Regulations for the government of the United States Navy (1865)

[<< - previous section] | [TOC] | [next section - >>]

Section 3.

Distinctive Flags of Officers.

126.....The flag of a Rear-Admiral is to be rectangular, plain and blue; and it is to be worn at the mizzen. But if two or more Rear-Admirals in command afloat should meet, or be in the presence of each other, the senior only is to wear the flag of blue, the next in seniority is to wear it of red, and the other or others to wear it of white.

127.....No officer is to hoist a broad pendant except in command of a separate squadron, and by the authority of the Secretary of the Navy, and one so authorized is not to strike it until duly ordered, except on meeting with an officer of a different squadron or commanding a station, senior or superior to himself, wearing a narrow pendant. When two or more officers entitled to wear broad pendants shall meet, or be in the presence of each other, the senior or superior in rank shall wear one of blue, the next in rank one of red, and the other or others to wear it of white.

128.....A Rear-Admiral, or any officer wearing a flag or broad pendant, commanding a fleet, squadron or division, may shift his flag or pendant from one vessel to another of those under his command, informing the Secretary of the Navy—or in case of a Divisional Commander, the Commander of the fleet or squadron—of the fact, and of the reasons which governed him, by the earliest opportunity.

129.....A divisional mark and the mark of a senior officer present are both to be triangular in shape, with a middle part of a different color from the rest, in the form of a wedge, the base occupying one- third the whole hoist or head, and the point extending to the extremity of the fly. For a first division it is to be blue, white, blue; for a second division, red, white, red ; for a third division, white, blue, white; and for a senior officer present, white, red, white.

130.....Any officer not authorized to wear the flag of a Rear-Admiral, nor the broad pendant of a Commodore, who may be appointed by an express order to command a division of a squadron, shall wear a divisional mark of the size prescribed in the book of allowances, at the mast-head where the pendant is usually worn. And whenever two or more vessels of the Navy, in commission, away from a naval station, may be assembled, the senior officer present for the time being, when not already authorized to wear a mark or flag of higher significance, shall wear, in like manner, the mark of a senior officer until he may fall in with a superior, or senior officer in command.

131.....No Divisional Commander is to wear the distinctive mark of one when separated singly from the squadron and station to which he belongs; and no officer wearing such distinctive mark, or that of a senior officer present, is, inconsequence thereof, to assume any additional title, to allow himself to be addressed by any other than his commission bespeaks, or to permit his vessel to be designated as a flag-ship.

132.....Any officer commanding a vessel of the Navy, except one on board which a flag, broad pendant, divisional, or senior officer's mark may be worn, shall wear a narrow pendant at the main. This pendant is to be regarded not as an emblem of rank, but rather as significant of command, and that the vessel is of a public character.

133.....All officers of and above the grade of Lieutenant Commander may wear at the bow of the boat in which they may be embarked a flag or pendant of the same character which they are entitled to wear at the mast-head of their respective vessels; but no divisional flag, nor flag of a senior officer, shall be worn in the bow of boats.

134.....The distinctive flag or broad pendant of a Commander-in- Chief, or of the Commander of a squadron, shall be worn only when he is actually in command of such squadron, nor shall it be worn by any vessel in a port of the United States during his absence from that port for a longer period than twenty-four hours. The senior officer present in such cases is, for the time being, to wear his distinctive mark, to issue all necessary orders, and to obey any directions that may have been, or may be, given to him by said Commander.

135.....When the Commander-in-Chief of a fleet or squadron, in a foreign port, shall absent himself therefrom, and from the vessels under his authority, to remain away more than twenty-four hours, yet temporarily, his flag or pendant is not to be struck, but it is to be kept hoisted on board the vessel serving as his flag-ship, if either the officer commanding her or the Captain of the Fleet is next to him in rank; otherwise it is for the time being to be hoisted on board the vessel commanded by the officer who may be next to him in rank, and such officer is to issue all necessary orders, and to carry out any instructions that may have been, or may be, given by said Commander-in-Chief.

136.....No officer left temporarily in the place of a Commander-in- Chief is to assume, or to allow himself to be addressed by, any higher title than his commission bespeaks, nor is he, in his written communications, to subscribe himself otherwise than, after his rank, as the senior officer present.

137.....Rear-Admirals in command of shore stations are to wear the distinctive flag to which they may be entitled, and to hoist it on board the receiving vessel; or, if there be no such vessel thereat, at any suitable place in the yard. Commodores in such command who have, by order of the Department, commanded a squadron, are to wear a broad pendant, and to so hoist it.

[<< - previous section] | [TOC] | [next section - >>]

This is privately operated website. It is not associated with any governmental organization.