The Lowest Ranking Senior Officer of the US Army - John Doughty
I first noticed John Doughty when reviewing a list of the men who served as Senior Officer of the United States Army. While this position no longer exists, the best modern comparison I can make would be to the office of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (If you can think of a better comparison, please leave a comment.)
There are several reasons Doughty’s name is surprising. He took over for a much more famous Founder and was Senior Officer despite holding the shockingly low rank of Major.
John Doughty - Captain of Artillery
John Doughty was just 22 years of age when he joined the Continental Army.
A Columbia University graduate, Doughty became a Captain and specialized in artillery.
After the Quebec Campaign, he was asked to act as an aide-de-camp to Philip Schuyler. This only lasted a few months, as John took over the New York Provincial Company of Artillery when Alexander Hamilton left to work for General Washington.
When the American Revolution ended, John Doughty was commanding the fort at West Point.
Senior Officer of the United States Army
In 1783, Washington disbanded the Continental Army (by this point known as the United States Army).
At this time, under the Articles of Confederation, the States were expected to provide for their own defense.
Most soldiers went home.
Doughty stayed.
On June 20, 1784, Secretary of War Henry Knox resigned.
Knox had taken over the rank of Senior Officer in the United State Army when George Washington resigned his commission. Now that rank would go to the next highest Officer.
That Officer wasn’t a general.
He wasn’t a Colonel.
Heck, he wasn’t even a Lieutenant Colonel.
He was a Major.
The third man to take control of the United States Army was Major John Doughty.
53 Days
In hindsight, giving command to a man of moderate rank isn’t surprising. All the Generals went home to build a new country (and do those things that wealthy war heroes did back then).
Additionally, the army only consisted of about 100 soldiers.
Doughty’s main responsibility was to oversee the American forts and try to keep the Native Americans from attacking. He did this successfully…for 53 days.
Later Career
By the following August, Brigadier General Josiah Harmar was brought back into the army to assist with settling the Northwest Territory. Doughty wasn’t replace, per se, he was simply out-ranked again.
John continued with his military career for another six years.
After the Constitution was ratified, John went on several missions for Washington and Knox to treat with the Native Americans, notably leading his men through an ambush in the Ohio Territory.
Also, when Washington organized the new army during the first Presidential Administration, he attempted to promote Doughty to Lieutenant Colonel, but John decided fifteen years in the military was enough and returned to private life.
To learn more about Artillery in the Revolution, check out these articles:
John Lamb Doesn’t Watch the Money Close Enough
Margaret Cochran Corbin in the Battle of Fort Washington
The Midnight Ride of William Dawes
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To learn more about artillery in the American Revolution, I suggest ‘A Soldier of the Revolution’.
This biography of Henry Knox provides tremendous insight into the importance of heavy arms during the Revolutionary War.
If you’d like a precious copy for your very own you can through the Amazon affiliate link below (you’ll support this site, but don’t worry, Amazon pays me while your price stays the same).
