The Portland daily press., 1899-05-13
A Lieutenant Colonel
Once the Highest
Officer.
Washington Was to Have Been
General Of the Army.

ocean,
Washington, d. c.. May 5.-The army
Of the United States was constituted BY
a resolution of Congress of date of Sept
%, 1889, being the first act Of nationa
| legislation after the adoption of the con
stitution. Our regular army was mos
modest affair under that act. 1t consist
ed of battalion of artillery, composed O
four companies, and regiment of in
fantry. made up of eight companies. II
all :his army OF twelve companies of,in
faDtry and artillery there were one lieu
tenant colonel, three majors, IL captains
Is lieutenants, eight ensigns, one sur
geon, five surgeons mates, 4S sergeants
4s oorporals "a musicians, and 720 private
soldiers Grand aggregate Of the United
States regular army of 1889, 1856 off, :
and men, lieutenant colonel being the
ranking officer In the entire army.
In 1880 there was an increase of one
major, four captains, four lieutenants,
four ensigns, and $40 enlisted men.
bringing the total up to 1878, of which
force 527 were commissioned officers. The
lieutenant colonel continued to be the
highest grade in the army"
In 1891 the United States army bios
somed out with full-fiedged Major Gen.
sral, Brigadier General, quartermas
ter. and a chaplain. There was no in
crease in the artillery companies. but a
second regiment of infantry was added.
and the aggregate of the army was In
creased to 2, 232, of whom 104 were com
missioned officers and 2 ,12S enlisted men.
From 1899 to 1886 there was practically
no change from the following organiza-
ton General and general staff, medical
staff, four sub-legions. each composed OF
one troop Of dragons; one company OF
artillery, two battalions of infantry,
and one battalion OF rifles. There were
one Major General one Brigadier, one
adjutant and inspector. one chief quar-.
termaster, and II subordinates; one CHIEF
surgeon and SO assistants, one chaplain,
four brigade majors, So captains, 60 lieu
tenants, four comets, As ensigns; total
commissioned 25s; total enlisted, 5.166;
grand aggregate in 1792, .. Al.
"A I'M hh0OOEO l3N iIoO
The act of May 30, 1896. considerably
reduced the army from what it was in
1902 The Office of quartermaster general
and paymaster general first turned up in
number of commissioned officers by
twenty five, and reduction in enlisted
strength of 1850. The grand aggregat,
IL 1896 was 1850 men and officers. There
was a slight change in 179S-an increase
in officers to 2S9 and In enlisted men tt
3, $50; total, 4,l5Y. Meanw the Major
General was dropped. A judge advocate
appeared this year In the army organiza
ton. Lieutenant colonels had increased
to six and majors to fifteen. There wert
yet no colonies In the army.
Later. in 1898, because of the war witt
France, or threatened war, the army was
Increased to 10. 600 men. A Lieutenant
General (Washington) snd also two Major
Generals we're added to the official per
sonnet. Otherwise, except in the par
ticular of staff officers, there was nc
change in the organization of the army.
Under special act later in the year 179s
the.,army was again increased to IA, 22l
mel and officers.
In 1899 1t was increased to 1881
officers and men, and the army was com.
posed of two regiments of artillery and
engineers, four regiments of dragons,
forty regiments of infantry, and one regi
ment and battalion of rifles, There wa.
one General of the ARMIES" who was
to have been Washington by common
consent, but he died ere the appointment,
could be conferred upon him by President
Adams; one Major. General, one Brigadiel
General. and adjutant general, quarter
master. general, paymaster. general, physi
clan general, an apothecary general,
purveyor inspector Of artillery. inspector
OF Notifications, an engineer officer, 9
Judge advocate, and four ohaplains. Be
sides these chief staff officers there were
many assistants of lesser rank. Tota
commissioned, 2. AT; total enlisted, 40,
244. Grand aggregate, 1891. In thu
act creating this force and its personnel
the rank of Major General was conferred
on the quartermaster general, but he was
never commissioned to that grade.
CHANGES AUTHORIZED IN 1900.
The act of May IA, 1900. authorized th'
President to reduce the United Statel
army TO what ii was practically before
the trouble occurred with France. Conse
quently all the Generals were discharged
exccpt one Brigadier and tho stalls gen