The record-union., 1896-03-31
THE GRADE OF
LIEUTENANT T-GENBRAL.
Secretary Lamont Objected to BeStOWins
1t Upon Major General Miles.
Letter Sent to the House Committee on
Military Affairs.
Two Decisions Rendered by the United
States Supreme Court in Relation to
the Consolidation of Railroads, in
One of Which it is Ruled That it
Cannot be Done Where They Are
Competing Lines.

| WASHINGTON, March 30.-The let
ter of Secretary of War Lamont return
ing to General Hawley, Chairman of the
| Senate Committee on Military Affairs
| without approval bill pending before
| that committee beStowing upon General
| Nelson A. Miles, the General command
ing the army, the grade of Lieutenant
General was to-day made public. The
| letter is as follows:
| War Department, Office of the Secre-
| tary, Washington, March 5, 1896.
Hon. Joseph r. Hawley, Chairman
! Committee on Military Affairs, United
States Senate have the honor to re-
ceive through you reference to Senate
| bill No. 49, also Senate resolutions
| Nos Al and 81, now pending in the pres
| ent session of the Fifty-fourth Con-
gress, and relating to the revival or be-
stowal by assignment of the grade of
Northumberland.
| I'm response to your request for in
| formation and remarks respecting these
measures, l respectfully submit the fol-
| lowing: Since the organization of the
| Government but six officers of the army
have held the grade of Lieutenant Gen
attained this ran until he has success
fully commanded the whole or separate
army in battle and campaign. The
grade was created in 1898, when a COM
mander was to be provided for an army
expected to be required in the impend-
| ing war with France. Washington, who
had been General-in Chief throughout
the seven years war of independence,
and had been eight years President,
was chosen to fill the position. Fortu-
nately the expected hostilities were
averted, only small part of the army
was enrolled, and the necessity for
Commander-in-Ch Chief was of short du
| ia tion. The office ceased to exist in
| December, 1899, with the death of
| Lieutenant General Washington.
'"The grade has been revived three
| times since it's first creation, and al
ways with the object Of comforting COM
| plimentary rank upon Generals who had
rendered eminent and distinguished
| services or those most distinguished
for courage, skill and ability in war.
| Five besides Washington were thus
honored, of whom four had received the
| thanks of Congress by name for
most distinguished military skill, while
the fifth had commanded a separate
army during the late war, had attained
the highest regular grade thirty years
before his promotion, had held the chief
command of the whole regular army for
seven years, and had successfully dis
charged most delicate and responsible
military and civil duties.
'"The officers promoted in pursuance of
the statutes reviving the grade of Lieu
tenant-General were Major-Generals
Scott, Grant, Sherman, Sheridan and
Schofield. Promotion for General Scott
was not authorized until eight years
after the service thus recognized was
rendered and General Schofield's ad-
vancement was postponed until the eve
of his retirement from active duty.
Lieutenant General Sherman while on
his deathbed was promoted to General.
The Reorganization Act of 1866 fixed
the strength of the army at sixty regi-
ments, and the corps of general officers
consisted of General Grant, one Lieu
tenant t-General-Sherman; five Major
Generals, Halleck, Meade, Sheridan,
Thomas and Hancock, and ten Briga-
der Generals, Mcdowell, Cook, Pope, |
Hooker, Schofield, Howard, Terry, Ord,
Candy and Rousseau. But this force
was afterward reduced to forty regi-
ments, the Major Generals were re-
duced to three, the Brigadiers to six,
and the grades of General and Lieu
| tenant when next vacated We're both to
be conferred. AT the time of the enact
ment Of this statute forbidding further
promotion to Lieutenant-General there
still served on active duty several Off
GERS who had successfully commanded
the whole army, separate armies or
army corps during the Civil War, and
as such had rendered most distin-
guished services, but the power to re-
ward by further promotion such men as
Halleck, Meade, Hancock and others
was deliberately taken away. 1t was
enacted in 1871, during the administra-
ton of General Grant, that the offices
then held by Sherman and Sheridan,
when next vacated, should not be filed
THE present Major Generals of our
army attained brilliant regulations for
gallantry while commanding subdivis-
ions of army corps during the late con-
flct, and have added to their laurels
since by efficient performance of ardu-
Gus service upon the Indian frontier;
but it is no reflection upon these ex-
cellent officers to say that the services
they have so far rendered are not of
that exalted character that has hitherto
been regarded as a prerequisite to the
advancement now proposed.
Noting that the grade of Lieuten-
ant-General has not been regarded as
permanent office necessary to our
army organization, and has been con-
ferred only upon d few who have rem
dered marked service in war; that the
complimentary rank, when bestowed. !
has often been withheld until years
after the demonstration of this superior
ability, and has only been voted as a re-
ward Of great military genius and a
conspicuous leadership, the conclusion
is reached that whatever the merits and
promise of any officer of our peace es-
tablishment will as yet have no oppor-
tunity to demonstrate their genius and
capacity as commanders of large
armies by the measures heretofore re-
quired, and the existing conditions do
not demand its revival at this time. |
Very respectfully.
DANIEL S. LAMONT.
Secretary of War"
r0H7rrr nm