The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-03

Merritt being West Pointers. To-day Gen.
Miles OF Massachusetts, who commanded a
company in the Twenty-seeond Massa-
chusetts Infantry in 1861, and became col
oneI of the Fortieth United States Infan-
Try in 1856, finds himself in supreme com
snand OF the regular army; and Gen.
Brooke of Pennsylvania, who was captain
in the Fourth Pennsylvania Infantry in
1851 and lieutenant colonel of the Thirty
seventh United States Infantry in 1865 is
mayor general whose position is one OF
great responsibility in the present crisis
Although without a West Point military
training, these officers, like their subordi-
nate generals, have had war and peace
service that admirably fits them to com
mand in the camp ORION the field.
Unlike Gen. Miles and Brooke who were
lnfantrymen, Cen James F. Wade of Ohio
Is a cavalry man, and was appointed from
clVll life as first lieutenant in the Sixth
United States Cavalry in 1851, and was
colonel of The Fifth Cavalry when made
general officer Gen. William NJ Ora
nam of District of Columbia comes from
long Years of service in the artillery,
having been appointed from civil life sec
Uhd lieutenant in the First United States
Artitlery. in 1866. Gen William r. Shat
yer Oh Michigan has fine infantry record.
ne was first lieutenant of the Seventh
"
goiohei OF the Forty-fourth United States
Inlantry, in 1866. Like all the rest of the
generals mentioned above, he passed
,nrough the various grades and won his
DieVet rank of brigadier general at the
use OF the war for gallant and meritori-
JUS service in the face of the enemy.
y Is seldom that foreign born citizen
Is SO very fortunate as to secure a gen
naI commission in the United States
eihy' but that is what Col. John J. Cop
PPhger' son-in-law of the late James G.
l,iatne, mas done, with some considerable
opposition, of course, yet not enough to
overcome the Blaine political influence.
Del, Coppinger is a native of ireland, and
vent INTO the army in 1861 as captain of
IHe ourteenth United States Infantry.
tlis service has been in the infantry
pr9hch, except from January to June, 1865.
M"eh ne was in command of the Fifteenth
New York Cavalry.
II Gen. Elwell S. Otis should be ordered
mere from the West, and Gen. Henry c.
-aeFIlam from Alaska and California, two
more experienced infantrymen would be
ADDED. Otis is from New York and Mer-
nam from Maine. The former was cap
eSlh IN the One Hundred and Fortieth
view York Infantry in 1861, and lieutenant
Joiohel OF the Twenty-second United States
infantry in 1866 while the latter was a
captain in the Twentieth Maine Infantry
III ~ 49, and major in the Thirty-eghth
United States Infantry in 1866
should ex-Gov. Fitzhugh Lee and Con-
sIessfnan Joseph Wheeler be appointed
MAJOR generals in the new army formation
as eXpected-it will bring into the service /
.Wo distinguished West Pointers and two
Ho'ed cavalry leaders. So far as Lee is con-
oerhed bear wounds upon my own body
70 attest his skill in the Pennsylvania
IaIds' and of Wheeler. it was said by Gen.
I'ooe0 r. Lee, while visiting the late Mr.
3ndrew Low in Savannah: THE two
apiest cavalry officers which the war de-
Veloped were Gen. ]. e. 3. Stuart. of Vir-
sinia' and Gen. Joseph Wheeler of the |
-, my OF Tennessee" Before his death. the |
Iate Col. VIM. b. Johnston, of Macon, told |
lle ne was present at Mr.. Lows and that |
Zen, Lee made the above statement to |
"Hh. Sidney Herbert.