The Inspector General's Department had existed during the War of the Revolution, the office of inspector general having been held by Baron Steuben, whose appointment was approved by Congress in a resolution dated May 25, 1778. During the incumbency of Baron Steuben a system of drill regulations was introduced, which continued in use until replaced, in part, by the system prepared by Col. Alexander Smyth in 1810. and was finally superseded by the drill regulations prepared by Maj. Gen. Scott in 1821. On June 25, 1788, in conformity to a resolution of Congress of that date, the Department ceased to exist, and the inspection of the troops was conducted for a time by officers of the line detailed for the purpose. By sec. 4 of the act of Apr. 30, 1790 (1 Stat. 119), the appointment of one inspector was authorized for the establishment created by that enactment. The act of Mar. 5, 1792 (id. 241), merged the duties of the Adjutant and Inspector General's Departments and made provision for an adjutant who was to do the duty of an inspector; sec. 3 of the act of May 30, 1796 (id. 483), made similar provision for an inspector who was to do the duty of an adjutant. The acts of Mar. 3, 1797 (id. 507), and May 22, 1798 (id. 557), authorized the detail of an officer of the line to perform the duties of inspector general. Sec. 6 of the act of May 28, 1798 (id. 559), passed in contemplation of war with France, authorized the appointment of an inspector general with the rank of major general, and on July 18, 1798, Gen. Alexander Hamilton was appointed to the vacancy. The temporary military establishment thus authorized, which was never fully completed, was disbanded by the acts of Feb. 20, 1800 (2 id. 7), and May 14, 1800 (id. 85), and the duties of the department were again performed by detail until the office of inspector was created by sec. 4 of the act of Mar. 16, 1802 (id. 132); by sec. 3 of the act of Apr. 12, 1808 (d. 41), two brigade inspectors were authorized to be detailed from the line with increased rank; by the act of Dec. 24, 1811 (id. 669), the office of inspector general (brigadier general) was created and two assistants (lieutenant colonels) were authorized; the duties of the department were defined in regulations approved by the Secretary of War on November 4, 1812. By the act of Mar. 3, 1813 (id. 819), the Adjutant and Inspector General's Departments were again merged. The act of Mar. 3, 1815 (3 id. 224), fixing the peace establishment, made no express provision for these departments. their duties being performed by officers temporarily detailed for the purpose. By sec. 10 of the act of Apr. 24. 1816 (id. 297), however, the temporary establishment which had existed since 1815 was made permanent. Provision was also made for an Adjutant and Inspector General of the Army, together with an inspector general to each division and an assistant to each brigade, which were to be filled by detail of officers from the line. At the general reduction of 1821 the Inspector General's Department was recognized and continued by sec. 6 of the act of Mar. 2, 1821 (id. 615), Its composition being fixed at two inspectors general with the rank and pay of colonels of Cavalry. By sec. 4 of the act of Aug. 23, 1842 (5 id. 512), the department was reduced to one officer; the disbanded officer was restored, however, by the act of June 12, 1846 (9 id. 2), and the composition of the department, as thus established, underwent no change until the outbreak of the War of the Rebellion.

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By sec. 2 of the act of Aug. 3, 1861 (12 id. 287), 5 majors were added to the department; by sec. 4 of the act of Aug. 6, 1861 (id. 318), 2 colonels were authorized; and provision for the inspection service of the armies in the field was made by sec. 10 of the act of July 17, 1862 (id. 299), which authorized the rank and pay of lieutenant colonel of Cavalry to be conferred upon the Inspector General of Army corps. By sec. 11 of the act of July 28, 1866 (14 id. 334), the composition of the department was fixed as follows: Four colonels, 3 lieutenant colonels, and 2 majors. Sec. 6 of the act of Mar. 3, 1869 (15 id. 318), contained the requirement that there should be no promotions or appointments in the staff until otherwise directed by law; by the acts of June 8, 1872 (17 id. 338), and June 16, 1874 (18 id. 77), promotions were authorized to correct inequalities in the rank of officers of the department. By the act of June 23, 1874 (id. 244), the restriction contained in the act of Mar. 3, 1869, was removed and the strength of the department fixed at 1 inspector general with the rank of colonel, 2 in. spectors general with the rank of lieutenant colonel, and 2 inspectors general with the rank of major; authority was also conferred for the detail of 4 officers from the line of the Army for service as assistant inspectors general, who were to receive the mounted pay of their grades, and no appointments were to be made to the grade of major until the number of officers in the department had been reduced to 5. By the act of Dec. 12, 1878 (20 id. 257), the rank of brigadier general was conferred upon the senior inspector general. (See (1881) 17 Op. Atty. Gen. 2.) By the act of Feb. 5, 1885 (22 id. 297), the composition of the department was fixed as follows: One inspector general (brigadier general), 2 colonels, 2 lieutenant colonels, and 2 majors. It was also provided that the inspector general should be selected from the officers of the corps, that promotions should be by seniority in the department, and that appointments to the grade of major should be made from the captains in the line of the Army. A temporary increase in the department was authorized by act July 7, 1898 (30 Stat. 720); and it was continued as then constituted by act Mar. 2, 1899, sec. 6 (30 Stat. 979). All these provisions were superseded by a provision in act Feb. 2, 1901, sec. 14 (31 Stat. 751), which was superseded by sec. 7, act of June 3, 1916 (39 Stat. 169), providing that the department should consist of 1 inspector general (brigadier general), 4 inspectors general with the rank of colonel, 8 inspectors general with the rank of lieutenant colonel, and 16 inspectors general with the rank of major. This act was in turn superseded by sec. 7, act of June 4, 1920, post, 540.

Changes in the number of officers of certain grades in the department, to take effect on the occurrence of a vacancy in the grade of colonel, are provided for by a clause of act Mar. 2, 1901 (31 Stat. 899), which was also superseded by said sec. 7, act of June 3, 1916.

Appointments and promotions in the department, other than to fill vacancies provided for by this section, were regulated by sec. 26 of this act. Appointments from officers of volunteers to fill original vacancies in the department were authorized by a provision of act Mar. 2, 1901 (31 Stat. 900), omitted as temporary merely.

An expert accountant for the department was authorized by act Feb. 24, 1891 (26 Stat. 773).

540. Composition.-The Inspector General's Department shall consist of one Inspector General with the rank of major general and sixty-one officers in grades from colonel to captain, inclusive. Sec. 7, act of June 3, 1916 (39 Stat. 169), amended by sec. 7, act of June 4, 1920 (41 Stat. 765).

541. Acting inspectors general.

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and the Secretary of War may, in addition, detail officers of the line, not to exceed four, to act as assistant inspector-general: Provided, That officers of the line detailed as acting inspectors-general shall have all the allowances of Cavalry officers of their respective grades; Sec. 1, act of June 23, 1874 (18 Stat. 244).

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Other provisions of this section were superseded by those of subsequent acts relating to the department. See historical note, ante. But see 2335, post.

542. Expert accountant.-For pay of expert accountant for the Inspector General's Department, $2,500. Act of June 5, 1920 (41 Stat. 956), making appropriations for the support of the Army: Pay and so forth of the Army.

Similar provisions appear in previous appropriation acts.

Provided, That

543. Traveling expenses of the expert accountant.-hereafter * the expert accountant, Inspector General's Department, shall receive mileage at the same rates and under the same conditions as is provided by law for officers of the Army: * * * Sec. 1, act of Aug. 24, 1912 (37 Stat. 575).

544. Inspection of disbursements.-That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of War to cause frequent inquiries to be made as to the necessity, economy, and propriety of all disbursements made by disbursing officers of the Army, and as to their strict conformity to the law appropriating the money; also to ascertain whether the disbursing officers of the Army comply with the law in keeping their accounts and making their deposits; such inquiries to be made by officers of the inspection department of the Army, or others detailed for that purpose: Provided, That no officer so detailed shall be in any way connected with the department or corps making the disbursement. Sec. 1, act of April 20, 1874 (18 Stat. 33).

That the reports of such inspections shall be made out and forwarded to Congress with the annual report of the Secretary of War. Sec. 2, act of April 20, 1874 (18 Stat. 33).

Provisions applicable to all the departments as to reports of expenditures by disbursing officers are contained in R. S., sec. 193, and act Mar. 3, 1877, sec. 1, ante, 270.

545. Inspection of the Soldiers' Home.-That the Inspector General of the Army shall, in person, once in each year thoroughly inspect the Home, its records, accounts, management, discipline, and sanitary condition, and shall report thereon in writing, together with such suggestions as he desires to make. Scc. 2, act of Mar. 3, 1883 (22 Stat. 564).

546. Inspection of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.-That hereafter, once in each fiscal year, the Secretary of War shall cause a thorough inspection to be made of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, its records, disbursements, management, discipline, and condition, such inspection to be made by an officer of the Inspector-General's Department, who shall report thereon in writing, and said report shall be transmitted to Congress at the first session thereafter. Act of Aug. 18, 1894 (28 Stat. 412).