The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-03-28
RANK BY BREVeT
II Uncle Sans Army an Honorary
Title. With NOrthing Else

Among the nominations which were
sent 20 the senate recently by the presi'
dent were many for breyet ranks, and
the fact that the lists included many
names Of officers who had died IN the
service caused some surprise in circles
where the full and true meaning OF the
brevet rank was unknown.
The brevet rank is given by the
president "for gallant action aud
meritorious services and is always
one grade higher than the officer held
at the time he earned the distinction.
Brevet ranks have been conferred in
the United States army OF oil grades
from first lieutenant to lieutenant gen.
eral, but the title. high or low, bring
neither additional authority nor increas-
ed pay.
An officer who received brevet for
distinguished services in the Spanish
war said: THE brevet is simply Uncle
Sans way Of saying to an officer You
did your work we'll Bully for you
Take this paper to show your folks
what l think Of you. The papers,
or commission, gives the officer ahigh-
er grade, and it has often happened
that an officer has received several bre'
vets. Thus a major may be brevetted
lieutenant colonel and then may have
shat honorary title supplemented with
brevet colonecy. In the early days
of army the uniform Of the brevet rank
could be worn by the officer, and ne
was also addressed in official communi-
cation by his brevet rank. 1t was
nothing unusual in those days to see q
letter addessed to Lieutenant John
Smith, Fifth Inantry. Brevet Briga'
dier General. That has been dono
away with, and the brevet is now moth
ing more than title the possession OF
which shows that its holders name
has appeared on one Of Uncle Sans rolls
OF honor. q"
The fact that a man fell while in the
discharge of his duty does not deoai
him from being remembered for bre
yer. and the recent brevet appoint
ment lists contain many names aftel
which are the bracketed words. KILLED
in action. " DIED Of wounds received
in battle, " "Died in the discharge o
duty" etc.
The brevet rank is conferred on rar
occasions in England, but not lowe
than captain nor higher than lieuten
ant colonel. There it carries with IL
corresponding advance in command
but in other European countries merl
torious services in the field are reward
ed by the gift of medals and decora
tions. Nearly all Of these decoration
carry with them membership in som
order. and many bring pensions or Gel
tain rights and privileges.
"There's the difference between OF
honor men," said regular army on
Ger, land those in European armie
The German, French or Russian hon'
man wears his decoration where
can be seen, while the American on
Ger has only his brevet commission
which he keeps stored away, and tnel
is nothing.about his uniform to ineica
that he has figured on the roll OF mono
The only return that the brevetted Oh
Ger receives comes from the social worl
where courtesy has decreed that
shall be addressed by his brevet title.
Il has been said that the brevet rar
comes only to those officers who distil
guish themselves under fire. This
an error, as may be seen by the list
whsch include the names Of surgeo
d who did only hospital work. Ne
= York Tribune