In the war of 1812, the highest grade held by any of our officers was that of General of Division, or Major-general, as it was called.

The highest grade in our army at the present time is called Major-general--a title that properly belongs, not to the general of an army, but to the chief of staff.

Hamilton had this title when chief of Washington's staff; Berthier and Soult when chief of Napoleon's staff, the former till the close of the campaign of 1814, and the latter in the Waterloo campaign.

General Jomini first greatly distinguished himself as chief of Ney's staff, and afterwards on the staff of the Emperor of Russia.

Other generals have owed much of their success to the chiefs of their staff:--Pichegru to Regnier, Moreau to Dessoles, Kutusof to Toll, Barclay to Diebitsch, and Bluecher to Sharnharst and Gneisenau.
The _generalissimo_ or commander-in-chief of an army is the person designated by the law of the land to take charge of the organized military forces of the state.