It must be observed that the above statement of the regular military establishment of the United States is the authorized, and not the real existing force. Such is the facility of earning a subsistence in this country, that the ranks of the army are but slowly filling up, notwithstanding the very great inducements held out to recruits.

20. The rank of the regiments in the service of the United States is as follows:

1st. The light artillery.
2d. The light dragoons.
3d. The foot artillery.
4th. The infantry.
5th. The riflemen.

6th. The volunteers in the
service of the United
States, and

7th. The militia drafts.

According to the numbers of the regiments respectively.

According to the numbers given to them respectively by the general commanding the district.

This regulation however is confined to parades. On all other occasions, regiments are drawn up in the way which may be directed by the general, or other commanding officer.

§ 21. The following are the principles which govern the decision of rank among the officers:

1st. Rank in actual service, when appointed.

2d. Former rank and service in the army, or marine corps, of the United States.

3d. Lottery-among such as have not before been in the military service of the United States.

In all cases in which command shall not have been specially given, the eldest officer, whether of cavalry, of artillery, or of infantry, commands.

Where a controversy concerning rank arises from the sameness of date in commissions, it is determined by reference to former commissions in the regular service; and if none such should have been held, by former commissions in the militia.

Brevet rank gives no precedence nor command, except on detachments; nor can persons having such rank only, be included in the roster of officers for any duty other than that performed by detachments, and to which they shall be specially assigned.

Officers of the regular army of the same grade with those of the volunteers and militia, have precedence of these, whatever may be the dates of their respective commissions.

There is no precedence between staff departments. The officers assigned to these, take rank, 1st, from the brevets they hold, and 2d, from the rank they respectively have in the line.

§ 22. The rules with regard to promotion are, that original vacancies are supplied by selection; accidental vacancies by seniority, excepting in extraordinary cases. Promotions to the rank of captain are made regimentally; to that of field appointments by line; the light artillery, dragoons, artillery, infantry, and riflemen, being kept always distinct.

23. The following table exhibits the pay, subsistence, and forage of the military establishment :

20

16

6222

22

Paymasters of the corps of artillery, same pay as regimental paymasters.

panies of rangers out horses.

}

To furnish their own rations, arms, equipments, and horses.

Women (in the proportion of 1 to every 17 men) a ration in kind, also to matrons and nurses allowed in hospitals.

NOTE.-Though forage may be allowed for the number of horses noted, yet money in lieu thereof cannot. A distinction should therefore be drawn, say forage-money for one horse only, to all those of the staff, who have not been entitled, heretofore, to more than ten dollars per month. The brigade major, aid to a brigadier, and adjutant, are expressly limited to that. The allowance of forage in kind, hay, oats, and corn, may be made to as many horses in actual service as the war department directs.