The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-20

others Scattered about the chances are
that only handful would attend
the reunion. The kick of the Virginia
U. C. D. against sponsors and military
titles is all right as TO the sponsors and
Sons of Veterans. But there is no
reason why Col. McGlashan, Col. WI
ley, Col. Sanford and other war vete-
rams should not be generals in the U.
c. ". But the folly Of giving such IL
ties TO beardless boys who never saw
a battle, is to be condemned; and the
sponsors have so increased in members
and importance that they are crowding
the U. c. D. and the U. c. " into the
backgrounds at reunions. AS to the
multiplicity of generals, Gordon, Lee.
Hampton, Cabell, Harrison, Gordon,
Duke, Lewis, Law, French, Bell, Ca
pers, Evans, Jackson-all are Confed-
crate army generals. And most OF
the other division and brigade gener>
ais of the U. c. V are men who were
colonies in the war, and some COM
majority of these officials deserve their
titles and should not be deprived OF
them. The world is full of bogus mill
itary that should first be attacked.
Harper's Weekly states that Brig.
Gen. William Ludlow, who died Aug.
30. Of this year, was the only West
WHO, dL llc lliAlS VI
his death, held the rank of field off,
Ger in the regular army" Now, while
this statement is not wholly true, 1t Is
so near the truth that it ought to Gre
ate great surprise. The public general
ly have ben led to believe that West
Point officers get everything worth
having in the army" although the Off
Gals records prove to the contrary.
Out of twenty generals in the regular
only four West Pointers-R. H. Hall
Fred D. Grant, J. Franklin Bell and
William Ludlow. Lieut.. Gen. Miles
and Mai Gems. Brooke. Otis. Young,
Chaffee, Macarthur and Wheaton were
all from the volunteers or the ranks
of the regular army. The same is true
of Brig. Gems. Wade, Merriam, Bates,
Davis. Sumner. Wood Hughes, Ran
dali, Kobbe, Smith and Funston. This,
of course, refers to the roster previous
to the death of Gen. Ludlow. But
stranger still, nearly every head of
department of the army is from the
volunteers or ranks of the regular
army. This is the case with the ad-
jutant general, the inspector general,
the Judge advocate general, the quar-
termaster general. the surgeon gen
eral. the chief. signal officer and the
chief of record and pension office are
all from civil life or the volunteers.
Take the ten cavalry regiments, for
example, their colonies were three
West Pointers. one volunteers and siA
from the ranks of the regular army.
Of late years 1t has been possible
for the private soldier in the regular
army to aspire successfully to the full
rank of brigadier general. with a pos
siblity of going still higher. Col. Will
liam H. Bisbee of Rhode Island Of the
Thirteenth United States Infantry is
the latest instance of this kind on rec
ord. He first enlisted in the Eighteenth
United States Infantry as a private in
September, 1851, and by his good con-
duct and efficiency rose to be first ser
geant of this company, then sergeant
major of his battalion; and as early as
June. 1852, was commissioned second
lieutenant. Since that time he has fill-
ed every grade up to brigadier gen.
eral. including brevets of first lieuten-
ant and captain for gallant and merito-
rious services in battle. But back OF
this most recent appointment we have
Mai Gen. Adna r. Chaffee, Brig Gen.
Gilbert S. Carpenter, Brig. Gen. Theo-
dore Schwan, Brig. Gen. John w. Clous.
Brig. Gen. Charles F. Humphrey, Brig.
Gen. Louis H. Carpenter, Brig. Gen.
Theodore Baldwin and dozen or more
of similar rank-all come up from pri-
Yates in the regular army. Under our
present system of promotion any young
man of natural military talent ana
good habits can enlist as private and
hone soon to win the desired commits
sion that will prove a stepping stone
to continuous promotion The same OPP
portunity. although of slower method,
is now open to worthy young petty
officers In the United States navy to
attain commissions as ensigns, step
ping stone to higher honors. Already
two meritorious young men have pass
ed their examina lions successfully ana
are ready for promotion under this
new law. so long in coming and so
creditable to the heads and hearts that
finally secured its enactment, despite
Rear Admiral SIMPSONS unworthy OPP
position.
The Atlanta Constitution of Sunday
contains a picture and sketch OF the
new Princess Raspigliosi, formerly