Posted on Aug 24, 2021
Does anyone know of a situation in which a cadet or midshipman were involved in combat or better yet took command of a unit?
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Posted in these groups: 
Military History
Military History
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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Everyone will of course mention New Market. The only other incident I'm aware of involves a U.S. Midshipman who led a mutiny in the early 1800s and was hanged. I've also come across the story of a Mid who ended up being challenged to a duel by a British officer... a noted duelist. As it turned out, none other than Stephen Decatur (my personal hero) heard about the duel... and insisted on taking the Mid's place. The Englishmen quickly withdrew his challenge when Decatur offered his terms that the duel take place over the width of a handkerchief.
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William Cox was famously convicted of being away from his post while taking his mortally wounded captain below decks during a battle. All the other officers had been killed or incapacitated, so command passed to Cox.
https://military.wikia.org/wiki/William_Sitgreaves_Cox
https://military.wikia.org/wiki/William_Sitgreaves_Cox
William Sitgreaves Cox (1790–1874) was a third lieutenant serving on USS Chesapeake during the War of 1812. During the battle with HMS Shannon in 1813, Cox served below decks in charge of a gun crew. When his crew abandoned their post, Cox went to the deck to continue fighting. Captain James Lawrence was wounded, and Lt. Cox took him below deck. However, all other officers had been seriously wounded or killed, so Lawrence's incapacitation left...
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SSG Dale London
At the time William Cox was not actually a Lieutenant at all but merely a midshipman named as Acting Lieutenant by the ship's commanding officer -- he had yet to pass his Lieutenant exam. As such he actually held no authority to command as he held no commission. Nevertheless, he was court martialled, convicted of dereliction of duty and unofficer-like conduct and was dismissed from the Navy in disgrace.
The lesson to learn here is that the authority of a ship's captain to appoint someone to a position of authority is pretty broad and has teeth. Even though Cox was not actually an officer in the Navy he was expected to behave like one because he'd been appointed to the position by command authority. His failure to do so cost him his honor and his career.
The lesson to learn here is that the authority of a ship's captain to appoint someone to a position of authority is pretty broad and has teeth. Even though Cox was not actually an officer in the Navy he was expected to behave like one because he'd been appointed to the position by command authority. His failure to do so cost him his honor and his career.
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1LT William Clardy
It cost him his career and a great deal in his reputation, SSG Dale London, but I've always suspected that Mr. Cox retained enough true honor to put many career officers to shame.
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SSG Dale London
1LT William Clardy - You may have the rights of it. I have met too many officers who lacked the spark of integrity shown by Lt Cox.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
SSG Dale London - When the Captain appointed him 3rd Lt, he did so to be able to place him in the Chain of Command and have it where he could legally give an order. He absolutely did have the authority. Now I think the circumstances should have cleared him if for no other reason than the fact that no one really expected him to be able to competently fight the Ship.
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