The Savannah morning news., 1904-09-14
MAI. G. M. RIVALS
DIED IN HOSPITAL
Continued from Twelfth Page.

mander from May, 1868, to the day of
his death at Yellow Tavern, in 1864.
Recognized by Gen. Stuart.
Among the letters of recognition from
his superior officers Mai. Ryals priced
none more highly than the following
from Gen. Stuart:
A. r. Venable. Maj. and A. I. G.,
Cavalry Corps. Headquarters Cavalry
Corps, Army Northern Virginia, Dec.
II, 1S63-Gen. S. Cooper, A and 1.
Gen.-General: / respectfully forward
three additional recommendations of
Lieut. G. M. Ryals, c. S. A, lately
recommended by me to be appointed
major. | hope these will add suffi
cient weight to those already sent in
to induce the department to reconsider
its action in his case. and give him
the appointment of major instead of
captain.
His case is by no means an ordinary
one No officer of his rank in the Con-
federacy has half the claim for promo
ton. 1t certainly must be the desire
of the department to promote, as far
as is compatible with law, those whose
fidelity and distinguished gallantry
have made them the special objects
of commentator from all the COM
manders with whom they are thrown.
/ have in my former letter shown that
it would be compatible and very de-
sirable.
The value of promotion is always
comparative, and taken in this par
ticular connection, / renew this appli-
cation for Lieut.. Ryals as an officer
like him of the Confederate States
Army, without one-fourth the active
service. whose deeds cannot be mem
toned the same day with those of
Lieut.. Ryals, has without my knowl
edge or consent, or that of the COM
handing general. been returned to my
command with the rank of major, P.
A. c. s., to command in Young's Brig
ade a variable quantity constituting
the dismounted battalion.
Praise for Lieut.. RyaIs.
I allude to H. S. Farley, second
lieutenant of infantry, c. S. A.. and
Mai. P. A. c. s., to whom I do no
Injustice to say that Lieut.. Ryals
should be at least two grades higher
in rank. 1t is highly prejudicial to the
service to decline to promote the high
ly deserving, recommended by their
immediate commanders in the most
urgent terms through the proper chan
nels, for such communication, while
another, less deserving, whose claims
are presented by indirect means, or In
immediate commander. is put above the
former. l have had full and fair OPP
portunity to observe Lieut.. Ryals. He
is different from many officers in one
respect. He displays the same zeal in
all duties TO which he may be as
signed; while the majority of officers
may be efficient and jealous in some,
but are averse TO others and by de-
mures and lack of zeal render them
worse than useless in such.
I recommend Lieut.. Ryals and Capt.
White from an earnest conviction.
based on long and intimate official ac-
auaintance, that they deserve the posi-
lions, and that the service will be
greatly benefited by their proposed
advancement. Every officer of my
command, with the same opportuni-
ties, concurs i'm my recommendation.
sincerely hope that the department
will not in this case, as was done in
that of the lamented Pelham, whose
promotion was so often, and so earnest
ly recommended by me, defer a recog-
milton Of these deserving officers until
it is too late to touch their mortal