rear-admirals

Updated: June 19, 2025

This will assuredly be the case, should she ever have occasion to employ large fleets; when she must adopt something like the English plan, and introduce three or four grades of flag-officers, above a Commodore Admirals, Vice-Admirals, and Rear-Admirals of Squadrons; distinguished by the color of their flags, red, white, and blue, corresponding to the centre, van, and rear.

Herman Melville - White Jacket: or, the World on a Man-of-War