Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 1.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

Promotion by seniority is a wise rule of action in a republic where the administrative power so frequently changes hands, and where the personnel of the government is almost entirely renewed on the occasion of each change; for although the President is allowed perfect freedom of choice in the formation of new regiments, it secures true independence to the officers. Up to the rank of captain this promotion takes place in the regiment; to that of colonel, in the arm. Seniority of rank has nothing to do with the appointment of general officers.

The President had, nevertheless, numerous occasions for the exercise of his patronage outside of all hierarchical regulations; indeed, the standing nucleus of the army was so weak that at every sign of war it was necessary to increase it in haste. The value of traditions was as yet so little appreciated in the various branches of the service that more than once, for instance, considerations of economy have caused the sudden discharge of all the cavalry. And too often, when new cadres had to be formed, the President, forgetful that young soldiers require experienced leaders, only reserved a few places for the officers taken from the other corps of the army; the rest were divided among old volunteers, officers who had resigned their respective commissions and were desirous to resume the epaulette, and especially political favorites. Those who attained superior grades assumed at once their seniority of rank in that entire branch of the service, and preserved it when the corps to the formation of which they were indebted for their rapid elevation was disbanded. This system, however, occasionally gave the army some excellent soldiers, who, although not graduates of West Point, did not the less display great military talents. Finally, a custom, singular enough in a republic, borrowed from the British army, that of brevet rank, or honorary promotion, enabled the President to confer, in the way of rewards, titles which were wholly independent of the rules of seniority. These, however, only conferred superiority of rank in regard to what was strictly honorary, giving no increase of pay, and serving in no way to assist promotion. The recipient of the brevet continued to perform the functions of the inferior grade; and one might thus see a simple captain in command of a company wearing the insignia of a lieutenant-colonel. This system, so much at