William McCarty Little papers

William McCarty Little was one of the intellectual leaders of the Naval War College during its first thirty years. While his colleague Alfred Thayer Mahan concentrated on the history and principles of naval strategy, McCarty Little took as his area the problem of naval tactics in an era of great technological change. His most notable achievement was the development of the naval war game. Rear Admiral Stephen B. Luce, the founder and first President of the Naval War College, recognized the importance of his work in war gaming when he wrote, "It was through the ingenuity of devising and working out details, and the indefatigable labors of Lieutenant Little that the naval war game became a recognized part of the College curriculum. His work has contributed very largely to what ever success the College has achieved."

Inspired by the use which European armies had made of war gaming, McCarty Little explored some of the ideas of British Vice Admiral P.H. Colomb on the naval war game and then developed a new and viable system of his own. Gradually and painstakingly, he refined the technique so that it might be used as an intellectual tool in more effectively understanding and controlling the capabilities of modern naval technology. McCarty Little's study of naval tactics led him into two other areas. He saw the importance of keeping abreast of tactical developments in other countries, and he played an important role in translating some works in Italian and French which he then brought to the attention of American officers. At the time, he was concerned with the broader problem of coordinating policy, strategy, and tactics into a practical system which was useable by officers on active service afloat. This had been one of the major objectives of Rear Admiral Luce when he established the Naval War College as a place where naval officers could extend their intellectual horizons and obtain "a just appreciation of the great variety and extent of the requirements" of the naval profession. 2 In attempting to develop a practical approach to this ideal, McCarty Litte, with a number of younger officers at the College, introduced the "applicatory system" between 1910 and 1913. This was the beginning of a systematic approach to the "military planning process" in the Navy and it laid the foundation for the approach which came to dominate thinking in the U.S. Navy for almost sixty years.

A graduate of the Naval Academy in 1866, McCarty Little served on active duty for more than twenty years. Throughout his career, he had been a close associate of Stephen B. Luce whom he had first met at the Naval Academy where Luce was a staff member. In 1878, he joined Luce as his second in command on board the recruit training ship Minnesota and then followed him as Executive Officer of Luce's flagship as Commander of the Apprentice Training Squadron.

Having lost the sight of one eye earlier in his career, McCarty Little was deeply disappointed when a serious inflammation in his remaining eye forced his premature retirement in 1884. Anxious to continue in his profession, he volunteered his services to Luce at the opening of the Naval War College.

Much of his most valuable work was accomplished while a volunteer staff member. In his first year, he established a library for the College. In 1886, he gave the first formal lecture on war gaming, and in succeeding years he continued to lecture and to develop the methodology of war gaming.

In 1891, the State Department requested that the Navy send an officer to Spain as a naval attache to supervise the construction of replicas of Columbus' caravels as part of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America. The quota for active duty officers on attache assignments having been already filled, McCarty Little undertook the task as an officer on the retired list. Under Rear Admiral Luce, the Commissioner General of the U.S. Commission for the Historical Exposition at Madrid, McCarty Little conducted the negotiations which resulted in the Spanish government building a replica of Santa Maria while McCarty Little himseH directed the building of the Nina and Pinta replicas in Barcelona for the United States. After participating in the Exposition ceremonies in Madrid, and later in Chicago, he returned to Newport and resumed his volunteer work at the Naval War College.

The Governor of Rhode Island appointed McCarty Little the Commander of the Rhode Island Naval Militia in 1896. Two years later, at the outbreak of the Spanish American War, he returned to active duty in the Navy as Executive Officer of the Newport Naval Training Station. Upon release of the Naval Militia from active duty, he joined the staff of the Naval War College again and remained there until ill health forced him to retire in January 1915. In 1903, he was promoted to Captain, U.S. Navy, on the retired list, by special act of Congress and was officially assigned to duty at the Naval War College. He died in March 1915.

1845 September 6

Born in New York City.

1863

Appointed Midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy, Newport, RI, 4 March. Later advanced to stand with those who entered the Academy in 1862.

1866

Graduated from U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD in June and served in the training. ships Macedonian, Saco, and America during that summer.

1867

After three months leave in Europe, reported to Colorado, flagship of the European Squadron.

1868

Promoted to Ensign and served in Franklin and Frolic. Appointed Flag Lieutenant to Commodore Pennock, Commander in Chief, European Squadron.

1869

Promoted to Master, 26 March. Transferred to Franklin.

1870 March 21

Promoted to Lieutenant.

1871

Detached from Franklin and began eight month study leave in Europe.

1872

Instructor, Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, RI. Later, Assistant Inspector of Ordnance.

1874

Transferred to Swatara for South Pacific Astronomical Mission making observations of the transit of Venus. Remained in her when she returned to service on the North Atlantic Station later in the year.

1876

Lost the sight of one eye in a shooting accident. Returned to duty after medical treatment.

1877

Assistant Inspector of Ordnance, New York Navy Yard.

1878

Assigned to recruit training ship Minnesota as Navigating Officer. In charge of all professional training and military exercises, under Captain Stephen 8. Luce.

1881

Transferred to New Hampshire, flagship of the Apprentice Training Squadron based at Newport, RI, under Commodore Stephen B. Luce, as Executive Officer, and briefly in command.

1882

Transferred to Adams for duty in Alaskan waters. While serving as Navigating Officer strained his remaining eye, creating an acute inflammation.

1883

After sick leave, assigned to Minnesota.

1884

Ordered to Ossif)ee for duty on the Asiatic Station. Before reporting for duty, his case was reviewed by a Medical Board, and he was ordered to be immediately retired from the service because of his eye disability, 16 May. Settled in Newport, RI. Attended the course at the Naval Torpedo Station on an unofficial basis and volunteered his assistance to Commodore Luce in establishing the Naval War College.

1886

Delivered the first lecture on war gaming at the Naval War College: "Colomb's Naval Duel Game."

1887

Delivered a series of lectures on naval war gaming and began to develop a naval war gaming system.

1891

Assigned as a naval attache in Spain for special duty with the Columbian Historical Exposition.

1894

Returned to Newport and continued as volunteer staff member at the Naval War College, specializing in war gaming.

1896

Appointed Commander of the Rhode Island Naval Militia. Assisted with the course at the Naval Torpedo Station as well as at the Naval War College.

1898

Established the R.I. Coast Patrol and Coastal Signal Service as part of the Naval Militia. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, brought the Rhode Island Naval Militia into the naval service and was assigned as Executive Officer of the Naval Training Station, Newport, on active duty.

1899

Upon release of the militia and reserves from active duty returned to the Naval War College as a volunteer member of staff.

1903 February 16

Promoted to Captain, USN, and returned to active duty with the Naval War College by special act of Congress.

1915 January 25

Retired from active duty because of illness

1915 March 12

Died at his home, 44 Everett Street, Newport, RI. Buried in St. Mary's Churchyard, Portsmouth, RI.