The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-04-02
Miles NOT WORTHY.
LAMONT OPPOSED TO REvIviNG
LIEUTENANT GENERALSHIP.
Only Those HavinR War Records are
Entitled to the Honor, Says the
Secretary of war-Miiitnry
Records of Men of Rank.

WASHINGTON, March 31.-The letter
of Secretary Lamont to General Haw-
ley, chairman of the senate committee
on military affairs, disappearing the bill
to revive the rank of lieutenant general
of the army, has been made public
| The bill was known as intended to confer
the rank on Gen. Miles, now command
ing, the army though his name is not
mentioned in the correspondence. Ac-
companying the letter are extracts from
the military records of Scott. Grant,
Sherman, Sheridan and Schofeld, who
became lieutenant generals; also Of
Generals Miles, Ruger and Merritt,
who, under the bill, would be eligible to
the grade of Lieutenant general.
The secretary after acknowledging
the receipt of the bill says that in no
instance has an officer attained this
rank, until he has successfully com.
manded the whole or q separate army
in battle and active campaign. Says he /:
The grade has been revived always with
the object Of comforting complimentary
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 honorcd, of whom
four had received the thanks OF congress
by name for most distinguished military
service while the fifth had commanded a
separate army during the late war, had
attained the highest regular grade 80 years
before his promotion, had held the chief
command of the whole regular army for
seven years and had successfully di,
charged most delicate and responsible
civil duties.
Secretary Lamont refers to the reor-
ganization act of 1866 fixing the strength
of the army ut 60 regiments, and to the
fact that four years later this force was
reduced to 40 regiments, and says
At the time of enactment of this statute
forbidding further promotion to lieuten-
ant general, there still survived on active
duty several officers who had successfully
commanded the whole army, separate
army or army corps during the Civil War,
and as such had rendered most distin-
guished service, but the power to reward
by further promotion such men as Hal
leck, Meade, Hancock and Others was de-
liberately taken away when It was en-
acted in 1870, during the administration
of President Grant, that the offices then
held by Sherman and Sheridan, when
next vacant, should not bo filed.
The presen major generals of our army
attained bri liant regulations for gal
lantry while commanding subdivisions of
army corps Turing our late conflict, and
have added to their laurcls since by eff
cient performance Of arduOus service upon
the Indian frontier; but it is no reflection
upon these excellent officers TO say that
the services they have so far rendered are
not of that exalted character that has
hitherto been regarded rs prerequisite to
the advancement now proposed.
Noting tina, the grade of lieutenant gem
eral has not been regarded as permanent
Office necessary to our army organization,
and has been conferred only upon few of
those officers who have rendered marked
services in war; that the complimentary
ranks, when bestowed, has often been
withheld until long after the demonstra-
ton of this superior ability and has only
been voted as reward of great military
genius and.nOst conspicuous leadership,
the conclusion Is reached that whatev er
the merits and promise of any officers of
our peace establishment who as yet had
no opportunity to demonstrate their
genius and capacity as commanders Of
large armies, by the measure heretofore
required the existing conditions do not
demand its revival mt this time.