The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-03
HIS APPLICATION DENIED
Brigadier General Wilson Not to
Be Retired on May 1.
An Interesting story Behind the Of
fccr's Request-Wnntca to Make
Way for Colonel Robert, whose
Term of Service Expires May 2.

Brig. Gen. John NJ Wilson, Chief of En-
rgineers of the Army. who retires next
November for age under the provisions
of the law compelling the retirement of
all officers who reach the age of sixty
four years, applied several days ago for
permission to retire May l. His applica-
tioE has been denied, however, by the
President and Secretary of War. The
President is given authority to retire an
army officer after he reaches the age of
siXty-two years, and it was because of
this discretion vested in the President
that General Wilson hoped to secure his
retirement several months in advance of
the time when the President would be
compelled to retire him. The reason Civ
en- by General Wilson in his application
together with the conditions under which
it was made caused its denial by the
Secretary of War.
At the time of General Wilson'S ap-
pointment by President Cleveland TO be
Chief of the Engineer Corps of the army
he was ranked by Col. Henry NJ Robert,
whose commission as colonel in the army
autedated General Wilson's 10y nearly two
months. Colonel Robert was then the
senior colonel of the Engineer Corps and
General Wilson jumped him by reason
of his appointment. Colonel Robert will
retire for age May ., and it was General
Wilson's purpose to enable him to ill the
office OF Chief of the Engineer Corps and
retire with the rank of brigsdier general.
To do this it would be necessary for
General Wilson to retire before Colonel
Robert. He therefore applied for permits
sion to retire the LIST of May. with the
understanding that he would be succeed
ed by Colonel Robert. In doing this
General Wilson would lose nearly 500.
being the difference between the pay of
an officer on the active list and an Off
Ger on the retired list for period of
about six months.
In refusing to grant General Wilson's
application the President and Secretary
of War did SO because of the refusal of
Congress to authorize the President TO
retire with the next highest grade Off
GERS who saw service in the civil war.
Such policy had been started by the
Secretary of War before Congress was
convened and an effort was made after
ward to secure the approval of Congress
to such plan which is in operation now
in the navy. The refusal of Congress to
give its approval to the policy determined
the Secretary of War to in the future de-
and Immediately retire them. II was for
this reason that the President declined to
agree to General Wilson's retirement
with the understanding that he should be
succeeded by Colonel Robert, who would
under the law have retired with the rank
Of brigadier general after serving but one
day as Chief of the Engineer Corps.
General Wilson has been at the head
Of the corps since February, 1891. For
several years before that he was Sup
erintendent Of Public Buildings and
Grounds and he was for a number of
Years Superintendent of the Military
Academy at West Point. He was appoint
cd To the Military Academy in 1855 and
graduated in 1864 He was awarded
medal of honor by Congress for distin-
gGished glllantry at Malvern Hill. Va,
in remaining on duty while suffering from
an acute Illness and very weak. and par
ticipating with distinguished gallantry in
the action Of that date
He received five breyet commissions
that Of captain for gallantry in the bat
tie of Gaines Mill, Va; promoted to ma
jGr for gallant conduct at Malvern Hill;
lieutenant colonel for gallantry in the
capture of Spanish Fort, Mobile Harbor
Ala: colonel for galiantry at Spanish
Fort and Fort Blakely, Ala. and colonel
OF volunteers for maritorious services
during the campaign against the city of
Mobile and its defences.
Colonel Robert is now on duty in New
York. being in charge of the engineer
work for the district of New York.