Show GENERAL on the 8 1 A b of november next major general howard will by the age of limitation retire from the united jolted states army that tact fact has caused a large petition signed by the leading citizens of to be forwarded to the president asking for the promotion to the place made vacant of brigadier general mccook now residing at denver the appeal for promotion is a strong one and federal and ex federal officials municipal authorities business men and men prominent in religious a nd political circles without regard to party or creed have alike asked for it that general mccook has eastern frien friends tle at work in his be half also Is evidenced by the following article which appeared in brooklyn daily times a few days ago early next month general howard is placed upon the retired list of the army by action of the law of compulsory retirement for age this leaves a vacancy in the grade of major general to be filled by the president by selection this selection might be applied to any officer in the service but it is practically restricted to the brigadiers and the senior colonels the colonels have reached the height of regimental command by the law of seniority and hope for promo tion before attaining the age limit but the six brigadiers represent of the principle of selection rejection as aa applied to the colonels colonel it la Is therefore altogether g ot b or reasonable to expect the president to limit his bia selection of the major general to the list of six aix brigadiers who have been picked from the regimental regi commands heretofore on an good and sufficient grounds gro unda of tine briga diera alexander Alei mel mcd mccook entered the army in 1862 eight years ahead of general merritt the next in point of seniority of service on this account he has baa a fair right to expect the be promotion but this one of the fighting mccooks cooks has a better claim on the country and on the president than the were mere d ragging dragging along of a chain of lengthen ing years one dos does not need to delve into the voluminous records of the rebellion to remember that he be was first and foremost a fighter a shrewd and brave man of war his career has been one of activity in all his bis grades of command a fierce and successful career during the years of armed conflict when the war broke out he was a lieutenant of the first regiment of ohio volunteers showing himself foremost to respond to president lincolnia Lincol ns call upon his state to defend the nation art motion followed both in the volunteers and in the regular establishment he was made a captain in his old regiment and brevet ted up to the grade of major general he was made major general of the volunteer army as early as 1862 his brevets record conspicuous bravery on the he fields felds of bull ruo bun nashville hilah shilon and percyville perryville Perr perry valle on the recon st traction ruction of the regular establishment be became lieutenant colonel of the twenty sixta infantry and was later transferred to the tenth from that his promotion slowly followed to the graae of brigadier of the line now there has baa come a chance that be may may be promoted to the highest grade it in ia his bla last chance for he be will be retired next year every soldier of the old volunteer army every man who recalls his wartime war time tim fame will hope that the president will confer this well deserved reward on a faithful soldier 0 |