New-York tribune., 1896-03-31
GENERAL MILESS hANh.
crcprrARy LAMONT EXPLAINS WHY HE
OPPOSES PROMOTION

r,,,, c,,nr of GENERAL NOT
xrcvse,pv N TIME OF PEACE-wHY 1T
HAS BEEN CREATED IN THE PAST
WASHINGTON. March 3o-The letter of SecretarG OF
War Lamont returning to General Hawley' cha"
man of the Senate Committee on Military A""','
without approval a bill pending before the commit
too bes,owing upon Major General Nelson A. Miles
the general commanding the Army, the grade OF
lieutenan general was to-day made pubic. Acco"-
panying the letter were voluminous extracts Io" 'e
military records OF Generals Scott Grant Sherfpa"'
Sheridan and schoAcld, who held the grade o. "'1,
tenant general and Of Generals Miles hoser anu
Merritt The letter follows:
wa Washington March ), 1896.
Han Josenh f. Uawley Chairman Committee on
Military Affairs United States Senate
Sir: have The honor to acknowedge the Tecep, epo
senate resolutions Nos II and ST. all now pending In
the present session Of the IIVu Congress anG re,
lating to the revival bcstOwa. by assignment or
the grade OF lieutenant general response 10 ipir
request for Information and remark respec,ns $50
Since the Organization OF the Government put SIX
officers of the Army have held the grade a. 9i ieu-
tenant general and In instance has an oncer al
tained this rank until he has successfully com,
manded the whole or separate army in batue ana
The grade was created in 1885, when commander
Surci hG . in n the impending wth France Wash;
ington. who had been General-in-chiet throughout
eight years President was chosen 70 n the posi-,
tion Fortunately the expected hostiiities were
rolled and the necessity for Commander Chief
OF shor, duration The office ceased to exist
General Washington.
The grade has been revived three tines since @ lts
first creation. and Always with the object Of con,
ferrng complimentary rank upon genera:s VINO had m
rendered eminent ana di'tngulsneu servte' LII nj
ability" in war Five besides Washington were
OF Congress by name for most distinguished mill
tary service while the NTH had commanded
highest regular grade thirty years before his pro-
motion and had the chief command Of the whole
discharged most delicate and responsible civ' duties
The officers promoted In pursuance OF the statutes
revfving the grade of lieutenant general wore
Major-General- Scott Grant, sherman. Sheridan
and schoheld The promotion for Genera. scott '
ice thus recognized rendered and General
schoneiis advancement was postponed until me
General Sheridan while on his death bed was pro-
noted 70 general. ... -, ,.ce ox., 49,, .,r.n,.h
~ the Army at sixty regiments and the corps Of
general officers consisted Of one General Grant
Ha,eck. Meade sheridan Thomas and Hancock. and
ten Embellishments. Mcdowell Cooke. Pope;
Rousseau but four years later this force relu
to forty regiments ne Major Generals were reduced
General ana I.cIt~iant-G General when next vacated.
were not again to De conferred
further promotion % I.eutenant-Gcnernl there stll
survived on active iuiy several officers who had
armies or army corps during the civil War and as
such had rendered most distinguished service. out
the mower 20 reward by further promotion such men
as Halleck Meade Hancock and others was Ie-
beratsly taken away when II was enacted IN
1870 during the Administration OF President Grant.
that the Offices then held by sherman and sheridan.
when next vacant. should not be nlled.
The present mai tor- generals OF IN" Army attained
brilliant regulations for gallantry while com
mardlng subdivisions OF Army corps during the
late conflict. and have added to their laurels since
by efficient performance Of arduous service upon
the Indian frontier. but II Is no reelection upon
these excellent officers 10 that the services they
have so far rendered not OF that exalted char
acfer that has hitherto been regarded as prerequi-
site to the Advancement now proposed.
Noting that the grade OF lieutenant general has
not been regarded az n permanent office necessary
10 our Army organization. and has been conferred
only upon a few OF those officers who have rendered
marked service In war; that the complimentary
| rank when bestowed. has often been withheld! until
long the demonstration OF this superior abinty.
and has only been voted a reward Of great mill
| tary genius and most conspicuous leadership the
| conclusion II reached that. whatever the merits
and promise OF any officers Of our peace establish
ment who as yet have had no opportunity TO
demonstrate their genius and capacity as com
| manders OF large armies, by the measure hereto,
fore required the existing conditions DO not demand
ts revival al this time. Very respectfully,
" DANIEL $. LAMONT.
OF War