[ 1 ] 22 



nies, battalions, regiments or corps, composing a commami cannot assume 

 the command. He must first have been put on duty by some competent 

 authority to make him a part of the command, before he can assume or ex- 

 ercise the command. 



" 8. If different corps happen to join or do duty together, the officer 

 highest in rank by his commission in the line of the army })resent on duty, 

 has the right to command the whole, and to give orders needful to the ser- 

 vice. Brevet officers or officers having brevets or commissions of a prior 

 date to those of the regiment in which they serve, cannot by virtue of such 

 brevets or commissions of a prior date, assume the command. 

 By command of the President, 



(Signed,) J. H. EATON, 



Secretary of War. 

 By order of Alexander Macomb, Major General commanding the army. 

 (Signed,) R. JONES, 



Adjutartt General. 



29th Congress, [SENATE.] [ 230 ] 



\st Session. 



IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. 



March 18, 184G. 



Submitted and ordered to be printed. 



Mr. Benton made the following report : 

 The Committee on Military Affairs, to ivkom was referred the memorial 

 of stmdry officers of the army of the United States at Corpus Christi, 

 in relation to Staff rank, and Brevet rank, 



REPORT: 



That they have seen an order of the President of the United States, da- 

 ted on the i2th day of the present month, re-establishing the regulation of 

 August lo, 1829, by President Jackson, in relation to brevet and staff 

 rank, and abrogating all subsequent regulations in relation thereto ; and be- 

 lieving the said regulation of August 13, 1829, to be a correct exposition 

 of the Rules and Articles of War in relation to the subject, and that the 

 re-establishment of said regulation has applied the adequate and appropri- 

 ate remedy to the evils complained of in the memorial, and has superceded 

 the necessity for legislation on the subject, the committee bring back into 

 the Senate the memorial committed to them, and pray to be discharged 

 from its further consideration. 



Washington, D. C, 

 Sunday night, January 19, 1851. 

 Mr. Conrad, 



Dear Sir : — With the apprehension of l)eing thought presumptive in 

 thus appearing before yon again, I am nevertheless constrained to do so, 

 from a sensitive regard for the honor and reputatfon of my father. 



