Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-01
ALGER TO THE WORLD.
Conduct of Late Wor-Appointment
of OnIccrs-Expcnd

was TO prepare a statement covering
several matters regarding the conduct
of the war which have been the subject
Of criticism in the public press, particu-
larry with reference to the appointment
Of staff officers in the volunteer army.
The statement follows:
II am led to make the following state
ment on account of the many criticisms
which have been made by the public
press, and especially on account of a re-
cent article which appeared in the Lon
don Times, containing assertions which
have no foundation in truth.
AT the commencement of the war with
Spain, and for several years prior to
that time the regular army consisted Of
only 5000 men, with the minimum num-
Der of officers prescribed by law. The
situation can be partially appreciated
when It is remembered that within sixty
days from the declaration Of war the
strength of the army was increased to
275 600 men. and everything for the equip
ment Of this great force. including cloth
ing, tents. transportation. medical sup
plies. camps, and camp equipage, and all
that pertains to equlpping an army for
service, had TO be manufactured. then
transported and distributed for use.
APPOINTMENT by GOVERNORS.
Prom the statement referred to the
public might be led to believe that the
volunteer army was Differed by men Sc
lected through political influence by the
Secretary Of War, by special favor, and
without any regard to fitness for tho
duties they were TO perform. AS is well
known. the volunteer force. with the eX-
ception Of three regiments Of engineers,
three regiments Of cavalry, and ten regi-
ments of immune infantry. was made
up Of regiments from the various States,
the officers Of which ,yere all appointed
exclusively by the Governors Of the re-
snecti.e States from which the regi-
ments came, and any officer found unfit
ted for service and discharged was re-
placed by another IN the same manner.
The President had no voice or control in
the matter.
1.-THE returns Of the volunteer army
show that in August, 1898, there were
those regiments. This, with the regular
army recruited up 10 the war strength.
made an aggregate force of about 275,OD
officers and men, The volunteer officers
appointed by the President numbered, all
told, 1892 and Of this number AZ were
taken from the regular army and 59l
from civil life. The scarcity Of regimental !
Cu-in n
appointments I'm the volunteers special re- |
cruiung and other details had 50 reduced !
their number that TO have taken larger /
number for the service with the volunteers /
would have seriously impaired the eili- |
cheney Of the regular regiments.
CERTIFICATES OF ABILITY.
For a little over a thousand appoint
ments made by the President the number
Of applications was over 5000, and each
application was accompanied by a GER
tncate OF ability and in most instances
Of military service, either IN the Regular |
army or a State organization Of the appl-
cant. and not infrequently IN both. These |
certificates showed that each one was as
wen qualified for the position he sought |
and 10 which he was appointed as could |
be possible for men in civil life in this
country. or the number appointed there
We're, for instance, % major-generals, of |
whom - were taken from the regular
army and from civil life. OF these z.
ali but l were graduates Of the West
Point Military Academy, and all had dis
tlngushed themselves I'm command during
the civil war. OF acknowledgements there
were 1O2 appointed, % from the Regular
army and 30 from civil life. Those from
civil life had all seen service during the
ciyi war or on our western frontier.
and all had proved themselves compe-
tent TO command.
1T has been stated, and repeated many
times that the Secretary Of War made
these appointments, when the truth IS
that very few were made upon his recon-
although no caused the entire
list with the recommendation to be COM
piled and placed before the President for
his selection would be only too glad
TO have had the honor 70 have made these
appointments. No. better no more loyal or
more patriotic set Of men as a whole never
served their country. and their appoint
ments We're a credit. not only 10 the APP
pointing power, but 10 the country they
served. There were exceptions, but that
could not have been foreseen. In every
walk OF lie men are found who cannot
carry out successfully the work they have
undertaken
THE CAVALRY AND IMMUNES.
There were three regiments of cavalry
The officers Of which We're appointed by
the Secretary OF War Colonl Leonard
Wood now a brigadier-general and COM
handing the Departments Of Santiago and
Puerto Principe. was one OF these. Colo
lel Grigsby and Colonel Torrey, both
good officers. We're the other two. There
we're three regiments OF engineers, the
'olonels of which were gil graduates OF
he Military Academy, and not only the
,fhcers. but the enlisted men were select
ID with a view to their special fitness.
ma In most instances upon the recon-
nendations OF the colonies themselves.
md all proved most efficient.
There were also ten regiments OF i'm
nune infantry. OF whose colonies eight
we're graduates of the Military Academy.
Who were selected for special fitness TO
command, and in the short time these