The Portland daily press., 1899-05-13


officers was reduced to SIS and the enlisted
strength to lis. The military peac'
establishment" by the act OF March 10.
1902, was fixed at s,2s7 officers and men.
There was one Brigadier All the chisl
staff department. officers were dispensed
with, except an adjutant and inspector
general. For the first time the grade Of
colonel appears upon the army rolls. with
three Of the grade at the head of the only
three regiments in the service.
There was no changed until 1908, when
the act of April IL provided for an addi'
tion Of five regiments of infantry, one OF
riflemen. one OF light artillery, one OF
light dragons. two Brigadiers two
brigade inspectors, two brigader quarter
masters, five hospital surgeons, 10 sur
geons' mates, and one chaplain to each
brigade. The number Of officers Of the
army was increased to TIA, the enlisted
force to Q, 147 men. This increase was
compelled by the threatening condition
OF affairs with Great Britain. which ultI-
mately illuminated in the war of iSl2-15.
The act of June go. 1912, made some
important additions to our military
strength. The army was composed of a
regiment of artillerists, two regiments OF
heavy artillery, two regiments Of infan-
thy, and one regiment of riflsmen-1, 1851
commissioned officers and "a, OBS enlisted
men. There were two Major Generals,
eight Brigadiers, 80 colonies, 36 lieutenant
colonies, and 400 majors, besides staff
officers of these grades. There were an
adjutant general. inspector general, quar-
| termaster general, adjutant and inspector
general IF the army, a commissary gen
erai of purchases. commissary general Of
ordnance, paymaster Of the army, hospi-
tai surgeons, ana Judge Advocates.
In 1913 the Major Generals had increased
to eight, the Brigsdiers 10 is. the colonies
to 81, lieutenant colonies to So, and the
majors to 1906. There was no increase in
the artillery or dragons, but there had
been an addition OF ~ regiments OF in
fantry. The grand aggregate of the
regular army was 81, 1851 men, of whom
g. 260 were commissioned officers.
Tho army in 1914 was com posed of a
regiment of light artillery, q corps of
artillery. regiment of light dragons. A
regiments of infantry, four regiments of
rilemen. q reg ment Of rangers, and
some sea fencibles. Total commissioned,
8, 495; total enlisted force, 59.l7 There
was no noteworthy change in the staff
department. This was the high-water
mark of the regular army during the war
with Great Britain, the last battle OF
which was that of New Orleans on Jan.
8, 1916, after peace had been declared.
neither the American nor the
British commander, however, being
aware of the fact. The British
suffered bloody defeat at the hands of
General jackson. The foregoing, figures,
1t must be remembered, take no account
of volunteers and militia; they have to do
only with the United States army.
FURTHER NOTIFICATIONS OF 1915.
Under the act of March 3, 1916. the
army was reduced to two Major Generals,
four Brigadiers, GA commissioned Off
GERS, and II, 700 enlisted men. There were
but few changes in the staff department.
The regiment OF light artillery, corps
of artillery, eight regiments of infantry,
and riffs regiments of infantry. and
o rifle regiment were retained. This
organization cen tinued for six years.
In 1921 the army was still further re
duced. 1t was then and long continued
embodied in the following departments:
General staff medical department., pay
department, purchasing department.
corps of engineers, Typographical engi-
neers, four regiments of artillery, and
seven regiu ents of infar try Total
commissioned, $40; total enlisted, B, $50
The official personnel was as follows; One
Major General, two Brigadiera IL col
ouels, IL lieutenant colonies, 10 majors,
1870 captains, las first lieuteEants, liS
second lieutenants, an adjutant general,
an inspector general, quartsrmas ter
general, commissary general, quarter
master general. commissary gene raj, sur
geon general, paymaster general. and
commissary of purchases. Most of these
chiefs of staff bureaus had assistants in
various numbers and OF different grades
in rank. In 1882 there was u slight
change in the number of officers. 1t was
increased to $50 officers, and the enlisted
strength was raised to 6.540 men. bat
TALON of mounted rangers was added. In
the following year these rangers were dis
banded and regiment of dragons was
added, and thers was some increase in the
med ical and pay departments. The aggre'
gate of commissioned officers was raised
to 6i7 and the enlisted strength to 1910.
In 1888 the strength of the infantry
regiment was nearly doubled by enlist
ments, although but one additional in
fantry regiment was added. The COM
missioned officers were Increased to 1885
and the enlisted force was raised to Gil, :
sO4 men. The next change OF Importance
took place in 1916. This was the year in
which the Mexican war broke out. One
Major General and two Brisadiers were
added and a considerable number of sub
ordinate staff officers. The only addition
to the line was regiment of mounted
rifsmen. The number of commissioned