Union Admirals

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

I read that by the end of the war the US Navy had 37 admirals, a rank that hadn't existed in 1861. This presumably includes those that died during the war, or were pushed out the door due to age but promoted on the way out to acknowledge their seniority.

How many admirals did the Navy actually have or need at one time during the war?

The four blockade squadrons obviously needed admirals to head them. Presumably some or all of the other geographic squadrons were likewise elevated (Caribbean, Pacific Coast, Mediterranean, Far East). Were there at-large squadrons with admiral berths as well? The Mississippi River fleet, Hampton Roads, invasion support, etc?

There would need to be a senior admiral ashore in Washington for administrative purposes. Some department heads might also be admirals, either due to the size of the department or more likely due to seniority issues including officers who started the war afloat but got moved ashore for health reasons or otherwise lacking the vigor and aggressiveness expected of wartime officers.

 

[JeffFromSyracuse]

My knowledge of the pre-war Navy is based solely on Ian Toll's Six Frigates.

Was the Civil War the first time the US Navy consolidated significant numbers of ships - enough to justify admiral rank?

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

Was the Civil War the first time the US Navy consolidated significant numbers of ships - enough to justify admiral rank?

Yes. Before that even when ships operated as squadrons they were mostly sloops or other smaller ships; rarely more than one frigate.

Admirals were associated with battle fleets involving dozens of ships of the line, with a defined Van/Vice, center, and Rear.

 

[GELongstreet]

During the war the Union Navy revamped the rank and rank insignia system a number of times. The established flag ranks, following the non-rank position of Commodore and the earlier rank of Flag Officer, were Commodore and Rear Admiral. In, I think, 1866 the ranks of Vice Admiral and Admiral were created but in the downsized navy were held only by a handful of individuals over time, essentially being phased out until about World War I. The army had a pretty similar path with its post-war ranks.

 

[GELongstreet]

And the people who held flag rank in the Union Navy, according to Eicher's always useful Civil War High Commands.

 

[wausaubob]

Samuel Lee made Rear Admiral in 1870, as stated next to his name. But he was omitted from the list of Rear Admirals, which seems to be an error.

 

[GELongstreet]

As this is about the Union Navy I think they´re simply not including U.S. Navy promotions after 1868 in that list.

 

[wausaubob]

As this is about the Union Navy I think they´re simply not including U.S. Navy promotions after 1868 in that list.

Porter was promoted to Admiral in 1870 and his name does not appear next to Farragut's. Strange way to make a list.

 

[NedBaldwin]

I read that by the end of the war the US Navy had 37 admirals, a rank that hadn't existed in 1861. This presumably includes those that died during the war, or were pushed out the door due to age but promoted on the way out to acknowledge their seniority.

How many admirals did the Navy actually have or need at one time during the war?

The four blockade squadrons obviously needed admirals to head them. Presumably some or all of the other geographic squadrons were likewise elevated (Caribbean, Pacific Coast, Mediterranean, Far East). Were there at-large squadrons with admiral berths as well? The Mississippi River fleet, Hampton Roads, invasion support, etc?

There would need to be a senior admiral ashore in Washington for administrative purposes. Some department heads might also be admirals, either due to the size of the department or more likely due to seniority issues including officers who started the war afloat but got moved ashore for health reasons or otherwise lacking the vigor and aggressiveness expected of wartime officers.

Going by the list provided, using a late 1865 for end of the war, and not counting "Retired" status, there were only 7 Admirals appointed during the war, 2 of who died during the war:
Dahlgren
Davis
DuPont (died in 65)
Farragut
Foote (died 63)
Goldsborough
Porter

4 were appointed in early 62; 2 more in early 63 bringing the wartime active total to 6.
Foote died and Porter was appointed in mid 63, keeping the total wartime active at 6.