Officers

in a military sense, are of several denominations and ranks, viz. Commi ioned Officers , are those appointed by commi ion; such are all from the general to the cornet and ensign, both inclusive. Warrant Officers , those who have no commi ions, but only warrants from such boards, or persons, who are authorized by law to grant them. Non-commi ioned Officers , are Serjeant majors, quarter master serjeants, serjeants, drum and fife majors, who are appointed by the commanding officers of regiments, and by them may be reduced without a court-martial. But it is not in the power of any captain of a company, or other subordinate officer, to reduce a serjeant without the sentence of a general or regimental court-martial. General Officers , are those whose command is not limited to a single company, troop, or regiment; but extends to a body of forces, composed of several regiments: such are the general, lieutenant general, major general, and brigadier general; on the United States establishment we have three brigadier generals; and the territory of the United States consists of three districts, over each of which a general presides. Field Officers , are such as command a whole regiment; as the colonel, lieutenant colonel, and major. Staff Officers , are all those officers who are not attached to companies in a regiment; whose duties extend over the whole; or a large section, such as a brigade or division; such as the quarter master general, and the adjutant and inspector general, brigade officers, and aids-de-camp, also the quarter masters, adjutants, the physicians, surgeons, and chaplains. Subaltern Officers , are lieutenants, cornets, and ensigns. Flag Officers , are admirals who hoist flags at the mast-heads. Sea Officers , are, in general, all those who have any command in the navy. The following observations, are generally applicable to every other military situation on service, that we recommend them to the serious attention of every officer. It is the duty of all officers, to take notice of any negligence, or impropriety of conduct, in the men, whether on duty or off duty, although the person, or persons offending, should not belong to their particular regiments. All neglects of duty, they are immediately to report to the officer commanding the guard; and they are enjoined to confine, and to report to the commanding officer of the regiment to which they belong, any non-commi ioned officers or soldiers, they may detect in disorderly practices, or who appear out of their quarters, conducting themselves either in point of behaviour or appearance, in a manner unbecoming soldiers. Brevet Officer , in the British service. One who in doing duty with other corps takes rank according to the commi ion which he holds, and which is superior to the one for which he actually receives pay, or by which he can do duty in his own. A captain lieutenant, for instance, in the 23d regiment of foot, who has the rank of brevet major in the army, may, when that corps does brigade duty, command every captain on service with him. The word brevet is taken from the French, and in the instance before us means rank without pay. During the French monarchy there were various instances in which individuals held posts of honor during the king’s pleasure, or during their own natural lives. Hence ducs à brevet ; dukes by brevet: or to use an expre ion more familiar to us, persons who received the patent letter of a dukedom during their natural lives. Brevet likewise signified a sum attached by order of the king to the sale of a commi ion or place for the benefit of a deceased person’s wife, heirs, or creditors: this was called brevet de retenue . So that the word brevet , though limited to one sense amongst us, was applicable to rank and emolument among the French. Hence breveter signified to give a person a commi ion, place, or employment; to invest him with honorary rank; or to authorise him to receive a pension. Brevet de capitaine , signifies the commi ion, or rank of a captain. Civil Officers belonging to the British laboratory at Woolwich :— One comptroller, one chief fire-master, one a istant fire-master, one inspector of gunpowder manufactures, six clerks, one extra clerk, one surgeon, one inspector of artillery, one a istant ditto, one clerk and draftsman, one clerk, one proof master, one searcher, one instrument keeper, one modeller, one a istant, one constructor of artillery carriages, one a istant to ditto, one second a istant, and two clerks.