Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XII.djvu/197

 NAVY 189 ly served to represent the flag of a power- ful naval nation. During the 17th century the noted naval commanders distinguished themselves as soldiers as well as sailors, and in many instances (notably that of Admiral Blake) it is certain that commanders of fleets and squadrons had no naval experience. The result was, that in ships of war there were two departments, the sailing and the fighting departments, the former in charge of the navi- gation of the ship, and the latter of its disci- pline and fighting. This arrangement did not last long, as it was soon seen that a ship more than any other thing should have but one head, responsible for everything. Therefore the commander of a ship of war is now re- sponsible for its navigation as well as for its discipline and the state of its war material, and in fact is the only person on board to whom the higher authority looks for the proper care of the public property and the behavior of the ship in action. The grades of officers are nearly the same in all navies of the present day. Admirals, vice admirals, rear admirals, and commodores in general command fleets and squadrons and navy yards. Captains command large ships, and commanders smaller ones. Lieutenant commanders and lieutenants are the immediate assistants and subordinates of the ship commanders. Masters come next below lieutenants, and are equivalent to second lieu- tenants; after them come ensigns. Midshipmen are aspirants for the higher grades, and are usually educated at government naval schools before they are sent to sea in cruisers. The preceding are all line officers. Chaplains, pay- masters, surgeons, and engineers are attached to all navies, and have rank assimilated to the grades given above, dependent upon length of service. These are staff officers. In some foreign navies each of the three grades of ad- mirals is subdivided into three other grades, making nine in all, designated by the colors of their flags, which are red, white, or blue. Thus there may be an admiral of the white, or of the red, or of the blue, &c. The admiral's ship is recognized by his flag, which is square. In the United States navy its color is blue. Cap- tains and other commanders of ships fly a pen- nant. Gunners, boatswains, quartermasters, cockswains, carpenters, sailmakers, machinists, armorers, &c., are called warrant or petty of- ficers according to the style of their appoint- ments, and are not in general in the line of promotion. Seamen, ordinary seamen, lands- men, and firemen are the privates, and do the work of navigating the ship, firing the engines and handling the guns. A war ship's company must have in it numerous persons whose duties are exceedingly various. Thus, there are secre- taries, clerks, cooks for the officers, cooks for the men, nurses, coopers, tailors, bakers, stewards, musicians, painters, &c., besides the assistants to these functionaries, and servants. A guard of marines is attached to every ship of war, the members of which are armed as infantry and do sentinel's duty. Their officers have the same grades as those of the army, and are assimilated in rank to those of the line of the navy. Their grades, however, are not de- pendent upon length of service. The origin of the navy of the United States may be said to date from Oct. 13, 1775, when congress au- thorized the equipment of two cruisers mount- ing respectively 10 and 14 guns. Before the end of that year, 15 more vessels, of from 20 to 36 guns, were authorized. These vessels were built in the colonies of New England, and in New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. On Dec. 22, 1775, congress appointed a corps of naval officers, of whom Esek Hopkins was commander-in-chief, and John Paul Jones was a lieutenant. The affairs of the navy were at this time intrusted to the management of a "marine committee." In October, 1776, the navy consisted of 26 vessels, mounting 536 guns, and its services throughout the revolu- tionary war were most important. In 1778 several vessels of considerable force were built or purchased for the navy; among these was the celebrated Alliance, a frigate of 32 guns. The first vessel of war taken by an American cruiser in battle was the Edward, which was captured by the Lexington, Capt. John Barry, on April 17, 1777. On March 27, 1794, con- gress authorized the construction of six frig- ates, and it was fortunately decided that three of them should be of a very heavy class ; the Constitution was one of these ships. This step laid the foundation of the present navy, the vessels of the revolution having been disposed of at the end of that contest, in 1783. Large whaleboats were fitted out by both sides during the war of the revolution, which were effective gunboats. They were about 40 ft. long, pro- pelled by oars and sails, and carried two guns and a supply of small arms. Their crew num- bered between 40 and 50 men. They went far out to sea, and severe fights took place be- tween the boats of the rebels and loyalists. In 1798 the navy department was formally created, and Benjamin Stoddart appointed the first secretary. At this time, urged by the depredations of France upon our commerce, and warned by the conduct of the Barbary powers, congress authorized a considerable in- crease of the navy, which the president was empowered to use for defence against the French. In the quasi war with France which resulted, our naval successes were marked.. Upon the accession to office of Mr. Jefferson in 1801, the navy was reduced. In the same year war was declared by Tripoli against the United States, and continued till 1805. The naval achievements of these four years gave a high character to the American service. In 1803 the "gunboat system" was inaugurated. In 1806 and 1807 the number of gunboats was rapidly increased, congress having authorized the construction of 257 of these vessels ; but they were afterward found to be expensive and inefficient, and the system was soon abandoned.