RANK, is a straight line made by the soldiers of a battalion, or squadron, drawn up side by side: this order was established for the marches, and for regulating
the different bodies of troops and officers which compose an army.
RANK and Precedence, in the army and navy, as follows:
Engineers RANK. Chief, as colonel; director, as lieutenant-colonel; sub-director, as major; engineer in ordinary, as captain; engineer extraordinary, as captain-lieutenant; sub-engineer, as lieutenant; practitioner-engineer, as ensign.
Navy RANK. Admiral, or commander in chief of his majesty's fleet, has the rank of a field-marsh; admirals, with their flags on the main-top-mast-head, rank with generals of horse and foot; vice-admirals, with lieutenant-generals; rear-admirals, as major-generals; commodores, with broad pendants, as brigadier-generals; captains of post-ships, after three years from the date of their first commission, as colonels; other captains, as commanding post-ships, as lieutenant-colonels; captains, not taking post, as majors; lieutenants, as captains.
| ARMY. | NAVY. | GOVERNORS. |
|---|---|---|
| General in chief | Admiral in chief | Commander in chief of the forces in America |
| Generals of horse | Admiral with a flag at the main-top-mast. | Captain-general of provinces |
| Lieutenant-generals | Vice-admirals | Lieutenant-generals of provinces |
| Major-generals | Rear-admirals | Lieutenant-governors and presidents |
| Colonels | Post-captains of 3 years | Lieutenant-governors not commanding |
| Lieutenant-colonels | Post-captains | Governors of charter colonies |
| Majors | Captains | Deputy governors |
| Captains | Lieutenants | Established by the king, 1760 |
Doubling of the RANKS, is the placing two ranks in one, frequently used in the manteuvres of a regiment.
RANKS and FILES, are the horizontal and vertical lines of soldiers when drawn up for service.