conventional wisdom holds that the manila court-martial cost waller the post of commandant of the marine corps. most sources claim that his career was stunted, but an extract from his officer's qualification record tells a different story. waller's acquittal is dated april 28, 1902. he had been "promoted major august 28, 1899, to take rank from july 25, 1899". he is "promoted lieutenant colonel, u.s.m.c., by and with the advice and consent of the senate, march 23, 1903, to rank as such from march 3, 1903", and then "promoted colonel, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, march 21, 1905, to rank from march 11, 1905".