Small material rewards formed part of command. A captain could recognize a successful gun crew with extra food, drink, or personal attention even when promotion and medals were scarce. Such gestures mattered because a captain needed a dependable core when moving to a larger ship. Officers could carry experienced followers and protégés through successive commands. On reaching admiral, an officer could direct sailors toward former juniors who were now becoming captains themselves. Everyday leadership helped sustain the recruiting relationships on which later commands depended.
Notable Point · 1:43:12-1:46:22
How captains kept a following
Promotion and formal awards were limited, so captains could build loyalty through attention, food rewards, training, and a reputation for looking after crews.