Talk:William Babcock Hazen

Civil war ranks
I'm confused by the ranks mentioned in the civil war section. It says that he was promoted to Brigadier General after Stones River. I understand this may have been in the volunteer army. However, later it says he was promoted to brevet major in the regular army at Chickamauga, and brevet lt. colonel at Chattanooga. I thought brevet ranks were generally higher, not lower than the current rank held. If he was commanding a brigade, why would he only be a major or colonel, and why a brevet rank and not full rank since he actually had a general's rank in the war? — ★ Parsa ☞ talk 17:07, 19 October 2016 (UTC)


 * Those brevet promotions you mention were in the Regular Army, and not in the Volunteers where he exercised his Brigadier-General's commission and could led a brigade. The confusion easily arises because the officers in the U.S. Army back then could (and often did) hold four different ranks. For instance: an officer could be a regular army Captain, a regular army Major by brevet, and also be a Colonel of Volunteers, and a brevet Brigadier-General of Volunteers. President Lincoln/Secretary Stanton could then assign said officer to brigade command at the brevet ranks as needed. Hope this helps! Kresock (talk) 22:13, 19 October 2016 (UTC)