dent" 1t having been reported that Genera Mne~
who will be the senior majorgeneral on the retire.
of General schoeld In sePemeea neS
he has written a letter to the committee denying
to limit the honor OF the grade OF lieutenant
- The last Lieutenant General OF the Army was
srada on March T. 1869 When General Sherman
was retired from the active list IN February 1884.
Iieutenan General Sheridan became full COM
mander OF the Army. Finally. in May. 1885, Con-
tenant-general and merge il into the grade OF
general OF the Army OF the United states" with
the provision 10 allow the promotion of Lieutenant
General Sheridan to that GRADE and that the grade
should continue only during the lifetime Of General
Sheridan. after which such grade shall also
bill reached President Cleveland. General sheridan
was nominated for the highest grade. was con-
frmed by the Senate and commission issued 10
him.
The grade OF acknowledgement was originated
by act Of Congress OF May y. 1873. and on July
that Office. which he held until March g. l799 when
act eating the grade OF General OF the Armies
OF the United States and abollshing the grade OF
Acknowledgement was approved. The grade OF
''lieutenantg general by brevet." was. however, es-
tablshed by resolution OF February Is. 1855. Ito
acknowledge the eminent services OF major-gen-
eral of the Army In the late war with Mexico.
with the provision that. having been once filled
and become vacant. the resolution establishing II
should expire and be of no effect Two days later
Major-General Winfield Scott was appointed
"brevet Acknowledgement" to rank from Marcn
80 ls47 The grade OF lieutenant general was not
revived again until February g. 1864, and TWO days
later General Grant appointed 10 the position;
and he continued TO in that position unui
July 25 1866. when act was passed reWving ING
In that grade until he was inaugurated as Iresi-
dent on March 4. 1859. when he nominated generals
Sherman and Sheridan for appointment as general
and neutenant general respectively. On July ID.
Of general and iieutenant-gene should continue
only until a vacancy should occur In the same.
when the act providing for those grades should -
considered as having been repealed.