AboutMichael Troy Expertise I can answer just about any question on early American History. My specialties are the American Revolution through the Civil War/Reconstruction. I also have greater expertise in matters relating to military, political or legal history.
Experience I have lectured at George Washington University regarding the Civil War, as well as several elementary school Civil War demonstrations. I was also a member of a Civil War reenactment group for about 10 years.
Education/Credentials J.D. University of Michigan
B.A. George Washington University
Question I am interested in the military ranks of both the American and British soldiers during the revolutionary war from lowest to highest. Were their duties comparable to todays officers? For example, did a colonel have the same duties then that one does today? Thank you in advance for taking the time to answer my question.
Answer Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I was trying to find a complete list of all the ranks available at that time but could not. I know the following ranks were used in the Continental Army, which for the most part based its ranks on the British Army:
For enlisted men, ranks included private, corporal, sergeant, first sergeant, quartermaster sergeant and sergeant major. For officers lieutenant, captain, major, lt. colonel, colonel, brigader general, major general. George Washington held a title above major general, that of "General and Commander in Chief". A number of modern ranks, such as PFC, specialist and the division between first and second lieutenants did not exist at this time. The army also included a few ranks that do not exist in the modern army: coronet (cavalry) and ensign (infantry). These are roughly the equivalent of a modern second lieutenant.
Organizational structure is similar to today. Companies would usually be supposed to have close to 80 men (though they were rarely if ever at full strength). A Company commander would usually be a captain, with a lieutenant and an ensign to assist. There would usually be 3 or 4 sergeants and another 3 or 4 corporals and around 60 or 70 privates (though as I said, they were rarely at full strength). A company would also have a fifer and drummer if available.
About 8 companies would form a regiment, commanded by a colonel, assisted by a lt. col. and a major. Regiments were formed into brigades, commanded by a brigadier general. Brigades were formed into divisions usually commanded by a major general. The exact structure changed during the course of the war, and was also different in State militia units.
General officers were appointed by Congress. Initially, junior officers were often elected by the soldiers. Later, they were appointed by Gen. Washington.
As I said, this structure was generally taken from the British Army, which had a similar command structure. One major difference was that British officers had to purchase their commissions. While this may seem strange to us today, there was a reason for it. British land-owners were a small minority but held virtually all the nation's wealth. They were concerned that a commoner, who did not have a stake in the existing economy, could become a top military leader and eventually lead a revolution against the aristocracy. Payment for commissions assured that only aristocrats, or their children would become officers. General officers were still appointed by the crown. For obvious reasons, the practice of purchasing commissions was abandoned during the Victorian Era.
Given today's larger armies, a modern officer of the same rank likely commands more men. For example, a colonel in the revolution would likely command a regiment of a few hundred men. Today, a modern US Army colonel would typically command a brigade of several thousand men.
