colonelcy

noun

1. The rank or office of a colonel.

   “[U]nless Lieut Colonel Tyler [John Tyler Sr.] was provided for, The Major, Prentice [Samuel Prentiss II] advanced to a Lieut:Colonelcy in some other Regiment, and his eldest Captain ([James] Chapman) not deprived of his expectation of the Majority; his coming in there would give uneasiness, but nevertheless if it was the pleasure of Congress to make the appointment, he would do every thing in his power to make it palatible.”

   “In the campaign of 1760, the general [De Soltikow], who had juſt obtained the colonelcy of the regiment of Wolfenbuttle, aſſembled a body of troops near Konimſthau; as the enemy did not enter Bohemia, as was expected, he repaired to the frontiers of Sileſia, failed in an attempt to ſurpriſe Neuſtadt, but actually cut off the Pruſſian regiment of Mantpeefel.”

   “At the close of this year (1776) he [John Chester] was recommended for a colonelcy in the new Continental Army, but on account of the condition of his personal affairs he declined the appointment and retired to private life, to the great regret, particularly, of General [George] Washington.”

   “Did I tell you I've been given a colonelcy in the North Riding Volunteers?”

   “Meanwhile, he witnessed the mad log-rolling for colonelcies. "I was perfectly sickened at the political wire pulling for all these commissions," he [Ulysses S. Grant] told Jesse [Root Grant]. Of the first six colonels [Governor of Illinois, Richard] Yates appointed, not one had any experience, and only one was a West Pointer.”