USS Lawrence vs HMS Detroit by Mark Lardas

Author:Mark Lardas
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781472815842
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2016-01-08T05:00:00+00:00

THE OFFICERS

Cyrus Tiffany was one of the many black sailors serving with Perry aboard Lawrence. One of Perry’s most trusted sailors, during the battle he guarded the main-hatch to prevent shirking. He protected Perry during the boat voyage to Niagara, and served with Perry after the War of 1812. (LOC)

During the War of 1812 warships had commissioned and warrant officers. Commissioned officers received commissions from their governments – the British Crown through the Admiralty for the Royal Navy and the President of the United States for the US Navy. Warrant officers held their office by virtue of a warrant appointing them to their position. In the Royal Navy the Board of the Admiralty issued warrants. In the US Navy, the Navy Department issued warrants. Commissioned officers ran the warship, and held ultimate responsibility for its fighting efficiency, safety, and navigation. Warrant officers were senior specialists responsible for specific aspects of the ship requiring a high level of knowledge and experience. Commissioned officers, even a lieutenant with the ink still damp on his commission, outranked a ship’s most senior warrant officer.

The divide between commissioned officers and warrant officers dated back to when civilian ships were commandeered for naval service. Commissioned officers were in charge of fighting the ship (including any soldiers aboard), while warrant officers represented the men who ran the operations of the ship while a merchant vessel. Over time the commissioned officers had transformed from soldiers at sea into true naval officers, while the warrant officers became permanently appointed specialists still concerned with operating the ship.

There were three basic commissioned ranks in 1813: lieutenant, commander (or master commandant in the US Navy), and captain. Above these were flag ranks – the various admirals who commanded groups of ships. Lieutenant was the most junior commissioned rank. A lieutenant was capable of navigating a ship, running a watch (running a ship during a two- or four-hour shift), and commanding a battery of guns (generally one broadside on one deck) during combat. Lieutenants might even command small warships. In both the Royal Navy and US Navy a lieutenant was expected to have at least six years’ experience at sea, either as a midshipman (an apprentice officer) or a master’s mate (training to navigate a ship). They were typically promoted from the ranks of the most capable officer trainees, although influence (social or family connections) hastened promotion. Even those promoted through influence tended to be competent, however. Captains had to sleep sometimes, and they slept sounder in the knowledge that their watch officer was capable of keeping the ship off reefs and shoals.

While some lieutenants were newly made, many had years of experience. Promotion in a peacetime navy or one which was not growing (as was the case for the Royal Navy c.1805–15) could be slow, especially for officers lacking influence or an opportunity to distinguish themselves. When multiple lieutenants were present (a ship-of-the-line might have seven) they sorted themselves out by seniority, with the officer holding a commission longest first among equals.

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