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PROMOTION.
569. The Act of August 3, 1854, sec. 5, provides that
non-commissioned officers who pass an examination of a board of
officers under the direction of the War Department may be promoted
to the rank of brevet second lieutenant.
The following is the Regulation with regard to the board:
— "77. A board, to consist of the Professors of
Mathematics and Ethics and the Commandant of Cadets, will convene at
the Military Academy, on the first Monday of September in every
year, for the examination of such non-commissioned officers, for
promotion as have already passed the regimental examination
prescribed in General
Orders No. 17, of October 4, 1854."
570. The following is the Order No. 17 referred to: it will be
observed that the above Regulation modifies the first paragraph of
the order, with reference to the Board of Examination:—
"GENERAL Orders, No. 17.
"WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL’S OFFICE,
Washington, October 4, 1854.
"The following regulations have been established to carry
out the provisions of the fifth section of the Act of August 4,
1854, relative to the promotion of non-commissioned officers:—
"1. An Army Board, composed of four officers of rank, will be
convened, annually, on the first Monday in September, in the city of
Washington, for the examination of such non-commissioned officers as
may be ordered to appear before them by the War Department.
"2. To aid the Department in the selection of proper
candidates for promotion, company commanders will report to their
colonels all such non-commissioned officers as, in their opinion, by
education, conduct, and services, seem to merit advancement. In
these reports must be set forth a description of the candidate, his
length of service as non-commissioned officer and as private
soldier, his character as to fidelity and sobriety, his physical
qualifications and mental abilities, the extent to which his talents
have been cultivated, and his fitness generally to discharge the
duties of a commissioned officer If recommended on account of
meritorious services, the particular services referred to must be
stated in detail. On receiving the reports of company commanders,
the colonel will assemble a Board, to consist of four officers of
his regiment, of as high rank as the convenience of the service will
admit, to make a preliminary examination into the claims and
qualifications of those non-commissioned officers who may appear to
him deserving promotion. Where the Colonel has not authority to
convene such Board, the regimental officers necessary to form it
will, on application to the proper department commander, be placed
subject to his orders. The Board, constituted as above, will submit
a full statement in the case of each candidate examined; and on
these statements the colonel will endorse his remarks and forward
them, through the head-quarters of the army, to the
Adjutant-General, to be laid before the Secretary of War.
"3. The foregoing reports must be transmitted in time to
reach Washington by the 1st day of May in each year, and such
non-commissioned officers as the Secretary of War may consider
suitable candidates for promotion will receive orders from the
Adjutant-General’s Office to present themselves for examination by
the Board to be convened on the first Monday in September following.
As a general rule, one-fourth of the vacancies occurring annually in
the Army will be filled from the non-commissioned grades. The
persons thus appointed shall, as far as practicable, be attached to
the regiments in which their meritorious services had been rendered,
and will thereafter succeed to vacancies in their particular arm of
service according to seniority.
"4. No
candidate will be examined who is married; who is under twenty or
over twenty-eight years of age; who, in the judgment of the Board,
has not the physical ability to endure the exposures of service; who
has any deformity of body, or whose moral habits are bad.
"5. The Board, being satisfied of these preliminary points,
will proceed to examine each candidate separately—
"First. In
his knowledge of English Grammar, and ability to read and write with
facility and correctness.
"Second. In
his knowledge of Arithmetic, and his ability in the application of
its rules to all practical questions, and in his knowledge of plane
and solid Geometry.
"Third. In
his knowledge of Geography, particularly in reference to the
northern continent of America, and in his ability to solve the
usual problems on the terrestrial globe. Also in his knowledge of
what is usually denominated popular Astronomy.
"Fourth. In
his knowledge of History, particularly in reference to his own
country.
"Fifth. In
his knowledge of the Constitution of the United States, and of the
organization of the Government under it, and of the general
principles which regulate international intercourse.
"6. After having completed the examination of all candidates
who have presented themselves, the Board will then submit their
names to the War Department in order of relative merit. In
determining this order, the Board will consider eight as the maximum
of the first, fourth, and fifth heads, and ten as the maximum of the
second and third heads; and no candidate will be passed by the Board
who shall not have received at least half of the number of maximum
marks on each head or subject of examination. And any candidate
having passed, who is also a graduate from any college, shall be
allowed five additional marks in his favor, which shall be taken
into the account of his general merit.
"7. In order to give effect, as early as practicable, to the
intention of the law, the first general examination of
non-commissioned officers, except such as are serving in the
Department of New Mexico, will take place at Washington on the
second Monday of January next. Those serving in New Mexico will be
examined the first Monday in June following. Colonels will
accordingly take immediate measures for forwarding, in due season,
the reports necessary to aid in the selection of proper candidates
to be brought before these first two Boards of Examination.
"By Order of the Secretary of War:
"S. Cooper, Adjutant-General."
571. It is, perhaps, the surest means for a competent man to
enter the army as an officer to enlist as a soldier and by attention
to his duties be made a non-commissioned officer, and finally appear
before the Board for examination. It is a severe school, but sure to
succeed if pursued with proper energy and perseverance.
572. During the early part of the rebellion the examinations fell
into disuse, and a great many non-commissioned officers were
promoted, on account of their gallantry and faithful service, who
perhaps would not have passed the board. The Board of Examination
has, however, recently been revived, and the necessity of the case
will undoubtedly cause the organization of boards of examination for
promotion to the higher grades also, in the course of time.
573. The rule of promotion by seniority has been detrimental in
affording no encouragement to the ambitions to improve themselves in
the study of their profession; whilst the certainty of a regular
advancement encourages the ignorant and idle to content themselves
with barely performing their duty, and neglecting all opportunities
to improve themselves.
574. It is a great mistake to suppose that when the commission
has been obtained there is nothing more to be done, except to draw
the pay and display the uniform. In reality, the field of study has
just opened, and the most competent, efficient officer finds it
necessary to devote a portion of his time to improvement, even if it
extend no further than simply to keep himself posted in the changes
daily promulgated, in orders, of the laws, regulations, orders,
instructions, and rules for the government of the army or its
different divisions and detachments.
575. The studies for the military profession cannot be exhausted;
and although the officer may succeed to the various grades by virtue
of his seniority, it does not follow that he will, therefore, fill
them well, or that his ignorance and inefficiency are not known and
condemned. On the contrary, his industry and zeal, whilst it may not
bring him rank, will certainly bring him reputation and the respect
of his brother officers; and although he may wear the shoulder-strap
of a subaltern, he may still be enjoying a reputation and renown
which many a general might well envy. A high standing among his
fellow-officers in the army is of more value to an officer of proper
feeling than ail the rank and notoriety that a newspaper reputation
or political favor can lavish upon him.
576. An officer of the army should always be a gentleman,
sufficiently well educated to appear well in any society, and fully
conversant with the duties of his grade in the arm of service to
which he belongs. Whatever additional qualifications he possesses
will be so much more to aid him in attaining a higher grade, and,
although they may not be strictly military they will be an
additional ornament to his position, for which he will surely be
appreciated and which will always be considered in canvassing his
merits to perform the duties to which he will from time to time be
assigned.
577. When non-commissioned officers are promoted, they must be
discharged; the discharge and final statements to be made out up to
the date of acceptance of the commission. Volunteers must be
mustered out of the old grade and mustered in in the new. The
muster-out and muster-in rolls can be dated back to the time when
the officer can furnish the necessary evidence of having entered
upon the duties of his commission, and that he could not be mustered
before; otherwise the muster must be dated at the time it is made.
The muster, however cannot in any case be dated prior to the date of
commission, nor prior to any muster in which the officer has been
mustered in another grade: this would seem to restrict the dating
back of the muster to two months at farthest. It sometimes happens
that an officer receives his commission where he cannot be mustered
for some months; and, as it is prohibited to take him up on the
rolls in any capacity until he has been regularly mustered out of
the old and mustered in the new grade, the dating back the
commission, it seems, cannot be extended beyond the last muster (See
G.O. No. 48, 1863.)
578. When an officer receives a commission, the facilities to be
mustered in should, therefore, be at once extended to him by the
commanding officers, by either sending or permitting him to go where
he can be mustered into service.
579. The introduction of colored troops into our army affords
most favorable opportunities for promotion. Any one who is competent
may present himself before the board of examiners; and, if he passes
the examination, he will be commissioned an officer in a grade
proportionate to his qualifications.
580. This arm of the service seems likely to become very popular
The system of examinations which is pursued for obtaining officers
is calculated to insure success, as the colored regiments must
necessarily be well officered, and good officers will make good
troops even out of negroes.
581. Applicants who are in the military service and desiring to
be commissioned to command in the colored regiments must obtain
recommendations from their commanding officers, and forward them to
the Adjutant-General, who will give the necessary authority to
appear before the examining board. Civilians must present
satisfactory testimonials in order to obtain authority from the
Adjutant-General to present themselves, showing that they are of
good moral character and standing in the community where they
reside.
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