Slow Promotions

The Journal of the executive proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America, 1789-1873 for January 15, 1829 contains a letter from the President nominating many individuals for various positions. At the time one could only be promoted in the Corps of Engineers when a vacancy was open. The following cascade of promotions is most interesting.

Promotions and Appointments in the Army of the United States. Corps of Engineers.
• Lieut. Colonel Charles Gratiot, to be Colonel, 24th May, 1828, vice Macomb, appointed Major General.
• Major Joseph G. Totten, to be Lieutenant Colonel, 24th May, 1828, vice Gratiot, promoted.
• Captain Syl. Thayer, to be Major, 24th May, 1828, vice Totten, promoted.
• 1st Lieut. Richard Delafield, to be Captain, 24th May, 1828, vice Thayer, promoted.
• 2d Lieut. Stephen Tuttle, to be 1st Lieutenant, 24th May, 1828, vice Delafield, promoted.
• Brevet 2d Lieut. Alexander D. Bache, to be 2d Lieutenant, 1st. July, 1825.

Another appointment in the document is

• Albert E. Church, Cadet, to be brevet 2d Lieut. of Artillery, 1st July, 1828.

Church graduated first in the class of 1828. There was such a shortage of positions in the Engineering Corps that he did not get a position. Even in Artillery he only became a brevet Second Lieutenant at first.

In 1890 the system of promotion was changed to a merit system.

Page created March 2002.