Grant General Grant’s Rank

[GwilymT]

As of today, the highest rank in the US armed forces is General of the Armies of the United States. Only two officers hold this rank. John Pershing and George Washington (Washington was promoted posthumously in 1976 retroactively to July, 4, 1776 making him the highest seniority officer.)

Would anyone support an effort to have General Grant promoted to the rank of General of the Armies of the United States? I can't think of another officer who would be more deserving.

 

[thomas aagaard]

no ranks and/or medals should not be given decades later...

Unless there is evidence that the person did not get it because of things like racism or that their actions was not known until later.
So giving colored servicemen (who where unfairly treated) their due is a very good idea.... but this ? no.

 

[Mark Roth]

Pershing was recognized after the fact as holding "six star" rank because he was considered senior to WWII five star officers. Washington was "promoted" to that rank simply so he could be considered the highest ranking officer ever.

Grant already has the distinction of being the first three and four star general in the U.S. Army, ranks he held in service.

 

[thomas aagaard]

Grant already has the distinction of being the first three and four star general in the U.S. Army, ranks he held in service.

Scott was a brevet LT. general. from 29 March 1847.

From March 13, 1861 the general order about uniforms tell us that the Major general commanding the union forces had 3 stars.
So McClellan and Hallack both had this before Grant did.

Grant might have been the first "real" LT. general, but he was not the first general to wear 3 stars on his uniform.

 

[Cavalry Charger]

This comes from a thread on the home page today about the unveiling of Grant's monument at West Point today:

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/we...ential-stature-increases.157357/#post-2040874

There is further discussion around this on the thread as it appears to be a new 'ranking' which may be a 'catch all' for the two different rankings Grant held while Commander.

 

[Mark Roth]

Scott was a brevet LT. general. from 29 March 1847.

From March 13, 1861 the general order about uniforms tell us that the Major general commanding the union forces had 3 stars.
So McClellan and Hallack both had this before Grant did.

Grant might have been the first "real" LT. general, but he was not the first general to wear 3 stars on his uniform.

Did McClellan or Halleck ever wear three stars?

At any rate, I using three and four stars as shorthand for Lieutenant General and full General. Grant was the first person to hold commissions at those ranks. By using the literal wording, I believe he could also be said to be the first General of the Army, but I do not equate Grant's title with the WWII era rank.

 

[thomas aagaard]

Did McClellan or Halleck ever wear three stars?

Yes they both followed the regulations as fare as I know.
Helleck
http://howardlanham.tripod.com/link40.jpg

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

(Washington was promoted posthumously in 1976 retroactively to July, 4, 1776 making him the highest seniority officer.)

Side note: Washington was the only man to receive a unanimous vote from the Electoral College for President. (There was one occasion some years later when it could have happened, but at least one elector voted the other way to keep the tradition.)

Washington's posthumous promotion was a unique event, made as part of the Bicentennial celebrations, and I really don't think it can be cited as precedent.

There is a somewhat similar situation vis-a-vis Pershing with George Dewey, sole person to be named "Admiral of the Navy" (in 1903), considered today to be equivalent to a six-star rank. (I doubt even Dewey would maintain that he had precedence over Farragut, though.)