ID these ranks?

[major bill]

Quick test. Who can be the first one to ID the ranks of the young men in this Civil War photo?

 

[mofederal]

I would guess USN, but I am not sure. They look to be different ranks. Maybe ensign, 2nd Lt. and 1st Lt. Unsure, just a guess.

 

[major bill]

 

[ikesdad]

The one with the 3 stripes is a Passed Midshipman (early war). The others I don't know. The cuffs of most resemble a Lt. in the CSN but those kids are too young for that rank. I don't know about then, but a Lt. in the Navy now is equivalent to a Captain in the other branches. I'm guessing cadets ?

 

[major bill]

Cadets at the US Naval Academy but I am not sure of the cadet rank system used in 1861. Does anyone know the rank system at the Confederate Naval Academy? Sadly I do not have a reference book that covers Cadet rank at either the U.S. Naval Academy or the Confederate Naval Academy.

 

[major bill]

In the end I have only three books about the Naval Academy. West Point is covered in many books but books about the Naval Academy are few.

 

[ikesdad]

Did the CSN even have a Naval Academy ?

 

[mofederal]

 

[mofederal]

 

[Klaudly]

I have already found these particular ranks, but now I do not remember where.

Confederate Naval Cadet, wore the uniform prescribed for 'midshipman' and 'passed midshipman'. In the school ship the cadets were gathered in teams and one for group was designated 'officer, this cadet wore a badge that distinguished him from the others, but the regulation does not specify it. As the badge passed from cadet to cadet, it was probably an armband or a sash.

 

[TinCan]

Confederate Naval Lt., Commander, and Captain.

 

[major bill]

Confederate Naval Lt., Commander, and Captain.

These are said to be cadets at the U.S. Naval Academy so I take it that these are Academy rank insignia.

 

[ikesdad]

These are said to be cadets at the U.S. Naval Academy so I take it that these are Academy rank insignia.

And not wearing full dress uniforms. I concur that they are naval cadets, certainly not O types....yet

 

[18thmississippi]

In the end I have only three books about the Naval Academy. West Point is covered in many books but books about the Naval Academy are few.

yeah was gonna say the Academy

 

[TinCan]

MajorBill,
I based my answer on confederate naval sleeve insignia but I can't get the picture to load. Looks just like what they are wearing. But they do look a tad on the young side.