The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-12-23
From The Army and Nary Chronicle.
NAVAL RANK.


There seems to be much Ignorance pre-
yailng among the editorial fraternity, res
pecting the several grades Of rank IN our
navy, and the duties pertaining TO each'--
The titles Of Commodore and Commander
are frequently COMPOUNDED, and one impro-
perly used for the other.
The title of Commodore is merely one
of courtesy; il is unknown in our naval
laws. The highest grade established by
law is that Of Captain. When Cap
tain is ordered 10 the command Of n
squadron, he is styled by courtesy Com
modore : and Judge Thompson, when Sc
cretary of the Navy, ordered that Cap
tain should only be addressed as commo-
dorc when actually in command OF a squad
ron. When he rclinguished that com.
mand, he was TO be addressed by his orig
inal title of Captain. II has now, howev.
er, become customary TO address Captains
in command Of Navy yards, who have
never had the command of a squadron, as
: Commodore.
There is another very common, though
erroneous practice IN our service, oil calling
our Captains Post Captains, and It IS
even recognised in the laws Of Congress.
The act, establishing the Board of Com
missioners for the Navy, says that 1t shall
be composed Of three post Captains. The
term is also found in several other laws.
II is derived from the British service, and
means there that post Captain is one
that shall take post in order Of battle, IN o
ship Of the line.
Captains in our Navy command squad
rons, Navy Yards, ships of the line, aIS
friaates; and in the three principal ports
Boston, New York and Norfolk, the Re
ceiving ships. for enlisted sailors and ap
prentices, are commanded hy them.
Commanders are the next grade known
in our service. They command sloops o
war, rendezvous for the enlistment Of sea
men, and are attached to Navy Yards a
second or executive officers. Sometime,
they are attached TO ships of the line, Al
executive officers, where they perform th'
duties usually allotted to the first lIeuien
ant.
In two OF the principal Baltimore paper
we fnd the following paragraph:
"Comrander N. G. Rollins. a, prevent SO
burning with his family and frisnas in this ei
ty, has been appointed 20 the command Of the ma
W yard ut Pensacola
The fact Is not exactly as here stated
Commander Hol,ius was ordered on tn
2sth October, (as appears IN the Arm
and Navy Chronicle Of the 4lh instant,
to the navy yard at Pensacola, rs aeon,
crecuiire officer. Commodore Dallas i
the Commandment Of that yard All our ma
W yards are commanded by Captain.
and it is only during their temporary oh
sence that the command deydlves upon tn
next IN rank. e. the Commander.
The next and lowest grade Of comm,
stoned officers, who exercise command
that Of lieutenant. These arc attached |
all cruising and receiving vessels, the nun
Der varying according to the rate Of III
vessel to navy yards, two or three
each to rendezvous, two 10 each an
t.ley also command scho"Hers, and the RI
ceiwng vessels NJ Philadelphia and Bait
mere
Surgeons Assistant Surgeons, purst'
and Ghaplains, are commissioned Office n
bot are non.comha,anta.
Passed MIdstipmcn, Midshipmen, Ma
ters, Boatswahs, Gunaers, Carpenter
and SailmakeFs, are irarraHt officers
4 Professors Of Mathematics and Teacher
of Languages receive a letter Of appoint
mant merely.
All these matters 60 70 prove the nccc'
sity fee an organization of the hwy, an
| lie establishment BY law Of proper d..
tinctions and an appropriate division OF d.
ties between the several grades.