The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-11
GENERAL AND LIEUT.. GENERAL
GRADES WHICH GEN. MILES WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE CREATED.

Historical Facts Relative to the Now
Extinct Titles-The Rank That
Washington HeId-AIso That Held
by Gen. Grant.
Pine Crest Villa, Fla, Dec. 10-Under
the plan of reorganization and increase
of the regular army proposed by Gen
N. A. Miles, the highest officer in rank,
Is to be a fun general fanked by two lieu
tenant generals. This will be an entirely
new departure from the great advance
made during the civil war, when for the
first time our army had fun general in
the person of Gen. U. s. Grant II Is a
mistaken idea that Lieut.. Gen George
Washington ever held this rank in the
United States army. as he did in the earlier
army Of the American revolution.
The rank of lieutenant general was first
created by Congress on May %, 1893 There
was a prospect of war with France, and
a provisional army was to be raised. The
President was authorized to appoint, by
and with the consent of the Senate when
ever deemed expedIent "a commander of
the army" and he being commissioned
as lieutenant general, might be authorized
to command the armies of the United
States"
President Adams on June %. 1898. ep-
proved this act and the same day tender
ed the position to ex-President George
Washington, then living In retirement at
Mt Vernon, who at once accepted pro-
yided he was not TO be called into acilye
service unless actual hostilities existed.
The Senate, on July 3, confirmed the ap-
polntment. One point made by President
Adams was that the mere name of Wash
ington as head of the army would be worth
more than thousands of soldiers in arms.
While President Adams was very sensi-
tive about Offering this subordinate posi-
ton to Washington, he felt that the crisis
was so great that he must seek the power-
full aid of one who had been the general
of the armies of the revolution and the
ilrst President of the new republic. There
were, however, cabinet officers and sena-
tors who thought otherwise. and felt that
no lower rank should be rendered Wash
ington than he had previously held. And
so on March 3, l799 an act was passed
in the ninth section of which it was pro-
Nlded, THAT commander of the army of
the United States shall be appointed. and
commissioned by the style of general of
the armies of the United States, and the
present office and title of lieutenant gen
eral shall thereafter be abolished" How
ever, Gen. Washington declined this high
er honor, believing that il would touch. if
not encroach upon the constitutional
functions OF the President.
In this view of the case Washington
was sustained by high authorities. and
he continued to hold the lower rank of
lieutenant general until his death. No
appointments were ever made 90 either
grade after his death. by the President.
ana on May H. 1900, Congress suspended
any further appointments under the act
creating the rank and title OF general OF
tie armies OF the United States"
Although Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott On
1921 and In 1926 provided "A system OF reg
ulations Tor the control OF the army IL
does not appear that in either case he
made any provision for n general com
handing the army. But IN 1925 he came