The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-07
Miles FRIENDS PLEASED
Throng His Office to Congratulate
Him on His Promotion.
A History of the Rank of the Com
InandinG General of the American
Army From 1870 to 10OO-Facts
Concerning the Heads Of Military
Establishments of Other Countries.

tenant General Miles to express their
congratulations on his promotion. Cen
eral Miles office was overrun with Wis
itors, and so many were the callers and
enquiries that the following statement
regarding the history of the rank of the
commanding general of the Army was
issued:
1.-THE grade of the commanding gen.
eral of our Army might well be consid-
cred from the point of view of the mill
| tary requirement OF the present situation.
1t is to be observed that it has been the
custom that whenever the strength Of
| the Army was increased beyond certain
point the rank of the commander has inva-
riably been advanced.
from September, 1888, until the pres
ent time the grade Of the commanding
officer of the Army. with but few excep-
tions, has been advanced as the strength
of the Army has been increased.
I'm all countries where the organiza-
ton Of the military force of the Govern
! ment embraces brigades. divisions, corps,
and armies each unit is commanded by
an officer of appropriate rank. and the
| entire army, when combined and operating
together. or when operating as several
units, in different fields, is directed by
one experienced military commander.
What Experience Has shown.
1.-THE experience Of centuries has taught
the necessity of one controlling mind for
the army. with rank commensurate with
| his position and duties. In our country
| we find that. after 1871, the strength Of
the Army was considered such as to en-
| title it to be commanded by a major gen.
eral.
1.-The rank of COMMUNICATIVE chief con-
| tinued to be that of major general until
| March, 1897, when the strength of the
| Army was reduced to less than 1000 men.
and the rank of the commander in chief
| (former Commander Major General Wayne
having died in 1856 was reduced to that
of brigadier general. Later, by act of
May Is. 1898. war with France seeming
| imminent. the military establishment was
| increased and Washington was appointed
lieutenant general and commander of the
Army March 2, 1893. Congress abolished
the office. During the war of 1872 there
were two major and four brigadIer gen.
erals.
The war with Mexico caused a tenn
porary increase in the Army which was
supplemented by a volunteer force, but
upon the termination Of the war the VOL
unteer force was mustered out and the
Regular Army reduced to 10, 0G0 men In
round numbers. under command Of a ma
)or general. until 1855. In that year. by
act OF March 3. the Army was increased
10 l3.OOO men, with one major general and
three brigadier generals. February Is,
1898, Major General Scott, then command
Ing the Army. was advanced to the rank
OF lieutenant general by brevet rank and
pay to date back to 1S47.
Promotion, of Grant.
During the civiIowar the regular force
was but slightly increased in comparison
with the large number of volunteers. the
Army being composed almost entirely of
the latter. The highest rank was that of
major general until February 20. 1864
when tBrevet Lieutenant General Scott
being on the retired lisD Congress revived
the grade of lieutenant general. to which
Major General Grant was advanced, and
afterward, in further recognition of his
service and responsibilities the grade of
general was, in 1866. revived, and the Pres
ident appointed Lieutenant General Grant
general and also promoted Major General
Sherman to be lieutenant general vice
Grant promoted. The peace establishment
as fixed at that time comprised "a, 900
men, which was deemed an appropriate
command for an officer of the grade of
general.
In 1863 General Grant, becoming oresi-
dent, resigned the office OF General Com
handing the Army and promoted Lieu
tenant General Sherman thereto. at the
same time promoting Major General Sheri-
dan to be lieutenant general, the Army
then numbering $1,000 men.
In 1870. by the act Of July Is of that
year, Congress limited the office of general
and lieutenant general of those then hold
ing the same, and declaring that, whom
ever vacancy occurred in either or both,
all laws or parts of laws creating said Of
fees shall become imperative and void,
and to be held to be repealed. Upon the
retirement of General Sherman the grade
of general on the active list ceased to
exist, and the command OF the Army was
held yy Lieutengnt General Sheridan.
On June l, 1883, by act of Congress. the
office of lieutenant general was merged in
that of the general of the Army.
In summary it may be said that when
ever the regular force has been 1000 or
less the command has been held by a
biigadier general and when increased to
10000. By major general. Above that
number the office of lieutenant general
has existed
AS matter of military expediency the
restoration of the grades Of lieutenant gen.
eral and general will permit the ;.d-
ministration of the Army being carried
forward without the embarrassment now
attending it. and the custom o. advancing
the grade of the commanding officer along
with the increase of the esta bliShment can
be followed to the betterment Of the serv-
ice and in conformity with the require.
ments Of the present situation.
Commanders in other Countries.
'The Regular Army now numbers 6S, O96
men. the addition of voluntc in active |
service making force of 100000; yet the !
Commanding General fof this large Army |
bears only the rank corresponding to that |
of a commander Of division of 10000 men,
Our country gives iti diplomatic. naval. |
and judiciary representatives rank COM
mensurate with the responsibilities and |
dignites of the positions they hold, but ]
1t restricts the commander Of the Army !
TO a rank two to four grades inferior to
that of most OF the other powers OF the
world.
AT any international function where the
General Commanding our Army is likely t.
be present to represent that arm Ct cur de-
fence we find him standing fourth in rank
to the commanding officer of the British
army; fourth in rank to the like officer of
the German army, third to that Of France
Austria Hungary. Italy, and Japan, ard
second in rank TO the general commanding
in Brazil and Mexico. This is more of |
upon our country than upon the
officer. who, in the discharge of his duties
is ordered to represent it. No other mill
tary power. not even the smallest, places
1