Getting an Official Brigadier General promotion

[Gen. States Rights Gist]

I ask this because, I am reading More Generals in Grey and, I was going through the 20 guys that served in various Texas units the author put in that they received Brigadier General status. On some of them yes they seemed to deserve it and performed well others ??? I see quite a few times Governor Murrah of Texas gave promotions to Colonels to make them Brigadier Generals. Then guys like Gen. Kirby-Smith and Major Gen. Magruder did the same sometimes the promotions went through others did not. So my question is can governors give out promotions as well as General can? Also what makes the promotion official to the war dept.? It just seems so chaotic reading some of these bio's of the 20 men.

 

[Elennsar]

To be officially recognized as a brigadier general (as opposed to "assigned to command"), the officer has to be nominated and confirmed by the Senate.

So let us take Colonel Edward Asbury O'Neal of the 26th Alabama:

Lee recommended O'Neal for promotion just prior to Gettysburg. The Confederate Senate accepted the nomination and voted to confirm it. A commission was issued and forwarded to Lee's headquarters bearing O'Neal's date of rank to be (June 6th, 1863).

Lee did not deliver it to O'Neal, and subsequently recalled his recomendation, thusly the document was returned to Richmond and cancelled by orders of the President.

Thusly he never was in practice a brigadier general, however by the process of law, all the steps occured.

Naturally of course O'Neal would have to accept the commission, but that's not the point.

There is no official power as far as I know for generals or governors to appoint someone as a brigadier general (at least not in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States - as distinct from the militia) - its a temporary and technically illegal expedient in absence of being able to do the process properly, such as how Kirby-Smith was cut off from Richmond.