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(Qactull SnioerBity Ctbracii 
 
 3tl)ani. Nrai fork 
 
 BERNARD ALBERT SINN 
 
 COLLECTION 
 
 NA\ AL HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY 
 
 THI OIFT OF 
 
 BERNARD A. SINN, 07 
 
 1919 
 
olin 
 
 1924 030 753 481 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tliis bool< is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924030753481 
 
NAVAL 
 
 Duties and Discipline, 
 
 WITH THE 
 
 POLICY AND PRINCIPLES 
 
 NAYAL ORGANIZATION". 
 
 BY 
 
 F. A. ROE, 
 
 LIBUT. OOMUANDEH UNITED BTATEa NATT. 
 
 Y • 
 
 nSTE^V^-YOEK: 
 D. VAN NOSTRAND, 19 2 BROADWAY. 
 
 1866. 
 
■nKrad, HconOnf la At of Oongnu, In Uid yoar 130D, by 
 
 D. VAN K08TRAND, 
 
 In Um OmVt OOc* of Un OUtriei Court of tho Unllad StaUi for the Southcra 
 
 Dtitrlct of Nev-Tork. 
 
TO THB 
 
 HONORABLE GIDEON WELLES, 
 
 SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, 
 
 TO WHOM 
 
 TKCE "UNION" IS INDEBTKD FOR, A. TifA.'VTr, 
 
 CREATED WITHOUT RESOURCES, 
 
 MAINTAINED WITH ENERGY, 
 
 AHD CONDUCTED TO VICTORY THKOUGH THE MOST TEYINO YEAKS 
 IN THE 
 
 EISTOBY OF A NATION, 
 
 THIS -WORIE 
 
 ■glesipccffttlli) |)ebicafeb. 
 
CONTENTS, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 Okganization of Fleets and Squadbons, 1 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 •General Duties and Chakacter of a Ship-of-Wae, .... 16 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 Internal Oroanization of Ships-op-War, ^ 23 
 
 CHAPTER IT. 
 The Captain, 38 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 The Executiye Officer, 48 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 The Master, 67 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 The Opficee of the Deck, I'l 
 
 CHAPTER Vni. 
 Forward or Warrant Officers, 91 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 Midshipmen and Masters' Mates, 107 
 
iv CONTEXTS. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Pettt Omcua, HT 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 Thi .Saulor, '27 
 
 CHAPTER Xn. 
 NiTiL Arnurancxs, 1<2 
 
 CHAPTER Sril. 
 MiKixu, 149 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 KM.mxu jutD Exoixi DcrxRTirENT, ... IRS 
 
 Cn.VPTER XV. 
 SBAVAKinir 170 
 
 CHAPTEU XVI. 
 DtacirtixK, 184 
 
 CHAPTER XVTI. 
 Or B.4TTLI um Fionrixo Qcalities, 198 
 
 CHAPTER XVHI. 
 Tm Natil Omcai, 214 
 
PEEFAOE. 
 
 This little work has grown up under my hands In a cuiious manner. During the 
 engrossing labors of a previous command of a new vessel wliich I had commissioned, 
 I was importuned by the executive ofl&cer and others to write internal rules and 
 regulations. I had often before been requested to do so, but my mind had been 
 always persistently opposed to it. Tet it seemed positively necessary to have 
 some regulations of details of duty, whereby the young volunteer officers might 
 be guided as well as instructed. I therefore resolved to make the attempt, and in 
 so doing, I found that In order to explain clearly the exceptions to rules, and how 
 and when to make them, was the most difficult thing to perform of the whole 
 task. Every rule must have its exceptions. Hence it was that, in the endeavor to 
 state things clearly, and not to have a constantly recurring clash of orders and counter 
 orders and disorders, my labors swelled into the proportions of arworJc. I gave up 
 the attempt as a failure, knowing that experience, good judgment, in fine, educes 
 tkm^ must be the reliance of a commander upon his subordinates. The result of all 
 this is a book, and one which I modestly hope may be productive of far more good to 
 our growing navy than any system of rules and regulations. 
 
 The sudden, the almost unexampled development of the navy since the beginning 
 of this great rebellion, seems to point to the necessity of more instruction from 
 books and a more extended professional literature than we yet possess. In this 
 respect, it may be fairly stated that all navies, and especially our own, are exceed- 
 ingly barren. Officers have no time for writing books. The demand upon their 
 time and their abilities is so enormous, that we have fears that our best men will 
 yield to exhaustion or failing health long before their services and usefulness can 
 well be spared from active service. Who can have the heart to devote mind and 
 body to the advancement of young officers of the navy, after weary years of cease- 
 less and restless labor, and under its exhaustive pressure ? Many of these pages 
 were worked out, and the work itself projected, under similar conditions, and when 
 the cares and anxieties of an active career were straining the vital energies of the 
 writer to the utmost. It is therefore believed that no more earnest apology is 
 needed for the production, and if the jaded and weary men who have mingled in 
 the trying scenes of this war, can find the energy or the courage to read it, not to 
 
VI PREFACE. 
 
 , no* t :■ eenjiire, bni to pus UgfaUj OT«r Ha dlxnpuiclM, and unird ta 
 I oC i2.t cArt, Um »ril«r will be rfcomprnjoii. Ahlfr and belirr pens h«T« 
 not drroMd ttme (sd labor lo It, No one regreU this more Ibftn the author. If tha 
 " pen " be Indeed " nUghtter than the sword," It has not yot demonstrated tlu> fnct 
 Id IUs hanghij rebelUoo. That the svord has been drawn In the most righteous 
 eau^ a oatkia ever bad, that our gnna bare flung tlit-lr bolta In Die most mimljr 
 aiM) bcn^ urife men ever enfs^ In, will tu<t be questioned a few years later, If 
 U b now. Bui beiore the sword returns to Its scabbard, or Uie Iron mosses of our 
 (Hiu are Uld tray to roM, It U well to ask It we may not y< i apply ourselTes to a 
 man a«aB|>llalKd use <rf them. Courage Is, after all, a weak and linpount ele- 
 mrnl, IT It be nw langlit and rultlrated lo strike lu blow* at Die vital point, and with 
 
 TV> the rKmt and yonaf gradoale* of the Naval Academy, and to the volunteer 
 o9kvn bdns ltioor{wr*i^l amonptt ua, iMi* book Is specially dcvolL-tl. To lUo 
 lbra.rr, who hsTf t>em and are poshed rurward t'l flU stations of responsibility with 
 unprffiedaaied rapMHy, ut4 i<> Vf Uttrr, whose previous (raining has possibly 
 ln*Ull«d pr^odUae* that may be Iqjarlous to ilirtn, these pages are particularly ad- 
 di e as ed. It has. Indeed, beco a labor of love, performed In fugitive moments, under 
 the heavy wr*7hl cf duUca and >'.<■ <li-preaslng elTects of shattered and waning 
 baalili. T <!.<-« two eiasM« of olBcera I commit my reflective admonitions, I trust 
 net la vain. 
 
 Tba beroea and liimnderK '-f oar navy have spoken to lu through the trumpet 
 lAnfw of Cooper and \hr Urtng votees of tradition. When this arrogant rebellion 
 gnrw Inie srar, and during In Uoody progress, the word Gi/>rt (bund no utterance 
 amongst ui. We took a nobler and higher word tJian frior.v; It was i7u/y. We 
 accFfted the gtins fart «UU"ui a shadow of Its delusion, and entered Into the con- 
 ir>i with • sad but r»rt>r»t conscloosoesa that wc had a dtrfy to i>erform, ond to bo 
 perfomed with tiae relentless energy of men fighting for a greater boon and a nobler 
 end than Qf>» or glory. Tlu navy las added grand and heroic pages to the splen- 
 dor of Its aunaU. 
 
 r. a E- .MiaKii-v, Ftbnutry, 18*8. 
 
NAYAL DUTIES AND DISCIPLINE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 OEGAiriZATIOK OF FLEETS AKD SQITADEONS. 
 
 • The greatest combination of sMps and vessels 
 of war yet organized under the command of one 
 officer, has received the title of squadron, in our 
 navy. Hitherto, we have not had a navy of suffi- 
 cient numbers to warrant a higher organization. 
 Indeed, it may be said, that we have hardly, as 
 yet, had an organized naval squadron. Any num- 
 ber of vessels, from two upward, assembled under 
 the command of one officer, has been denomin- 
 ated a squadron. It is believed that the time has 
 now come, when a consideration of this subject 
 is needed. Many of our blockading squadrons 
 are rather fleets than squadrons ; only as yet the 
 incipient fleet is not composed of squadrons and 
 divisions. 
 
 Any assemblage of twelve steam-vessels, or 
 upward, is a fleet. Any number of vessels less 
 
8 OKOANIZATION OF FLEETS A.VD SQrADKONS. 
 
 than that should be denoininatixl a squadron. 
 The squadron is again subdivided into divisions. 
 Whatever may be the number of vessi-is which 
 compos.' a lit-tt, it should be subdivided into 
 thn-<* squatlnjns. each agam subdivided into di- 
 visions. Two or thriH' vessels constitute a divi- 
 sion, and should l)e placed under tlic orders of 
 tlie fu-nior ofRc-r of the thn-e. An ndmiral com- 
 mands a Hi'ct ; a coiiiinodore, a stiuadron ; and a 
 captain, a division. The three sciuadrous of a 
 fle<t are numb'Tiil, 1, 2, ;?, from right to left, and 
 from van to n-ar, upon the primitive oi'ders of 
 front and file. The divisions and tlie vessels 
 themselves are numbered ai-corduit; to the same 
 principles, according to tlie natural order of num- 
 bers. 
 
 The squadrons are (<)m]iosi'd of equal numbers 
 of vessels whenever tlje vessels in lim^ are a mul- 
 tiple of three ; in tiie opposite case, the strongest 
 squadron is that of tlie admiral — that is to say, 
 the second, then the first. 
 
 If the admiral does not form a light squadron, 
 or a reserve squadron, independent of the squad- 
 rons in line, then the third squadron should be 
 composed of the fastest steamers, and be in readi- 
 ness to be detached from the line, as a light 
 squadron, to form the reserve. Such are the gen- 
 eral principles laid down in the French navy, 
 
ORGANIZATION OF FLEETS AND SQUADEONS. 9 
 
 and, in general, "by European navies. It would 
 be difficult to simplify this organization, or to 
 improve it. 
 
 Our navy is now composed of so many differ- 
 ent kinds of steamers, that, at first view, it seems 
 impossible to organize a fleet with them, destined 
 for attack or defence. But this is not so. This 
 very diversity is Ibut an additional element of 
 strength to it. The great feature of a fleet, or a 
 sc[nadron, or a division, is the line-of-hattle. We 
 do not require line-of-hattle ships to form a line- 
 of-hattle. What is a line-of-hattle ? Simply the 
 line or column of ships, presenting their artillery 
 to the front of the enemy. Admiral Farragut 
 took his fleet up the Mississippi to New-Orleans 
 in two lines of hattle — one for each bank of the 
 river. Its simplicity was admirable, and was a 
 perfect success, when he encountered batteries on 
 each bank, at Chalmette. 
 
 Heavy hroadside ships are essential to the line- 
 of-battle. Such are the frigates Wabasli and 
 class, the screw sloops Richmond, Hartford, and 
 class. Where wooden ships are operating with 
 iron-clads, there should always be double Itnes- 
 of-battle, in the order endente^-ion: we must use 
 French words to express these technicalities. The 
 heavy sloops, as they are termed, mounting pivot- 
 guns, may help out the line-of-battle at its ex- 
 1* 
 
10 0BGAXI2ATI0.V OF FLEETS AXU SQrADKONS. 
 
 treniities; but th. y are nondi'script^, and may 
 lietter be as<-d elsewhere. 
 
 We have in our ii;>\ y the heavy steam (Vi!j;ates, 
 steam sloops, screw mmboats, and paddle-wheel 
 gteaiu'-rs, and irou-elads. The former are slow 
 but heavy 8hii>s. formidable for tlie line-of battle, 
 as all broadside ships must be. The}- are tho 
 baikhuiii' of the line-of-battle. It is not neees- 
 sary that tliey should go fast. We have the 
 otlier vi-.-mIs for that jiurpose — for the li.nht 
 s<iuadnins. Tlie new serew sloops are last, but 
 they ni-«-d the broadside batterie.s. The irou- 
 eia'ls, as elsewhere observed, ari" esseiiliall}' \'(»s- 
 si'ls to form lines-f)f-l)attle. They may be con- 
 sidered the ^i'^e artillery of the navy. The side- 
 wlii.'l ships, of liatteriis. both of broadside and 
 jiivots, are the cavalry of tin.- navy. Th(; fast 
 stTew sloops may be <onsidered tlio mounted in- 
 fantry of the navy. It takes all these to form a 
 fleet, for offensive or defensive oj)erations, just as 
 it requires the various arms of an army to form a 
 a)rjis ^armlf. To suppose that a navy can be 
 built aU of iron-clads, or all of gunboats, is the 
 trrossest igmorance, if you wish to perform more 
 than one species of service. Xecessity dictated, 
 at last, the building of fast paddle-wheel steam- 
 ers, at a time, too, when certain builders and theo- 
 rists were prophesying that no more paddle-wheel 
 
OKGAJSriZATION OF FLEETS AND SQUADRONS. 11 
 
 steamers would ever be bixilt— just as some en- 
 thusiasts suppose that nothing but monitors will 
 ever be built again. These paddle-wheel steam- 
 ers were not constructed for reserve squadrons, 
 but they are doing that duty nevertheless. 
 
 We observe, then, that we have all the material 
 for the thorough organization of fleets, both in 
 vessels and officers of rank and grades to com- 
 mand them. It might be asked why the organ- 
 ization is not then completed, and right names 
 given to right things ? Perhaps the time is not 
 yet come for it, and perhaps the leisure is want- 
 ing. 
 
 It is to be regretted that our signal-books have 
 not kept up with other progress, and an ample 
 system of tactics promulgated. Nothing can be 
 simpler than the French system, always excepting 
 their signals. We have three orders of steaming 
 in our signal-book. This is far, very far from 
 being complete. In the French system, the or- 
 ders of a fleet are divided into three categories, 
 namely, simple orders, compound general orders, 
 and compound orders by squadron. Upon these 
 three are based aU the forms that may be pos- 
 sible for a fleet of ships to assunfe, or that it may 
 require. The entire number of orders are reduced 
 to thirteen, of which not one half would be prob- 
 ably used in times of war. To adopt a perfect 
 
12 ORGAXIZATIOX OF FLKETS AXD SgUADKON'S. 
 
 system like this, wonld require a complete re- 
 vision of our sii:nal-bouk. which would not hv so 
 great a task after all. An additional book might 
 1'. furnished, containuig all tlie mders in dia- 
 gnmi. and it would only be necessary for the ad- 
 miral to tliTDW out his siirnal for any one order to 
 b>' fonnttl which he might select, and the eoiii- 
 maiKh-rs of squadrons, and divisions, and vessels, 
 might turn to it, and s*^ at a j:lance what their 
 duty wciuld Ix'. This requires no study of naval 
 ta< iir<. Tht' simp!" ^t mind could comimfhend it, 
 even though it had nt-ver before l)een thought of. 
 Tin- bojit signal t()de luia already partially an- 
 ticinat*-*! this. 
 
 It is Hot the intention or design to enter here 
 into a compl<t<- dis<ussion of naval tactics. It is 
 only d<-signi il to point out what the necessity is, 
 anil how it may Im- met, in so far as this question 
 has n«lation to that of the organization of fleets 
 and >(iuadron8. 
 
 The first care of an admiral, or that of his fleet- 
 captain, mitrht be to organize his fleet into squad- 
 n ms and divisions. The vessels should have their 
 places and numbers assigned to them, and their 
 duties should correspond to their capacity and 
 adaptabilities. It is greatly to be desired, also, 
 that commodores and officers commanding divi- 
 sions should wear their pennants and distinguish- 
 
ORGANIZATION OF FLEETS AND SQUADRONS. 13 
 
 ing flags. Why a commodore should not wear 
 Ms swallow-tail at tlie mast-head, is a question 
 which, no one has satisfactorily answered. 
 
 It may be suggested by some, of what use this 
 fleet organization ? and it may be supposed that 
 we are doing well enough as we are. It is a suffi- 
 cient reply, that any system which is wanting in 
 completeness, ia naval affairs, is not good. The 
 business transactions of a division or squadron 
 are necessarily performed loosely as they are. 
 The admiral may be at New-Orleans or Fort Mon- 
 roe, and squadrons under his command several 
 hundreds of mUes distant, and the commanders 
 of ships are out of reach of communication with 
 him. A senior officer present can never assume 
 that direction of his junior, also in command, 
 which appointment and rank give. 
 
 Steam has cleared the way of many difficulties 
 and obstacles iu the matter of naval manoeuvres 
 of large numbers of vessels. They are free from 
 all those obstacles which beset an army. Cavalry 
 can only operate upon certain ground ; artUlery 
 can only be brought up under certain conditions 
 of the roads ; infantry, in fine, can only be used 
 under similar advantages. Ships at sea have 
 none of these trials. They have always a plane 
 on which to move, and most generally a plane of 
 vast extent. The cavalry, artUlery, and the 
 
14 ORGASIZATIOX OF FLBXTS A^D SQUADRONS. 
 
 lme-of-l>artle. may move uninterraptedly to tluir 
 work. The wiutrs may advance or fall baik at 
 jx-rfect will, and ilie centre may mancDUvre at the 
 cai>rice of the conimander. Tactics ai\> greatly 
 tiimpUfied, and once the method of battle chosen, 
 tin* fat.- of anus must decide thi- chances. In the 
 old s.a-fi.Ldit.s of Van Tromj) and the admirals of 
 his da}', there was much that de])eude(l ui)ou 
 what was called the furtiine of the day ; but now, 
 thi" issu"' must dejM'nd upon no luck — no <liance 
 — but uu the drill of the single shiji, the disci- 
 jiline of tlx- ll'<l, and the nautical skill displayed 
 ]iy ihe admiral who handh-s it. Even with our 
 ]>rc8ent navy, we coidd not consent to carry on a 
 foreign war in our old-fashiuned way ol' lighting 
 single ships. We must fight sciuadrons and lleijts 
 now, or abide by the rejiroach of fear or ignor- 
 ance. The da} may not be far distant when our 
 (■.■ijitaius will have to d»'cide this question in the 
 li'ld ; and it might lie difficult, or at least embar- 
 rassing, for most of our captains to handle twenty 
 or thirty steamere oflf-hand, and form them into 
 such line-of-battle as they would count upon for 
 succe^. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 GENEEAL DUTIES AND CHAEACTEE OF A SHIP- 
 OF-WAE. 
 
 A SHip-OF-wAE is, in herself, tlie exponent of 
 tlie Power and Will of the nation to which, she 
 belongs. Vested ia her strength, with the legal 
 authority of the nation to represent it, she carries 
 the power and force to give it effect wherever she 
 may be placed. The nation cannot move as an 
 armed man to all the poiats of its interest, but 
 the ship-of-war, armed with authority, armed 
 with weapons, and armed with intelligence, is the 
 strong representative of the nation, moving every- 
 where over the globe. 
 
 To meet these high ends needs no ignoble train- 
 ing, and no small degree of capacity. The re- 
 sponsibility is great, and the character should be 
 ecLually great. Animated with a cultivated intel- 
 ligence, the ship-of-war is indeed the highest and 
 safest representative of the nation. Armed to 
 enforce her will, with men proud of their mis- 
 sion, trained to exercise and use, there is no 
 statesmanship like the cannon and its oaken bul- 
 warks. Statesmanship, political wisdom, pru- 
 
16 GENERAL DCnE3 AJTD CHAIUC?rKB 
 
 dence, and courage must also be found in her 
 cabins and upon her decks. No knowledge of 
 profes»onal details are too trifling to be dispensed 
 witli, and no embellishment of an aoeoinplished 
 man or jrentleman can well be spared. The mo- 
 ment an officiT plac.s his foot upon the deck of a 
 man-of-war, in- should feel, if he is to do service 
 there, that he has a man's work to do. 
 
 Tlimnas Carlyle tells us tluit a ship-of-war is a 
 dnnt F<ii-t! This K^'^t thinker has found few 
 facts in this world, and a man-of-war is one of 
 them. 
 
 A nation's iiiteresta are never confined to its 
 own Itarders. It.s ramifications grow and s])rea(l, 
 until till V become grafttd in every land, and ni)on 
 every shore of the ocean. Cominerci' is the life 
 of a people. Trade is tlie pi(jncer missionary, 
 opi-nint,' up all lands and i)ioples. With trade 
 come international relations, and then treaties. 
 The serious thing is to observe treaties, and see 
 that the compact is not violated. Travel follows 
 commerce, as the wave follows the wind. The 
 pursuit of gain, pleasure, knowledge, and science, 
 tie up the civilized and uncivilized nations into 
 relations so close and so narrow, that every na- 
 tion is more jealous of her foreign relations than 
 of those at home, in the interior. Prom all this, 
 too, follows another necessity of a grave nature — 
 
OF A SHIP-OF-WAB. 17 
 
 the police of tlie seas. Navies were primarily 
 created to perform tlie police of the ocean. In 
 proportion as nations Tbecome more civilized, so 
 this duty of ocean police "becomes more delicate 
 and various. It is the first great duty of a ship- 
 of-war to observe the ships and traders of all na- 
 tions which may be found upon the ocean. The 
 day of pirates, when they ravaged the coasts and 
 seas, has passed away. But the day of illicit 
 trade has not yet passed away. Legitimate rela- 
 tions of the citizens of one country with those 
 of another require protection. To create law, 
 to define and make treaties, is not enough ; they 
 must be enforced and carried out. 
 
 In ordinary times, the ships-of-war of the navy 
 found their occupation in these multifarious du- 
 ties. Their presence, even in European ports, has 
 always facilitated the ordinary negotiations of 
 national business, transacted by ministers, am- 
 . bassadors, consuls, and representatives of what- 
 ever form or character. Often the commander of 
 a squadron has been called upon to render deci- 
 sions touching difficult questions iu dispute by 
 our ministers and diplomats. The very presence 
 of a squadron in a foreign port gives assurance 
 and stability to the citizens of a nation, and 
 proves as sure a protection to their persons and 
 to their liberties, as if they were in their own 
 land. 
 
18 GEXKR.U- DCTIES AND CHAKACTKB 
 
 We did not create a navy in anticipation of 
 t!i'- present rebellion. But what would have 
 Ix-conie of our anui<>s and interests without one i 
 The most trying ^-rvicf of a ship-nf-war is that 
 of blockade. Its duties are arduous, and require 
 (•i-as<'l<-ss vigilance and activity. Too much can- 
 i;iit be •■xjHM-tcd of all (ilfu'crs, but alwvo all tlio 
 oUioT of till' deck, while upon this service. The 
 sliip is treated in a manner totally dillVrent from 
 that of (.th.r times and .•services. Never, in times 
 nf war, sliould a cruisn- strike the bell or use the 
 pipe at iiiLrlit. A ship-of-war should move to her 
 duty with the silence of tin- grave, and with the 
 darkiK-ss i)f a di-iiion of destruction. All li,«;hts, 
 at sides or mastheads, should be darkened. No 
 lantern or lights shoidd ever appear on deck un- 
 der any circumstances. Pilot-houses, binnaclcH, 
 eiiiriiie-room, hatches, in ra( t, wherever a ray of 
 light might escajie, should be darkened or con- 
 <ealitl. Men pro]>erly drilled need no battie-laii- 
 tems upon a gun-deck. Whitewash that deck at 
 night, if you exi)ect a fight, and therii wiU be no 
 need of showing yourself to the enemy's gunners. 
 The enemy himself, whether he be in a fort or in a 
 ship, will show you all the light you need. A\'e 
 have seen ships during this war, and upon block- 
 ade, too, which had more the appearance of a 
 dozen lighthouses on fire, than of a ship-of-war 
 
OF A SHIP-OF-WAR. 19 
 
 with intelligent officers on "board. The guns should 
 never be secured more than is absolutely impera- 
 tive for the moment, but always ready for imme- 
 diate use. Arms of all descriptions should be 
 kept ready loaded and at hand, and the watch 
 fully on the alert. We know that many officers 
 have a great dread of seeing a gun-tackle cast 
 loose, or a rifle or pistol at hand. But if the 
 people be properly drilled and disciplined, it is 
 not a moment's work to secure a gun when bad 
 weather begins to manifest itself. It is a good 
 plan, indeed, for the watch to consider themselves 
 as at quarters resting. In one word, a man-of-war 
 should always be ready to give a "word and a 
 blow," but generally the blow first. The Grov- 
 emment will never find fault with the ship which 
 does this. If ' ' vigilance be the price of liberty ' ' 
 among politicians, it certainly is the pearl of 
 safety among seamen. That officer who allows 
 himself to be surprised, deserves death ; and if 
 this were an article of war, it would be one of the 
 best ia the book. If she be upon the ocean, a 
 ship-of-war should allow no sail, no vessel what- 
 ever to elude her search. If along an enemy's 
 coast,''the slightest suspicious change in its ap- 
 pearance should at once excite the attention of 
 the officers. Nothing is too small in times of war 
 to pass unnoticed, and when the suspicion is 
 
20 GENERAL DDTIKS AND ClIARACTKB 
 
 aroused, the mysttry f>li()ukl at once lu' cltaifd up 
 bj the fri*e use of jxiwder and shell. Many offi- 
 cers an- afraid of burniujj; powder unni'cessjirily, 
 which would appear to be a mawkish sontiment- 
 ality. 
 
 Whatever may be the station assigned a sliip- 
 of-war in a blt)ckading squadron by the com- 
 mand. r-iii-clii'f of tlie station, the duties are full 
 of peril and anxiety. Slif is in peril of beinj^ 
 fired into by hi-r consorts, if she be not prompt 
 to maki- si^al-lijihts or to answer a challenge. 
 If shi- he ri-<inii»'d to stand in at nightfall, close 
 under the Imttery of the enemy, as is often the 
 «i.se, till- utmost sil'iici', th<' most intelligent care 
 is re<inintl by every man on board, not to display 
 her j)n's.-nci' to tin- enemy. It may be laid down 
 as a general law, whi-n in tin- i)rcs('nce of an en- 
 i-my. a Hhiji-of-war should never be at anchor at 
 daylight. In rivirs, harbors, orclosi- nnder the 
 land, til is rule should be invariably followed. 
 The authi >r could give several instiinces of disaster 
 hapiMuing from an oversight of this principle. 
 
 ^^^lethe^ as a cruiser or a blockader, whether 
 abroad or in her own waters, a ship-of-war should 
 always present the same character and maintain 
 th.- same appearance. It is to be regretted that 
 that trimness, so essentially the characteristic of 
 men-of-war, has somewhat disapi)eared among 
 
OF A SHIP-OF-WAR. 21 
 
 most of the vessels of our navy. It is not meant 
 here that Ben Bow neatness, which was exhaust- 
 ive of aU comfort and happiness of life on ship- 
 board, which was holy-stoned out of the decks 
 and bones of the crew and officers, which char- 
 acterized many vessels of other days. But there 
 is great danger of falling into the opposite ex- 
 treme, which is perhaps still worse. A slovenly 
 ship makes a slovenly crew and slouchy officers. 
 These produce a condition of inefficiency which 
 all must deplore. A ship should be trim and 
 scrupulously clean. To be prompt for any duty, 
 ready for any service, are her iirst requisites. 
 And how can this be attained % In no way but 
 by an exhaustless perseverance and labor. Nor 
 is this incompatible with comfort, nor, indeed, 
 with some degree of happiness. It matters not 
 her size nor the number of guns she may carry. 
 If she be not perfect in drill and discipline, in the 
 care that should keep her "to rights," she will 
 be a failure, and had better belong to no squad- 
 ron. Some of our officers lament that the day 
 of the staunch Mgate, with her square yards and 
 light spars and spacious decks, is over. It is 
 only because that perfect seamanship which ex- 
 isted then, and that pride of place which animat- 
 ed their people, are waning away. In this matter 
 progress appears to be going backwards. He 
 
22 GKXKRAL DrriES AND CHAKACTER. 
 
 who thinks that no st>ani:inship is rt'(|iiin'il tn 
 han<ll>' a steamship, had In-ttiT cH)ninu'nco his pro- 
 fessional career over airaiii. The day of seaman- 
 ship is H'lt over. It is a luw kind of seamanship 
 that wt" rttniire — moii' th-lii'ate, more studied, and 
 jx'rhajis luori' compri-heHsive. A slovenly, dirty 
 f^iinlioat, colliding with every vessel she meets, is 
 a ])aiuful sight. Such a vessel could not make a 
 Hying moor, even thougli that were considered 
 f/ofid seamanship. 
 
 It is ho]M?d tlie yonn^ officers of the navy will 
 avoid these stranpe ujisconci'])tion8 in regard to 
 their Iv-'autifttl profession. Tlu-y may compare 
 the old IJrandywine with the Hartford, or i\w Sa- 
 vannah with the Tic. inderoga, and judge forthem- 
 S'ives, if our new .-hi] IS should he handh'd in a 
 way ti> disgrace their old lumbering rivals. The 
 liigh character and appearance of our men-of-war 
 and of our steamers is proverbial. Let them be 
 handled as tiiey sliould In — let them be models of 
 neatness, promptness, and efficiency, and as they 
 cleave their way through th(; sea, with a speed 
 that is wonderful, do not attempt to open wide 
 the throttles and run down a gale of wind with 
 them. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 OEGANIZATIOK 01" SHIPS-OP-WAE. 
 
 I PROPOSE to treat of tlie navy as we find it in 
 1864, and not as it was represented in 1861, be- 
 fore tlie OTitlbreak of the relbellion ; and, conse- 
 qnently, sailing ships, frigates, and sloops-of-war, 
 will find no consideration in these pages. Men- 
 of-war, manoeuvred "by saUs, may be considered 
 obsolete. SaUs are anxUiary to the great mo- 
 tive power, steaTTi, and hence I shaU have noth- 
 ing to say of any other than a steam navy, aided 
 by canvas, in all the various ways at present 
 adopted. 
 
 The first thing that strikes a young naval ofii- 
 cer, or any person indeed not belongiag regularly 
 to the navy, upon going aboard of a man-of- 
 war, is the great number of officers and men she 
 carries, of so many ranks, and grades, and class- 
 es. There is nothing perhaps so difficult for the 
 volunteer to encounter as the numbers he is called 
 upon to handle, in the way of duty. Accustomed 
 to a crew of fifteen, twenty, or at most of thirty 
 
24 ORGANIZATION OF SUIPS-OFWAR. 
 
 men, without material distinction of uradc or 
 rank, he finds liimself embarrassed b}' tlu' pres- 
 ence of erews ranging from one to five hundred 
 men, and a imiltitndinons array of grades and 
 ranks — of warrant officers, petty officers, seamen, 
 etc. etc. ; and he finds tliat he is involved in a 
 network of conijilitatimis beyond his e.\i>erience 
 and judgment. In tlie multitude around him, 
 over whom he has complete and ani])l(> author- 
 ity, lie is incajiable of knowing to whom sjtecial 
 firders should be given, or if given, perhaps to 
 file wrong persons; and a most painful embar- 
 rassment ensues to the unfortunate officer, or, 
 what iswor.se, confu-sion, discontent, and anarchy, 
 are produced among the jx-ople lie jiretends to 
 govern. It is essential, then, that every officer 
 of the navy, of whatever rank he may be, should 
 be thorouglily acquainted with the internal organ- 
 iz.uion of the people around him, that he may 
 rightfully comjireliend his own official and social 
 position, as well as that of others by whom he is 
 surrounded. 
 
 The i)erfect system of a man-of-war has always 
 been a subject of mystery to the uninitiated. A 
 system of organization, of arrangements, of du- 
 ties, of health, of life, in fact, that may challenge 
 sternest criticism. 
 
 The number of officers and nien to be sent on 
 
ORGANIZATION OF SHIPS-OF-WAB. i 25 
 
 board of a nayal vessel, is not based upon her 
 tonnage, ber length, or breadth, or depth. The 
 great principle that designates the crew for a 
 ship is based upon the number and calibre of 
 guns she is intended to carry. This must be ob- 
 vious, as it would be idle to place guns in a ves- 
 sel which could not be worked, or fought ; or 
 men on board of her who have no work to per- 
 form. 
 
 In like manner, the engine department is pro- 
 portioned in its personel, to the size and charac- 
 ter of the engine in the ship. The size of the ves- 
 sel, the sail she carries, or her rig, has nothing to 
 do with the number of officers and men appor- 
 tioned to her. 
 
 There are two principal divisions of a ship's 
 company, namely, the combatants and non-com- 
 batants ; or, in other words, the men required to 
 fight the guns and smaU arms — ^the sailors and 
 marines — and the firemen, coal-passers, medical 
 nurses, and surgeons and paymaster's stewards 
 and attaches. Besides the regular allotment of 
 men to serve the guns, there is also to be consid- 
 ered the necessary force to pass shot, shell, pow- 
 der, and a few men to steer the ship, stop shot- 
 holes, and stopper rigging, and fish spars, when 
 shot away. 
 
 First, let us consider the principal division of a 
 
26 OBOAKIZAnON OF SUIPS-OF-WAB. 
 
 ship" s company— the coinlmtanta. This is divided 
 into various grades of men, dopeiuling upon tlu'ir 
 training, and t'xperienri». and titness for oertain 
 positions. All sailors an> then divided into sra- 
 III. n, ordinary seamen, landsmen, and first and 
 second-class boys. Seamen are supposed to have 
 been fully taui:ht in all the duties of sailors, and 
 of daily routine of duties, by exi^'ricnn' of six, 
 or ten. or more yi-ars' service. The usual allow- 
 anc<» is about one fourth of the whole number for 
 si'amen, one fourth ordinary seamen, and one 
 half landsmen and boys. From tlio st^'imeu are 
 8»le(ted tlie best, by reputation and recommend- 
 ations of previous service, to be rated 2>cU;f offl,- 
 cers, than which no ehiss of ])erson8 are mor(3 
 imjKJrtant. I shall have oceasion to speak of this 
 class in a chapter apart. Prom the few who re- 
 main, rat«'d as sirr/zini, prominent positions are 
 filled at the guns, and they are distributed as 
 equally as possible throughout all parts of the 
 shi]i, tliat they may be leading men, and serve as 
 instmctors by example to those of less experience 
 and inferior rank. They are the men who are 
 expected to be found in dark nights, on occasions 
 of peril, and where leaders are specially needed. 
 Ordinary seamen are distributed at the guns, 
 and throughout the ship, in the same manner 
 and proportion. These men already have had 
 
ORGANIZATIOK OF SHIPS-OP-WAE. 37 
 
 experience — they are "broken in," and are the 
 link connecting the landsmen with the fall devel- 
 oped seamen. The best of this class of men are 
 expecting to be rated, and officers should never 
 lose sight of this fact, and their hopes should 
 always be nourished. 
 
 Landsmen and boys comprise one half the nu- 
 merical force of the fighting portion of a sMp. 
 When we reflect that qs» man hardly ever makes 
 the second cruise as a landsman, we are apprised 
 of the fact, that we are making sailors with great 
 rapidity, but, it must be remembered, with great 
 labor and patience. Place one hundred farmers, 
 or carpenters, or canal-diggers, on the deck of a 
 ship-of-war, and conceive how much use they 
 would be in fighting a battle, or in wearing ship 
 in a gale of wind ! They do not even compre- 
 hend the language you address to them. They 
 do not know the parts of the ship, nor where they 
 belong, nor where they live or sleep, nor of the 
 officers who attempt to command them. In one 
 word, their ignorance of their new positions is 
 opaque — it is dense. The attempt to perform 
 duty with such men is desperate. The officer 
 of the deck, if he be not wise himself, will be in 
 despair, the petty officers beside themselves, and 
 the executive officer has the terrible task of restor- 
 ing this chaos to order, and of producing system 
 
23 OBGAXIZATIOX OF SmPS-OF-WAR. 
 
 and intelligence, where all was ilisperatc- confu- 
 sion. Of all tlio tasks a naval officer 1ms to iit>r- 
 form, this of making sailors, and oft^n of subor- 
 dinate officers, is the most difficult and fatiguing. 
 Lik.- the frvvo other grades of men, the landsmen 
 and boys are dispersed in rqnal proportions at tlio 
 guns, and through the diticrcnt parts of tho sliip. 
 "nnii-, labor, and example of tho few seanu'ii on 
 board ran alone maki- tin-in useful. Such is a 
 alight ^kt•tf h of the raw material out of which a 
 bIu]i's crew is made. 
 
 The first thing to be done, when the fighting 
 crew are placed on board of a man-of-war, u])on 
 her going into commission, is for the executive 
 officer to subtlivide his men. He should first of 
 all. select his petty offici-rs out of the seamen, tak- 
 ing their recommendations, ceitilicates of honor- 
 able dischaige, and their own acknowledgments 
 as to capacity for si)ecial duties, and place them 
 upon a separate list. They are not rated at once, 
 but placed on trial for a month or so, and rated 
 back when they are found by actual trial fitted 
 for their stations. This is a most delicate duty, 
 and requires fine judgment to execute it well. 
 There may be from twenty to fifty of thcHi- aj)- 
 pointments to make, and it must be borne in mind 
 that a petty officer in one station is not generally 
 adapted for that of another. It is rarely that a 
 
__ ORGANIZATION OF SHIPS-OF-WAE. 29 
 
 quarter-gunner can be a boatswain's mate, or a 
 captain of a forecastle, or quartermaster— so dif- 
 ferent and varied are the qualifications required. 
 
 The entire crew — petty officers, seamen, ordi- 
 nary seamen, landsmen, boys, and marines — are 
 divided iato two equal parts, or watches — star- 
 board and port. These are agaia subdivided into 
 quarter- watches, the whole watch stationed in dif- 
 ferent parts of the ship, according to the size and 
 rig of the vessel — such as forecastle men, after- 
 guard, and top-men, where the vessel carries top- 
 sails. In all fore-and-aft rigged vessels, of what- 
 ever tonnage, or size, or character, it is recom- 
 mended to subdivide into forecastle-men and 
 afterguard only. 
 
 This subdivision of the watches enables an offi- 
 cer to call out his men as he wishes — one fourth, 
 one half, or the whole. He at once has the large 
 numbers around him, whom he cannot call upon 
 by name, completely under his orders by titles, 
 far better than calling men by names. Names 
 are always personal. Titles are always official. 
 Petty officers are placed at the head of all these 
 detachments, which are thus distributed about a ' 
 man-of-war. Work can be carried on ia every 
 part of the vessel at the same time, and proper 
 men are responsible for every part of the ship, 
 where they are stationed. I have known of 
 
80 OBGAXIZATION- OF SmPS-OF-WAH. 
 
 young officers, who could not run up more than 
 one or two boats of a sliip at once, and yet tlicy 
 complained of there being so many men about 
 decks that they wtie in each other's \\:iy. The 
 fault was in the officer, who could not handle 
 three hundred men, simply Ijecause lie did not 
 know how to call them out, and divide tln'iu 
 ■ ■qnally ujion the fall^:. With four boats, for ex- 
 ample, are < iixht falls, and your crew are just 
 cquaUy diviil'd into eight parts, so lliat at the 
 word the boats move at the same second from tlu^ 
 water, and touch the ilavit-lieads, also at i)recise- 
 ly the same second I It is impossible for an oili- 
 ccr to perform d-rk duty, without a thorough 
 knowledge of the organization of his men. 
 
 The iiixt stcj) is to berth and mess tl lis crew. 
 Ten or fourteen men make a very good-sized 
 mess. I am not at all partial to small misses, as 
 any executive officer who lias pride in his bertli- 
 dt'ck, and the comfort of his men at heart, will 
 tmderstand- Men are messed according to their 
 watch( -. and ship's stations : Forecasth; men by 
 themselves, afterguard by themselves, the watch- 
 es also separate, and the petty officers invariably 
 by themselves, with few, rare, exceptions. A man 
 from each mess, by turns of one week, takes the 
 office of cook for his mess — not tliat he really 
 cooks, but receives the rations of his mess, takes 
 
OEGANIZATION OF SHIPS-OF-WAE. 31 
 
 the provisions to tlie sMp's cook* and Ms assist- 
 ant, (if lie has one,) to "be received again when 
 cooked ; he cares for his mess stores and utensils, 
 spreads the mess-cloth, clears up the same, and 
 performs his duties "below for the week. AU 
 cleaning on the "berth-deck is performed hj these 
 mess-cooks. If they have any spare time, it is 
 well deserved. They should have it to mend 
 clothes, repair their little wardrohe, and for many 
 other personal duties. It is the fashion to call 
 berth-deck cooks, idlers. I know of no class of 
 men who are so little idle during that long week 
 below, as the berth-deck cook. It would be a 
 term of ignominy even to a steady cooTc, which I 
 hope never to see on the deck of a man-of-war. 
 
 Messed, watched, and stationed, the last great 
 duty remains to be performed of quartering the 
 men at the guns. An ordnance regulation pre- 
 scribes the number and rates of men to be sta- 
 tioned at each gun. A siagle gun' s crew is com- 
 posed of petty officers, seamen, ordinary seamen, 
 landsmen, and boys, of each watch equally, no 
 matter what size the gun, or what the number 
 placed at it. It is the same rule applied to a 
 gun's crew of seven or twenty-one men. The 
 least deviation from this rule produces confusion, 
 and upturns aU order. Observe how accurate 
 and nice the system is, which enters into such 
 
32 ORGANIZATION OF SHIPS-OF- \V A R. 
 
 ixc<'S:^ive details. Can any one Iv siirpriscd that 
 a well-regiiLit. <1 naval ship is llio most perft'ct 
 thing in the world '. 
 
 This done, the battery is divided into divisions 
 — ^the siinit' in all ships— laid down by order, and 
 invariably fnliowtd. Kach division is of such 
 dimensions that the officer ajipointed to coiiimaiid 
 it may liave it entirely under his observation. 
 This linislies the labor of dividini;, subdividing, 
 anil (•la,«saifying th>' body df im-n ])resented upon 
 the deck of a man-of-war, when she is placed in 
 commission. 'I'luy are now stationed, quartered, 
 messed, and ready to l)egin that arduons, dreary, 
 and ]>ei-ilons life, Itnowu only to tin.' saUor. L<'t 
 the young ofTicor study well liis duties of caring 
 for that jwrtion of the men which fall specially 
 t'l him, to make them comfortable, to treat them 
 with th'- iii>i>.i inflexible justice, and exact the 
 most rigid obs^-rvance of duties. This is disci- 
 pline. 
 
 Tlie officers of a sliip are similarly stationed. 
 They are divided into watches, according to the 
 number of watch officers on board. They are 
 assigned to the divisions of the battery, and in 
 the capacities of divisional officers are brought 
 twice each day, and indeed oftener, into direct 
 personal contact with their men. Here the of- 
 ficer learns their true worth, their real character, 
 
OEGANIZATION OF SHIPS-OF-WAB. 33 
 
 their personal wants, and no man is overlooked, 
 or can escape tlie eye of an officer, if he have 
 merits or demerits. It is here, too, that even his 
 clothing and personal cleanliness and condition 
 are ohserved twice every day. 
 
 The engine department is divided into three 
 classes of men — ^flrst and second-class firemen, 
 and coal-heavers. The same system of grada- 
 tion in position, dne to worth or personal merit, 
 is ohserved here, as well as in the department 
 of the fighting- men, of a ship-of-war. The senior 
 engineer divides, again, his three classes- of men, 
 into three watches. As the duties of these men 
 while on watch are exhausting and unremit- 
 ting, they cannot keep "watch and watch." The 
 assistant engineers are watched, as the deck of- 
 ficers are ; and the senior engiaeer performs the 
 duties of an executive, over aU his entire depart- 
 ment. ^ 
 
 The medical department is small, consisting of 
 a steward, who is a petty officer ; and one, two, 
 or more nurses, according to the number of the 
 crew. 
 
 The Paymaster's Department is similarly com- 
 posed of a steward, a clerk, and too often one or 
 two assistants to the steward, which has at times 
 run into a grave ahuse. 
 
 One of the greatest mysteries in the organiza- 
 2* 
 
34 ORGAXIZATIOX OF sniPS-OF-WAB. 
 
 tion of a man-of-war is the execution of its polioo 
 duti-s. This is spivially one of the cares of the 
 ext^utive officer, !Uid should form liis most anx- 
 ious consideration. A master-at-arms, and a 
 ship's corporal, (petty officers,) and tlie non-com- 
 missjoneil officers of the marine f?U!inl, wliorctlit! 
 ship has oil!', arc the i^rsonsto whom arc conlidod 
 the watrli and ^ruard of a slu}), sid'cty from fire, 
 from filth, from evil-mmded and malevolent men ; 
 in fine, from all that may cndaniJicr a vessel in- 
 ternally, whether in iliaratter, discipline, or ;,'(»od 
 order. These men live on the same deck with tlit^ 
 crew, th<'y eat and sleep within a few feet of 
 them ; tin- only division being tliat of a separate 
 mess — a purely moral one. The police odicera 
 themselves care for, ami trim, the stiinding lights 
 up<m the berth -deck, which are rcjiorted every 
 hour or lialf-hour during the night. On tli(! main 
 deck, a good, careful man, well stdectcd, and 
 easily spared from another part of the ship, is 
 esi)eciall} appointed to trim, clean, and light, 
 and put out those lights. The master' s mate, or 
 midshipman of the watch, makes occasional visits 
 aU through the lower decks, and these reports 
 are exacted by the officer of the deck, with the 
 utmost fidelity. The mystery then is all explain- 
 ed- It is resolved into constant, unceasing, nev- 
 er-ending care and watchfulness. It depends 
 
OEGANIZATION OF SHIPS-OF-WAE. 35 
 
 upon tlie executive officer, how thoroughly he in- 
 spires his subordinates with the supreme import- 
 ance of these duties. 
 
 Up to this point we have considered the essen- 
 tial and material departments and branches of our 
 organization into a complete system, than which 
 there is none more perfect, of a military charac-' 
 ter. But we have now to consider the only defect 
 in the whole system. In a war steamer of a thou- 
 sand tons, there are probably twenty warrant and 
 commissioned officers. For the personal attend- 
 ance of these officers, the Regulations only spe- 
 . cify two officers' cooks, and two officers' stewards. 
 By universal custom, the cabin and ward-room 
 take one of each of these. There are no other stew- 
 ards, cooks, or servants, or attendants specified 
 for the other officers. Their place is supplied by 
 selections from the ship's company, provided 
 any among the landsmen are willing to accept 
 the offer. Men suitable for attendants are ship- 
 ped at officers' request, when a vessel is fitting 
 out for sea. We would be rejoiced to see a bet- 
 ter arrangement. We could wish that the chief 
 of the Bureau of Eq^uipment would draw up an 
 allowance of attendants for each mess of offi- 
 cers. It should be liberal, without extravagance. 
 Too many attendants in a mess is expensive, 
 troublesome, and a worse evU, if possible, than 
 
36 ORGAXIZATIOX OF SinPS-OF-WAB. 
 
 t<o few. It is an error into wMcli all young offi- 
 cers fair But, on the ooutraiy. no officer slumkl 
 t-v.r suffer in ki:< jjersonal appoai-ance for the 
 want of attendant" s services. In tlu> present state 
 of tbinfrs. it is eanu-stly recomiiu'iult'il that offl- 
 (••■rs should look well to this in the formation of 
 their messis. These attendants, in whatever way 
 tiny rii,i\ be obtained, or designated, should be 
 stationeil in the jxjwder or shell divisions, and 
 never at a ^'iiii. Their assii^nment in tliis way is 
 equally important in the hour of battle, when no 
 man on lK>ar(l of a vissel-of-war, be lie whom he 
 may, is without a regular station. 
 
 The mariiKs, when the vissel-of-war is so for- 
 tunate as to have tlii'Mi, arc (livithd into watches, 
 and stationed at gnat gnus at ((uarterB, ur as 
 rlHenien. or infantry, to Imard, or rejxl boarders. 
 Their mis>ion is twofold. At other times, they 
 are the ''posse c/nitatus^^ of the police officers of 
 the ship. As s.ntin<-ls, they are under the orders 
 of the captam and executive officer, or the ma- 
 rine officer ; and no officer can relieve them, or 
 oppose them, or order them. The sentry is a sa- 
 cred person, whom all persons must obey, (iven 
 to the captain, or executive officer. The marines 
 live and mess apart, they dress apart, their duties 
 are apart from the rest of the crew. But never 
 let it be thought that they are not the bulwarks 
 
ORGANIZATIOK OF" SHIPS-OF-WAB. 37 
 
 of our discipline, tlie " ever faitMul " of our 
 navy. 
 
 I liave traced but an outline, a graphic outline, 
 of this subject of organization of the personel 
 of a ship-of-war. But it is believed the features 
 of an important and vital subject are so far dis- 
 cussed that any officer, young or inexperienced, 
 may see the first great mystery of the order of a 
 man-of-war in it. The principles are the same in 
 all ships, whether great or small. They should 
 be closely followed, and never departed from. 
 No military organization is so perfect, and none 
 so efficient in its results and combinations, and 
 none have triumphed over so many difficulties. 
 In the navy, we have to grapple with dangers and 
 trials in every form ; with fire, water, steam, dis- 
 ease, battle, discomfort, hunger, thirst, and colli- 
 sion. Fewer lives are lost — ^fewer ships perish — 
 less waste of public property is made than else- 
 where, and our ships are always ready for emer- 
 gencies, our men for all services, and our guns 
 are true to our aim, even though we are moving 
 and rolling upon an inconstant and fickle ele- 
 ment. These are results of our organization. 
 
CHArXER IV. 
 
 OK THE CAPTAIN. 
 
 It wore no trilling att.'iiipt to portray tlio grand 
 1- ading features that should charactiiizf tho na- 
 val oaptain. I'mm tln' rfiuotcst clays, tlu> sca- 
 cajjtain was rpgartli'<l as an objt'ct of sui«'rii)r 
 veneration and rosjujct, and ho was as often called 
 king as captain, liidiid, his csLato has ever Ixtii 
 on<> nf regal courage and hardihood, and the old 
 p«a-king8 of tlii- North were not mythical chaiac- 
 ters, but many <'f thorn founders of jjrincipalities 
 and natjiinalitii's. They carried their Norman 
 Moixl iiitii England and France, and to this day it 
 n-tains its heat and jtersistenry. Even pirates, in 
 the days of jiiracy, thought it becoming and de- 
 cent to be ]ir)lite and gentlemanly, and when they 
 robbed, and plundered, and killed, it was thought 
 to be characteristic to commit those acts with 
 great sang froid, if not with the most delicate 
 eoiuti'sy. Certainly, the ideal of a naval captain 
 is no common jwrtrait. Accustomed to com- 
 mand others with supreme authority, he should 
 first of aU know how to command himself. Dur- 
 
OF THE CAPTAIN. 89 
 
 ing the greater portion of Ms time he is placed 
 ia circTimstances where he cannot call to his aid 
 the succor of civil law. He is called upon to 
 "suppress dissolute and immoral practices," 
 as well as all private and puhlic crimes. An 
 administrator in his ship, he is called upon 
 also to decide great questions of law, of right 
 and wrong, of puhHc polity, wherever he moves. 
 Rarely advised of the designs of his Government, 
 he is compelled to he its interpreter upon his 
 own responsihOity, and his exposition is always 
 attended with gravest consequences to the rights 
 or dignity of his country. Military law, interna- 
 tional law, and social law, are aU to he expound- 
 ed by him in the varied career of his duties. 
 Hence it is that vast authority is lodged in his 
 keeping. That authority is often enough Ul 
 defined, and he must guard himself against 
 being a despot or an arbitrary man. No coun- 
 try — ^no government — can avoid giving to him this 
 authority. It was so great until very recently, 
 and even at this time, within certain limits, that 
 he holds the power of life and death. The least of 
 his acts are grave. In his military capacity, he 
 presides at a tribunal where hfe and death are dis- 
 cussed, and often at issue. In his capacity as a 
 seaman, his life is a perpetual struggle with death 
 to himseK or to his subordinates. Death by 
 
40 OF THE CAPTaIX. 
 
 sliipwreck, Tty collL>ion, T\v the sea. by diseast^, by 
 atciiLnts, orby batil-'. nroever staring bim in the 
 fac". To encoiuitor ri'S]H)nsibilitii's like tlusc, it 
 requires no ordinary authority, and no toinmon 
 education and traiumg. Ho is calh'd upon to 
 correspond directly with bis goviTunicnt, with 
 his suju'riors, witli civil and niilitjiry oUiccrs, as 
 well as with subordinates and inferiors. In his 
 cajia'ity as a(lniinistrat<>r, he is called ni)()n to 
 interpn-t naval laws, and to decide issues ainoui^ 
 his sulK>rdinat<-s which would puzzli' and iMTjilex 
 tlie ri-aftie8t lawy.r. lie is ever held up as an 
 exaniple in liis moral and personal deportment, 
 and his jirofessional acts arc scrutinized with tho 
 most searching: criticism. With little or no time 
 to read or study, li'- is e.vp<'ct4'd to be tiic Ix'st 
 seaman in his shij), and the most accomijlished 
 scholar. In his iiii-rcoursc with foreigners, lie is 
 i-xpccti-d to u.sc their language, either with his 
 tongue or his p< ii. Then; arc; no graces of a gen- 
 tleman that he should not possess, and be is ex- 
 pected to appear alike at ease in a court, at a 
 levee, or in a gale of wind, or storming a battery. 
 In later days, politicians even require him to be 
 a stump orator ! Xor can he be permitted to for- 
 get, or to be ignorant of, the immense details of 
 his profession. The lock-string and the broad- 
 sword, the sextant and the chart, the pike, the 
 
OF THE CAPTAIN. 41 
 
 drill, the rifle and the pistol, are alike familiar to 
 Mm. He is called upon to understand tlie secrets 
 of the winds and waves, and the very air is a 
 book that he must read. 
 
 This surely is a catalogue sufficiently exhaust- 
 ive for any one man's mind. But if no one man 
 is perfect in all these things, there is no captain 
 who should not be more or less proficient in them 
 all, and his study and aim must be to attain 
 perfection. There are many captains who are 
 quite content, or who, fatigued with the multi- 
 plicity of their labors, delegate many of their 
 duties to the executive officer of the ship. Under 
 the false impression that he may appear to inter- 
 fere with executive duties, the captain is tempted 
 to remain ignorant of many of the details of his 
 ship. No captain can afford to do this, if he ex- 
 pects to administer his government with justice 
 and wisdom. The stamp of his hand should be 
 upon every order that issues from the quarter- 
 deck, and his knowledge should be perfect and 
 complete over every portion of his ship. Details 
 weary, but details make up a grand whole. It 
 is imperative upon him to exact the most scrupu- 
 lous reports of every executive duty from the 
 executive officer himself. The cabin is the most 
 proper place for such information to be given. 
 It is there that the captain can instruct his subor- 
 
•42 or THK CAPTAIN. 
 
 dinate without having the appearance of too frc- 
 qiK-nt coiTection — of undue interfiniicc. No 
 captain, who wishes a successful administration 
 of duties, can affonl to wound the pride of his 
 <x<-cutive officer. If he has pride, nourish it, for 
 it is a i)lant of lickle growth. The i-elations of 
 the captain with the exwutive officer must be in- 
 timate ami to a great degree confidential. Tliere 
 must he mutual confidence, or there will hv 
 mutual distrust. There is a natural feeling 
 among th<' crew of every ship, of aversion, to 
 see the captain too frequentl}- prowling about, 
 as if weking t<^>_ find fault with some one. An 
 instinctive feelinp hctmys itself, that tlie caj)- 
 tain had bittir l)i' in liis cabin, or taking; a 
 quiet walk upon the 4uarter-derk. There are 
 certain tiini-s, how<ver, when a careful visit to 
 every ]>ortion of tlic ship is imixiative and 
 licalthful for all concenied. Visits of careful 
 iusiMM-tion should be made witli great regular- 
 ity, and the critical eye of a captain who has 
 served his time at the painful drudgery of execu- 
 tive duties, can quickly detect the ordinary con- 
 dition of his ship by these official visits, evin 
 though there has been preparation to receive 
 liim. He will detect a dirty habit if it exists, or 
 an untidy appearance, with a glance of experi- 
 ence. 
 
OF THE CAPTAIlir. 43 
 
 One of the most fruitful sources of trouble in a 
 sMp-of-war arises from the improper relations 
 existing between the captain and executive oflS.- 
 cer. Under no circumstances can any command- 
 er allow the executive ofl3.cer to indulge in gen- 
 eral orders, regulations, punishments, or rewards, 
 without making full and detailed reports to him 
 first. This principle does not take from the use- 
 fulness or dignity of the executive ; it but serves 
 to make him. strong in his duties, and fortifies 
 him doubly in his authority. It should be the 
 aim of every commander to throw as much re- 
 sponsibility as possible upon all his subordinates 
 and men. If he attempts to assume all the re- 
 sponsibilities of a ship, he will soon succumb 
 to fatigue, or to nervous imbecility. "While, in 
 reality, he is responsible, yet it is a mistake 
 to suppose that no responsibility can attach 
 itself to the officers, who hold commissions as 
 well as himself. There is a theory which sup- 
 poses the captain to be always on deck. If 
 an accident happen, by night or day, the cap- 
 tain is supposed to be on- deck. If there be 
 truth in this, then there should be no officers, 
 holding commissions to intrust the watch to. 
 But this is absurd. No one supposes it to be 
 true. Yet sophists in military law vainly strug- 
 gle against moral convictions, to establish the 
 
44 OF THE CUTAIK. 
 
 veriest absurdity. The captain has giavcr dntios 
 in liis cabin to iK^rfomi, tlian tliat of a luTpctual 
 <li-<k-w;ilktr. Many young ofRciTs of the scrvict^ 
 are so spoiled with tliis notion, that tiny liav(» 
 Ix'unie wi-11-nigh worthU-ss. 
 
 So far, th<-n, as n-jrards the position of a caj)- 
 tain on IxMinl of his ship, it is a qtn-stion of tin' 
 iMM^t <l.liial<- ri)iis«'rvatisiu. TIutc should iic no 
 transaction afft-ctini: hi-altli, disti])iini', duties, or 
 routin'-. that heslmMlil In- i;.'ni)rant of. lli'c-ui- 
 notaffortl. indiMnl, to !«> is,Miorant of tlic smallist 
 (li-tails ; uor can ho wi-U afford to lose his dipiily 
 1>y an officious int<rf«rr-nfi' in tliosi' ddails wiiich 
 <lise:n-t an int<'llit:<'ut and riirlit niimird cxecn- 
 tiviv The hajijiy mean h' iv is tiic vital ]»oinl. 
 
 >[any cajitains think it a di'sirablc thin^ to 
 ke<p thi'ir ofllc«'rs and nn-n in iLrnorancc of <lin 
 nmv»»mfnt< and desit^ns of tin- ship. Instances 
 have l«'»'n knowni where everybody in tin; shij) 
 lias 1>e<n deprived of liaving letters sent from 
 their friends, for many weeks, on tliis account. 
 Unless then- bo gome special reasfjri for such 
 mystery, it is altogether misplaced and un- 
 wise. It is selfloni, indeed, that the public in- 
 t« rests are harmed by the fact of the people 
 of a ship-of-war knowing what they are going 
 to do. The days of all such mystery are liap- 
 pily among the things of the past ; they are 
 
OF THE CAPTAIN. 45 
 
 buried with the old eeamansMp and the old 
 frigates ! 
 
 The government of the commander of a ship 
 should always he cool, kind, dehlberate, but ia- 
 flexihle as the decree of death. Make it as pa- 
 ternal as you choose, but it must be inflexible 
 and unyielding. An active intelligence of all 
 that is passing — of all that transpires— is neces- 
 sary to its complete execution. It would be 
 most wise legislation that would require every 
 officer to have served his apprenticeship as an 
 executive officer, before he can become eligible 
 to the rank of a commander. This experience is 
 of vital necessity to fit him for his responsible 
 station. The drudgery, the perplexities, the har— 
 assments, and fatigues, of executive duties, are 
 the essential ordeal to purify and ennoble the 
 high character of a naval captain. It is easy to 
 figure a captain sitting in his cabin, with some 
 executive performing the duties of which he is 
 himself ignorant ; but it is also easy to see what 
 the efficiency of that ship must be. Nowhere in 
 the vast range of human duties is a leader so 
 much' needed as on board of a ship-of-war. It 
 is not every man who possesses the essential 
 character of a true leader. But every man on 
 board of a ship must be led, and the leader must 
 be captain and chief. There cannot be two cap- 
 
46 or THE CAPTAIN. 
 
 tains in a ship ; there cannot be two In ads to 
 one body 1 
 
 "Wlj.^n. at the beginning of our rebellion, it was 
 thought wi' were in ihihI of more rajitnins, it waa 
 gravely proposed to create them outside of the 
 n-cmlar s< nrice. It was said that then' wciv offl- 
 c«'rs enough of •■xperienoe to ])t'rfoini t•X('cutiv(^ 
 duties, and it was not necessai y for the cajitain 
 to know those details. It was answered, that the 
 frip'tte Potomac was tittiim out at the navy-yard, 
 and lixi- hundn-d sailors might Ix' put aboard 
 and tum<^ f>verto the new-made ollicerto organ- 
 ize and drill ! But it may be cnneeived that few 
 officers could lie found, read3'-madc, to assumo 
 BQch weighty n-sjmnsihility. 
 
 Wiiat'V.r may 1m> siiid of it, it does not require 
 great caijacity to s:iil a ship from on<^ port to an 
 {pther. To handle five hundred men; to Uracil 
 them the art of fighting ; to create a unique, non- 
 descript military establishment out of a ship with 
 tliis crew, does. 
 
 I have not attempted to portray a model cap- 
 tain. I proposed merely to point out such sali- 
 ent features of his character as are necessary, and 
 which are found, in a greater or less degree, in 
 every successful commander afloat. These qual- 
 ities, indeed, make him a gallant man, if sucli a 
 thing exists. They form the highest type of chival- 
 
OF THE CAPTAIN". 47 
 
 Tj, and win tlie honest admiration of Mends and 
 foes. Let every young officer, in Ms professional 
 career, aim at this high perfection ; let him look 
 for it in his own commander, and figure to him- 
 self the attainments which alone can fit him for 
 that post of honor and courage. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 OK TirE KXKCITIVK (H'FU'KIJ. 
 
 Few iici-s(»n8 in the naval service !i])]MtHiat(' the 
 trying pisition of an fxciutivc ofllctT. All tlio 
 dnulLT'Tyof the ship is his. If hoboiKit jJioiMTly 
 susfaintil and assistt-d 1>v captain and officers, in' 
 must succumb with fatiiruf and despair, i^rovided 
 h<> possess the jiridr due to his luofcssion. There 
 is III" ]H>sition si i wearying, none bo tryiiij;;, none 
 BO much needing wisdom and good judgment, 
 ^^xkI temper and ]>ri)fi'ssioiial BkiJl. In his gen- 
 eral dejwrtiuent he is su])])i)sed to represent the 
 captain's wisln's, and yet avoid any blunder the 
 <:i])taiu himself may makr'. lie is the ^^reat con- 
 serralirr. element in a ship-of-war. !!(! staud.s 
 between officers and themse]v<;s, between <>flir;ers 
 and men, and, at need be, between the captain 
 and all the rest. His position is almost a para- 
 dox. Knowing more of tin,' personal charactei- of 
 the men than any officer on board, he is, per- 
 haps, better able to judge of their wants and 
 treatment than any other. The same may be 
 said of the officers themselves. From the first 
 
OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER. 49 
 
 moment they come on board of a sMp, the ex- 
 ecutive officer is "bronglit ia contact with them ia 
 all ways. He gauges their ability, their moral 
 character, and their social temper. The organ- 
 izer and law-giver on board, he cannot be ignor- 
 ant of the most minute detail, or condition of 
 men and things on board. With such a vast de- 
 tail fretting him from daylight to dark, he should 
 possess a clear eye for the general conduct of the 
 duties carried on around him, and have a hand 
 in the whole conduct of duty in general. He is 
 responsible for the trimness and general tidiness 
 of the ship herself ; for the external appearance 
 of her crew ; for the general drill and exercises, 
 as well as for the condition of a single mess or a 
 single store-room. 
 
 When the crew first comes on board of a ship 
 which is newly put into commission, his first 
 duty is to watch, and mess, and station them. 
 Whenever it can be done, all this should be ar- 
 ranged before the men go on board, and while 
 they are yet on board the receiving-ship. If pos- 
 sible, it would save much labor and time if, when 
 the crew are mustered round the capstan for the 
 first time, every man were given a billet of paper, 
 containing his number, station, and duties. This 
 has been done in more than one instance, but 
 it requires close attention to accomplish it by 
 
 3 
 
50 OF- THE KIECCnVB OFFICER. 
 
 the executive officer. At all i-vints, he should 
 proceed without delay to the work of organiza- 
 tion, such as is pointed out in the first ch:ii)l<r of 
 this book. E\.iy hour lost at this timo costs 
 wei-ks at a later ilay. The duties of oiiranization 
 may procii-d with great rai)i(lity. If tlic i-xtru- 
 tivi- is backt'd up by wat<li olHccrs who know 
 lh<-ir duty, and who do it. tlio work of ortraiii/.in;:; 
 is more rapid than any one would suiiiiosi'. (Jit 
 thi" offlc«T« :iiid mi'U at qmirters as soon as ])()a- 
 sible. 1/ I them f<'<'l that the vissd is a sliip-of- 
 war, :iiid that the 'jun8M\' tlif first tliinfj;s to look 
 to. (io I.I qiiarters to inspret, to niustiT, to make 
 luipiaintance witli your nuMi. cvin if you do noth- 
 ing uior.'. Tin- nionunt the crew arts at (iuartt-rs, 
 Unit moiiK'nf tif 1/ are inn/rr coiilroT. 
 
 Then- is always a soh-mnity in the call to quar- 
 t<Ts in a luau-ofwar, be it for wliat ])urj)ost! it 
 may. It is tltrrc that h<T people are brought 
 lace t'> face with the enf,'ines of war, which their 
 own handlini: nmst prove eitlier their disgrace or 
 their pride, their shame or tlieir honor. It is 
 tJiirt that each man — each and every individual 
 — forms the acquaintance of the particular wea- 
 pon which must belong to him for the cruise, 
 and whose honor is and must be inseparably at- 
 tached to his own. Tfoe ship was built for tJie 
 guns. The officers and men are sent to Iht to 
 
OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER. 51 
 
 use them. At the guns, officers and men be- 
 come acc[uainted, and authority assumes its true 
 martial character. It is here that the first defin- 
 ite orders are promulgated. Communication be- 
 gins between officers and crews, which is to grow 
 closer and more intimate the longer the ship is in 
 commission. Here, too, the first notions of offi- 
 cial eticLuette, and that genuine politeness which 
 characterizes all ttue men-of-war' s men, are ap- 
 prehended and learned. The character, the indi- 
 vidual calibre, and personal deportment of each 
 man stationed at the battery, is there measured 
 closely by the officers. If any distiaction has in- 
 advertently been made by the executive officer in 
 his stations, he very soon hears from it, from the 
 divisional officers. 
 
 Nowhere, perhaps, can general orders be so 
 well enunciated to a crew as at quarters. Men 
 and officers always iastinctively feel that the call 
 to quarters means something earnest, and atten- 
 tion there is more easUy and completely obtained 
 than anywhere else. Sailors from the merchant 
 service comprehend, for the first time, when they 
 go to quarters, that a man-of-war's man is some- 
 thing more than a saUor. The occasion is always 
 an impressive one, and the executive officer who 
 understands his position wiU avail himself of it, 
 to accomplish Ms most essential object. Disci- 
 
52 OF TDK KIKCniVK OFKICEB. 
 
 pline — that mach-abused wonl — discipline is, 
 liist and last, incnlc:ite<l at tho puis. From 
 here, as a fruitful soun-e, all discipline and all 
 teaching be^in ; and the io>ui of a ship's cdiu- 
 paii\ is soundwl from the guns i)f tlie hattiiy. 
 It is the one prejit, vital thing in a sliip-ol-war, 
 which ](i.ss<ss<-a a conimou inten-st -all have a 
 fraternal int-'n-st and possession in llu- battery. 
 
 It seems to ni<- that it is to be regretted that 
 this.- jKjints are not suHicicntly coinprelieiided l>y 
 nfrniTS gi-nerally. No man ever saw a sliij) with 
 a pood, well-ki'iit, and well-drilled battery, slug- 
 gi>li, dirty, or nndiscipiiixd. The two conditions 
 lannot go top-ther. 
 
 I would suggest, then, to exicuHve oflicors, to 
 make their quart>r>i tin- st.iiling-ixiint of tlicjr 
 labors. It should be th<' (■••ntml point around 
 wliich everj-diherduty of organization tuins, and 
 whence all its ramiiications radiate-. 
 
 The morning and evening insjHctions should ])e 
 mail"- scrapnlous, and no excuse received for offl- 
 c<rs or men except sickness. These inspections 
 should be made, of persons, small arms, and 
 great guns, with fidelity. Correct the least neg- 
 lect with i>ersistency. This is the beginning of 
 drill and discipline. At morning inspection, the 
 guns' crews should muster with their swords and 
 belts, battle-axes, priming-wires, and boring- 
 
OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER. 53 
 
 bits. The guns' crews shoiild form two lines on 
 tlie starboard side of the deck, composed of the 
 first and second parts, each toeing a seam, and 
 the divisions nearly joining, only leaving a con- 
 venient space from the head of one to the foot of 
 the other. The mustering oflB.cers muster, but 
 never twice in the same way ; sometimes by names, 
 sometimes by stations, and sometimes by gun 
 numbers. The advantage of this is obvious. No 
 man or boy should ever be permitted to answer 
 muster without touching his hat. The advantage 
 of this, too, is most obvious. He will do it every- 
 where else, and the first rule of politeness is culti- 
 vated. Men should be polite, or they can never 
 hope to be gallant. When the mustering officer, 
 whose station is at the foot of the division, has 
 finished and reported, the divisional officer, at the 
 head of his division, orders. Division — ready for 
 inspection — draw swords ! when they draw and 
 present, the axe-men with battle-axes, and the 
 powder-men with priming- wires, together ; the 
 officers exposing their own blades also to view. 
 The divisional officer passes down the column 
 and inspects one line, and the other is inspected 
 on his return, when he passes around to the guns 
 and inspects these also. This done, he orders, 
 Dimsion — return swords — take stations! when 
 the men file oflf and assume their positions at the 
 
64 OF THE KXKCfTIVK OFFICER. 
 
 gnus r.a.lv to cast loose. This inoEcrainnv' may 
 Ih^ adopted, also, fiir Sunday morning insiiictions, 
 or for any oflScial inspection wliatfvtr. No otli- 
 tvr who has witin'ssed stuh an insiM-ction would 
 liardly be tempted to cluinge it for any otlicr. 
 In a lart;<* fricat*'. it is liner in martial t>HVrt than 
 any ]iarad>' th<> writer h«s ever seen. 
 
 Tliis system once arconiplislnd, the cxci-u- 
 tive oH'K-.r may frol that he lias madi' an im- 
 mi'n.s»« stride toward j;iltin,L: his men in liand, and 
 the fir-i ?-iiiiple but j^nat h-sscm at the guns is 
 taught. 
 
 For my ('wn ])art, I do not care how fastidious 
 the ofliicrs and nn n of my ship become, in so far 
 as n'trards iii<" Miialli-st tiling relatinfi; to licr bat- 
 ter}-. A sini])iiloasly clean <arria;;;<' ; the trucks 
 fn*<' from a grain of sand ; tlie sponge and ram- 
 mer-staves scoiired, not serajx'd ; the gun-ta(dt.ies 
 and gan-gear made up as only a neat seaman can 
 do it; the spare wads l)e(keted up, not lying 
 about jamine<I into a mass; the gun itself so 
 clean a cambric liandkerchief could not }»;. soiled. 
 Such are not unfair criterions to judge of a ship ; 
 but a polished, lackered gun I detest— it is a 
 blind, and yon are always afraid to use it. 
 
 Attain this much in the battery, so it be done 
 thoroughly, and the matter of a clean, neat 
 ship is surely and easily accomplished. If your 
 
OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER. 55 
 
 people are educated to proper habits, tlie emula- 
 tion born in tlie division wiU grow to maturity in. 
 aU other parts of the ship. 
 
 Much is said about daily routine. This war, 
 and especially the blockade, has pretty well de- 
 monstrated that no daily routine can be carried 
 out ; the exceptions will be oftener than the rule, 
 and, perhaps, one exercise will get far more than 
 its share of good days. The frequent iaterrup- 
 tions, consequent upon active war duties, will 
 break into every rule of regular exercise. Yet it 
 is perhaps well to have one, in order that you 
 may be directed constantly toward it. Yet I 
 would advise a departure from it, wherever it 
 might be necessary, in. order that no one division 
 or one kind of exercise should have the advan- 
 tage. Every arm, every weapon furnished to a 
 ship needs more or less exercise in its use. The 
 great guns, surely, must have a preference ; yet 
 after all, who can neglect the rifle, the broad- 
 sword, or the pistol and pike ? Men should be 
 drilled with a pertinacity which few executive 
 officers possess. H the event of the day prevents 
 one kind of drill, choose and order another ; but 
 do not allow a day to pass without a drill at 
 something. With all this, great care must be 
 used not to disgust or over-weary your people. 
 Vary the exercise. If your men are weary by 
 
56 OF THE EXKCCTIVE OFFICER. 
 
 rea«)n of a hard night, save running ont and in 
 the guns. A discourse on fiizos, shells, powder, 
 or general instrmtiniis about the use of tin- bujinl- 
 ing-pike, of boarding or reiK'Uing boarders — any 
 or all of these :ir.' iis.-ful, and enliven and give 
 tnap and ztst to tiie men j ou aiv training d > anus. 
 Tin- fact i.s a man-of-war's man should be taught 
 to fight with every thing, and undi'r every jxtssible 
 disadvantagi-. If you wish your peojHe to feel 
 Btrong,invincil>le, or to be a<Momplislie(l, you mu.st 
 N-e that thi-y are taught hum lo light. Hraveiy, 
 ahmi', .'ind with(>ut rultun', is weak, after all. 
 
 1 dwell thus ui><)n quarters and exercises, for 
 it is the secret fulcrum of tho power, jiride, and 
 authority r)f an exe<utive officer. You cannot 
 stimulate a wntiment of ])ri(le, which must be 
 even jH-rsonal, with a ship's ciew in any other 
 way. The ln-autiful lines and fancies about 
 tap<-ring sjuirs, so much loved by our old sea- 
 men, will only raise a faint smile if alluded to 
 now. But if "man is a fighting animal," tho 
 man-of-war's man should be the highest type of 
 the class. 
 
 The executive officer is the chief of policf; of 
 every ship-of-war. By police I do not sinii)ly 
 mean the apprehension of all ofienders, I mean 
 also the sanitary and cleanly condition of the ves- 
 sel as well as the external character and appear- 
 
OF THE EXECUTIVE OFPICEE. 57 
 
 ance of h.ei* hull and spars. Bright work is an 
 abomination, and will do more to disgust a good 
 ship's crew and good officers than anything I 
 know of. Men and officers have too much that 
 is needful and useful to do, to be scouring and 
 polishing a row of old brass pins or a battered 
 railing. Ropes are a great deal better than iron 
 or brass rails. They never spUnter — ^iron and 
 brass work do. 
 
 Holy-stoning is another barbarism, if it is in- 
 dulged in more than once a week, especially after 
 the tar and pitch are once removed. These nuis- 
 ances have been handed down to us from a cer- 
 tain class of men who wrote a vast quantity of 
 "internal rules and regulations," whereby their 
 ships are ever remembered as places of floating 
 misery — men w:ho died and passed away nobly 
 devoted to round shot and long eighteen-pound- 
 ers. A ship may be kept as healthy and clean 
 as a dairy without them. Perhaps a brass raU 
 around the cabin-hatch might find employment 
 for some incorrigible black-listers, but even that 
 is doubtful. There is no excuse, no apology 
 whatever for a dirty ship, or for a clean spar-deck 
 and a vile hold, or for berth-deck corners full of 
 piles of dirt. A dirty ship should condemn any 
 executive officer to the drudgery of living in it 
 aU his days. 
 
 3* 
 
5S OF TffK EXIXLTIVK OFFICER. 
 
 Has it ever oociirivtl to exwutiv.' ofBoera tliftt, 
 if they ehould keep a ciirefal system of books, 
 th. y would Ih' able to perform their labors witli 
 a tithe of the fiitigue they now Buffer, niul, with 
 an infinitely better siiccessi I eaii s;iy to you, 
 try it! You have now a sliip's writer; — a rat- 
 \x\ii. till- xivici- has grievously more needed, than 
 it evt r did ihat of a ]«mnaster's clerk or stew- 
 ard. \>rbal rcjM)rts of oiremcs against mm, 
 are fhiitful of injustice, troiil)le, and wrong. A 
 rejMirt book, nihtl for names, dates, rates, of- 
 fences, and j>iini>limi-nt, uhuuld be sent by the 
 'XiH-utivt? officer every morning to every ollicer 
 in ilie ship, and in it they should record tlieir 
 n'ports of delinquents and offenderH. Tiiere naay 
 (Kcasionally be a case requiring immediate atten- 
 tion ; but this is rare, and such cases generally 
 go to the cai)tain. In this way the <\\e(;utive 
 officer s<-lects his own time, his own liisure, and 
 then can-fully investigates the complaint, records 
 Ida decision, and, wliUe no man is punished or 
 condemned in anger, and the judgment is delib- 
 erate, he is also sure that no offence is ever for- 
 gotten, ^loreover, a history is written for future 
 use and reference. This book, when it is seen 
 coming coldly and deliberately up the hatch on 
 its way to the mainmast, is more than any rod of 
 iron over the head of an offender. He hates it — 
 
OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER. 59 
 
 for it is so terribly just and deliberate. Six or 
 eight montlis' use wUl soon do away with, its ne- 
 cessity. 
 
 Morning orders should invariably be written in 
 a book and preserved. These orders should al- 
 ways be written by the hand of the executive, 
 and never delegated to a clerk. 
 
 The black-list book is also of vital necessity. 
 It should be carefaUy kept np, and the terms of 
 punishment and the discharges duly noted. It 
 should always be accessible to the officer of the 
 deck. There is nothing so potent as the pen, 
 where the sword is not directly used. 
 
 The boat-list book is also necessary to the offi- 
 cer of the deck. I, was once in a vessel, and a 
 very good one, too, where the men could never be 
 got into the boats when called away ; and the 
 officer of the deck, who never knew who belonged 
 to them, suffered frecLuent mortification from the 
 neglect of the executive officer. Let these boat- 
 lists, also, always have two or four supernumera- 
 ries, whose duty it is to know when a man is sick, 
 and go in his place without special orders. If the 
 officer of the deck is expected to do his duty, he 
 must be cared for by the executive. 
 
 The master-at-arms should always be required 
 to keep a book of record of all confinements 
 ma'de, subject to the weekly inspection and a;p- 
 
60 OF THE KIECUTIYK OFFICEB. 
 
 proml of the oxtoutive offiorr. He sljoukl also 
 ktt-p a m.'.<>-book, luiitaining the nanios of cvt'iy 
 meml>er of tvi rv luiss ; and this Look should be 
 al^o inspected by the extvutive, to st'i' that it is 
 (Uteai/s corn-it. 
 
 TliL- jreneral station, vratch, quarter, and lin> 
 bills s^hould be coiistriutt'd with numbers, and 
 no names us<(l. In this way, tbt-y lu'vcr niiuirc 
 comH:tion. Hut a bo.ik must be kept by tli»> tx- 
 tcutive, erabraring the names as well as uuni- 
 Ixrs. This bonk is always roiiii;li — it is con- 
 stantly cornt t< <1 ; so much so, lliat a new ono 
 must 1m- niadf evi-ry ft-w months. 
 
 l.«i>-llv. the //^x //y /'<"</.■ is one tliat in> cxi'cutivi^ 
 ran ]>ossibiy di.'<i)«'n,-<- with, if In- cxpccls to coni- 
 pl< t.- the hi>t<iry of his administration, and be 
 abi.' t'l diM-ide the iniitoi-tant ([uestion of honor- 
 nbi-- dis.liarire.s at the end of the cruise. In this 
 book should be not.-d the complet*; list of thcs lib- 
 erty men — dates of poin^, how long, and when 
 returned, and in what condition. 
 
 Many a one who may read these pages, will, 
 perhaps, stand aghast at this array of bookkeep- 
 ing. It looks very serious ; but once the books 
 are opened, it is much easier to keep them than 
 one would suppose, and the vexations and labor 
 saved in other ways wiU amply compensate for 
 the task. There will be at the end of your admin- 
 
OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER. 61 
 
 istration an official record of aU your acts, tlie 
 least of wMch is watched with so mucli jealousy. 
 Moreover, you have a written history of the con- 
 duct of every man, or at least of every offender. 
 Should you be relieved by a successor, during an 
 unfinished cruise, he is presented with a system 
 which he cannot alter for the better ; there is no 
 new broom to sweep clean ; there is no embar- 
 rassment for the successor, for he can soon know 
 as much about the ship and her crew as you may 
 know yourself. No man-of-war, however small, 
 however large, can be well governed without some 
 such system as I have here proposed. 
 
 Many executive officers have an idea, when 
 they join a ship, that they must have an inter- 
 view with the captain, in. order that they may be 
 the executive officer of the captain's caprices 
 rather than that of the ship. There never was a 
 graver mistake. If an officer understands his 
 duties, his position, and his profession, he has 
 only to go on and perform his duty. Most offi- 
 cers are disinclined to SQek that advice of the 
 captain which he is so able and willing to give 
 them, and, if they be young and inexperienced, 
 which they so much need to know. I have else- 
 where, discussed the mutual relations which 
 should exist between these two officers. There 
 must be mutual confidence, or there will be mu- 
 
02 OF THE EXECUTIVE OFHCER. 
 
 tual distrust. All yming officers arc iiioif or 
 less addicted to fall into tlu- sad habit of ilis- 
 trust, ami a want of confideiue. Certainly, some 
 of the relations which existed formerly between 
 captains and executives were not calcnlateil to 
 create a very deep feelinj; of n>pose and eonti- 
 denee. Xo cajitain can allow himself to he kejit 
 in ignorance of the official course or acts of his 
 exwntive. The exfH-utive, tiien, should niako 
 uj) liis mind to make an elahorate system of re- 
 ]x>rta to tlie captain. He should, from day to 
 day, and from time to time, most scrupulously 
 inform the laptain what is going on in the ship, 
 what he dfjes, whatonhrs he issues, and consult 
 with liim fi^quently upon minute details of du- 
 ties. He should ■'Specially keep him advised of 
 the progress of diill, of organization, of discipline, 
 and h' should never think of assuming the right 
 to confine men, or to ix'eute the least degree of 
 jMinishment the law awards, without first receiv- 
 ing assurances from the captain that sn(;ha7-elin- 
 quishmcnt of his own authority would be agrer;- 
 able. All captains are specially tenacious and 
 jeah HIS of this thing punishment, and few, very 
 few. can afford to delegate it to a subordinate. 
 An executive offieer. however young or inexpe- 
 rienced he may be, need have no fears of not get- 
 ting along with his captain, if he keeps him fully 
 
OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER. 63 
 
 posted on all his acts, and if he frankly looks to 
 the captain for advice and instruction. There are 
 many things, Indeed, which a stem, experience 
 "will suggest, that no executive will presume to 
 assume without fully consulting his commander. 
 He, in this way, is not mortified by making fre- 
 quent mistakes, and he fortifies his own power 
 and authority. There must be no vanity, in the 
 relations of an executive officer with the com- 
 mander of his ship. It would Tbe fatal to the 
 most talented of young men. 
 
 Remember that your station is one of extreme 
 labor and activity. Your presence about the 
 ship is needed and felt constantly. Especially 
 during the early part of the cruise, you must 
 be indefatigable and industrious. There is no 
 surer way of raising distrust in the mind of a 
 captain, than for him to know that the executive 
 officer is spending the greater portion of his time in 
 hi^ state-room. No sluggard ever yet made an 
 executive. Better be without him altogether. 
 Activity and a ceaseless vigilance are constantly 
 demanded. This, too, must be accompanied with 
 a general deportment of gentleness, of politeness, 
 of ease of bearing, which always impress men 
 with a consciousness of strength and power. 
 There is no virtue, perhaps, more necessary to 
 an executive officer than extreme courtesy and 
 
64 OF THE EXECCTIVE OmCER. 
 
 gentleness of manner. A rough, arbitrary man- 
 ner, tven unaccompanied wilh violence or oaths, 
 will inevitalily fail. Evt-iv suhordinat*^ natur- 
 ally part;ikes of the chai-u tnistics of (It'j)ortnient 
 and bearing of tlu' exocutni'. His imsinci- i.s 
 "li' n-. therv', and ever3T\-here,'" yet it slioiild not 
 ])rodu'o nstniiut fitlur among officore or men. 
 The warrant and p<tty officers are tlic maiii- 
 dtay.s of an cxfcutivc, if ho knows Imw to ticut 
 and u,«<' them. A happy ship is almost ahv.i} s a 
 %liiing shij). A gtiiinl, ( liiiiful humor should 
 pervail'" th<- atniosiihere of a Bhii)-of war, if slifis 
 to 1m» in vigor ami jilurk. 'I'lir intii -all rates, all 
 (•la>.'^'s — must 1m- taui;lit to fid that tlic ship is as 
 mnch the pridt- and ]iroperty of each one, as of 
 flic captain. Th' n- must !"■ a sontiiin'iit of r<nn,- 
 araderit, of common int<r.st, or tlif ship will Ixj 
 a failure, and a very unhappy one, too. 
 
 An oath should never pass the lips of an (ex- 
 ecutive oflScer, if he does not wish to lose ])resti;,fe 
 and authority. The matt<r of dress, too, cannot 
 be overlooked or negleeted. If he b<; capable, 
 indnstrioas, and comprehends his station, he can 
 even afford to be foppish in his appearance and 
 personal dress. It i< a sin any mun will pardon 
 if there be brai^ and bravery behind it. The 
 deck officers instinctively take tlnir style from a 
 superior whom they have constantly before them, 
 
OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER. 65 
 
 and this is again communicated to the petty offi- 
 cers and crew. His example and deportment, his 
 method of doing duty, are all imitated, and give 
 tone to others. In regard to this matter, it is 
 observed that, of late, the executive officer rarely 
 shows himself in the capacity of officer of the 
 deck. There was sound judgment in the old 
 hahit that required the executive to relieve the 
 officer of the watch during an hour every morn- 
 ing-watch. By common consent, that morning- 
 watch is pronounced to he the most fatiguing and 
 dreary of all others. The hour's relief, which is 
 a courtesy extended by the executive, is one of 
 iuestimable value to the morning-watch. It gives 
 him a chance to make his toUet, and get a little 
 refreshment, and, moreover, it givea him oppor- 
 tunity to breakfast by nine o'clock, and the serv- 
 ants are enabled to get the mess-room cleared up 
 and put in order at an early hour. The executive 
 thus becomes a public benefactor ; and he can 
 also secure those many little duties of a morning- 
 watch which no one can so well perform, and 
 which sets him at comparative rest for the balance 
 of the day. It is good in many ways for the ex- 
 ecutive to relieve the officers occasionally. He sets 
 an example of courtesy to all the rest ; he has op- 
 portunity to set an example, too, as to the method 
 of carrying on duty, and he infuses his own spirit 
 
66 OF THE EXKcmvE orncER. 
 
 into all Ills subordinates. Sncli favors, to<i. ari> 
 never forgotten, and many ends are subserved by 
 granting them. But they must be rft^^udod aa 
 fjavors. and in no way as a right 
 
 Finally, it may be some recompense to the liard 
 and fatiguing duties of this iiii])(irtunt officer for 
 him to n^nember that, if lie is successful, his pro- 
 fessional comrades, and his captain, loo, will ever 
 Ix' ri-.ady and >!itriT to award liim all the ])i;use. 
 I never yet saw a comraaiuler who grucljjed the 
 me<d nf prais"' to a faithful executive. It is in 
 hispfiwerto liave ;i happy or unhappy ship — a 
 ]»ride to hiniM.'lf, liis men, and his officerH, or one 
 of mistry and wretchedness. The demand ui)on 
 liis temjier and his abilities is enormous. The 
 bett<'r and more efficiint he can make others, the 
 more he relieves himself. With all the strain 
 nptm Ids t-ner;^e8 that l)0(ly and mind can endure, 
 he must be even of temper, and infuse good liu- 
 mor and cheerfulness in the atmosphere around 
 him. A lii^li moral character, united with an 
 indomitable coura^^e, bold and daring, quick of 
 wit, and slow of passion, he must seek to culti- 
 vat.- and embody in himself the graces of a gentle 
 Ifft, the generosity of a knight, the gallantry of 
 a sea-officer, and the cool, cutting discernment, 
 and judgment, with all the polished graces of a 
 gentleman. 
 
CHAPTEE VI. 
 
 THE MASTEE. 
 
 In former times, the master occtipied the posi- 
 tion rather of a sea-pilot, than that of one of the 
 regular officers of the ship. He was called the 
 " sailing-master" and this title will indicate, in 
 a certaia degree, the character of Ms duties. In 
 the days of Sir Walter Baleigh, seamanship, like 
 every other art, took a powerful development. 
 Sir Walter was himself, perhaps, one of the best 
 practical sailors England ever had. He enunci- 
 ated the doctrine, only recently indorsed "by our- 
 selves, that the life of a ship was in a long scope 
 of cable ; that a single anchor and a long scope, 
 were better than two anchors and a short one. 
 He first put the jib on a ship, got topmasts aloft, 
 and bent topsails. He struggled a long time to 
 show that a ship could not "Zj^e" and "^r?/e" 
 well under a mainsail, and the main-topsaU was 
 introduced, to heave a ship to in a gale of wind. 
 Under Sir Walter Raleigh, the office of master 
 was the most important in a ship. Shakespeare 
 
68 THE MASTER. 
 
 represt-nts the master, and his ina(<s aiul boat- 
 swains aruuud him, pipiiii; aiul givini,' onlors to 
 save the stranded ship, in a hingiiago unfamiliar 
 to us. Iliis picture in the Tempest is jirobably 
 the grandest s^-a scene ever produced. 
 
 The master was tlie navigator and pilot. He 
 always directed what course should be steered — 
 what s:iils shouhl Ix' carried — and tlie m3stery 
 of liis landfalls won fiu- him the gratitude and 
 admiration of everybody. Whal^'ver appertuiji- 
 ed to tlie navipitjoii (ir sailing of a ship, t(» her 
 anchors or nnchonige, was under his direct and 
 exclusive onlers. lie had nothing to do with 
 gun.s, arms, flighting, or the discii)ljne or 'person- 
 ncl of the ship. He had chargi! of the ('onlai^'e, 
 the masts, spars, siiils, anchors and caijles, haws- 
 ers and s-ti-ering par. To a griat exh-nt, these 
 anciriit and honorable duties liave been contin- 
 ued to him. It is true, time has modified very 
 greatly- the jjrisitions of others. The captain is 
 now leader of his shij). He lias become respon- 
 sible for ever}- thing, and for every officer under 
 his command. The executive officer is one of 
 more modem creation. Only to these two, how- 
 ever, is the master subservient in the sphere of 
 his duties. The captain is no longer contented 
 with being carried about by his master, but is 
 the chief of this dejmrtment, directing mach of its 
 
THE MASTER. 69 
 
 details, and, if need be, ready to assume tlie duties 
 himself. No captain can afford to be ignorant 
 of Ms position, nor can be allow another to shape 
 his course upon the chart. The executive officer 
 has gradually relieved the master of the charge of 
 chains and anchors, of the rigging and cordage. 
 Nevertheless, the position of the master iu a ship- 
 of-war is no siuecure. He has quite as much re- 
 sponsibility as he can weU answer for. Inas- 
 much as he is iatrusted with the delicate duties 
 of navigation, all and every instrument iu the 
 ship is under his charge. All the charts and sail- 
 ing directions are likewise ia Ms care. Of all the 
 instruments ever devised by man, perhaps the 
 chronometer is the most beautiful and the most 
 sensitive. Not many officers are fully compe- 
 tent to this charge. When we reflect that the 
 safety of a ship is immensely hanging upon a few 
 seconds of time, indicated by this instrument, we 
 may well feel its importance. It cannot be given 
 to the hand of a careless or neglectful officer. So 
 perfect is this instrument, that no one nowadays 
 ever thinks of steering around a shoal, or shaping 
 a course by the cumbersome logic of a lunar. 
 The man who did it, would justly be considered 
 a lunatic. So important is the chronometer, that 
 many captains, in their extreme jealousy, or fear 
 of its ill-treatment, insist upon keeping it in their 
 
lO THK MASTER. 
 
 cabins, just at the extreme tud of a sliip, where 
 the constant ribnitions and sluxks of the vi-sscl 
 are more violent than anj'where else. I had as 
 soon think of putting it at the bowsprit end, as in 
 the cabin of a gunboat 
 
 The proper ]ilace for a ehrononieter is as near 
 the I- litre of motion of a ship as ])ossible. It 
 should be iilaifd dnwu upon llu^ deck, and not 
 upon til'- top of a bureau, or ou a frail shelf, 
 as I not long. ago obsiTvid a very intdlii^ent 
 master plao- it. I'lie only iiiaci' for its Ix'ttcr 
 siXMirity is in the master's stale-room, and if lie 
 Ije not lit to be intrustod with it, tlic sooner his 
 eoniinis-sion is revoked, tlie liitlir. 
 
 It is custuniary in the navy for tlio niiist^T to 
 place th"' iK)silion of the shij), at sea, on the cabin 
 chart, at eii:ht o'clock in the morning, at ncxjii, 
 and at eight o'clock in the evening, la consulUi- 
 tioii with the tuptain, the course is laid off and 
 given to the ofTiier of the deck by the master him- 
 self; and this course should always be given in 
 writing. There is too grave a risk to be run, to 
 hazard the ix)ssibilitie8 of its being forgotten or 
 misunderstood. This practice should invariably 
 obtain. At those three periods indicated, the 
 master should have his position deduced with 
 utmost care, by every ready method available. 
 His work, after it is completed, should be care- 
 
THE MASTER. 71 
 
 fully reviewed before it is finally accepted. If 
 any doubt exists, let it be known frankly to tlie 
 captain, and let tlie master too have the benefit 
 of tliat donbt. I bave known some masters wbo, 
 after giving a notoriously wrong position to tbe 
 captain, and tbe error discovered, had the culpa- 
 ble vanity to insist npon his first position as the 
 correct one. While a bold confidence may and 
 should be placed npon a careful reckoning, 
 once it is assumed as correct, the guUty vanity 
 of adhering to a palpable error should subject 
 the offender to the charge of cowardly incom- 
 petency. 
 
 Where every one is vigilant — where the daily 
 law is vigilance — ^it would seem superfluous to 
 admonish the master of a ship-of-war that an in- 
 tense vigilance is exacted from Mm. Whenever 
 the color or temperature of the water indicates the 
 possibility of soundings, the lead should be sent 
 to find them. No indication, however trifling, 
 should pass by the navigator without observa- 
 tion. Vigilance and careful observation have 
 saved more ships, perhaps, than scientific navi- 
 gation. 
 
 I have a great appreciation of the lead. It 
 never, or rarely, teUs us an nntruth. Hand-leads 
 and deep-sea leads should always receive the mas- 
 ter' s special care, and he should be as jealous of 
 
I 2 TDE UASTER. 
 
 their condition and place as the gnniHT's mate is 
 of his <^iin<. The lead is the mni^ter s touchstoiio 
 of .siifety. Its hoiu'st, truthful story, ou disiiml 
 iiiirht.s, has caused more than one master to bless 
 its presi-iuo. 
 
 Thestowage of the holds and their order, clejiiili- 
 n<-.--s audcouveiiienei', ari' among tlie piinci])al du- 
 ties of a mji^t«r, wliirli, we fear, aiv p.-issinji; tvxi I'us- 
 ily out of n'membraiu'c. Thiaeharf^eeaunot and 
 oupht not to devolve ujion the cxeeutive oHiccr, 
 as is becoming too frtHjuent. The latter oliieer 
 has can* enough, and this should iie\( r be im- 
 posed ui>on him. 
 
 When one oont«>n»jilateH wlial a eonveiiieiit 
 place for tile aeeuraulatiun and eoncealnienl of 
 rnbbi-li. filth, and every possible tiling not need- 
 e<l elM'wheii- at till- moment, and further re- 
 lh'<t.s that air is easily taint<'(l and soon be- 
 eonies impui", it is easy to si-e what excessive , 
 eare is incumbent upon the master in this import- 
 ant iharp'. The executive officer will, ]iei]iaps 
 more often than any one else, order sudi and 
 such a thing down into the hold, esixcially if it 
 appear to him a little unsightly. A f^olden rule, 
 ill a ship-of-war, finds nothing unsightly that is 
 needed and in its proper place. Things should 
 be canied where they are to be used and where 
 they belong, or they have no right in the shij). 
 
THE MASTER. 73 
 
 I have long tliouglit that we carry too many- 
 spare articles in a ship-of-war. The gangways 
 are crowded, the store-rooms are filled, and the 
 hold is jammed to repletion, with spare articles — 
 things supposed to be handy to have ahout. 
 Many of ns rejoiced when the lumbering cargoes 
 of spare yards, spare topmasts, spare booms, be- 
 gan to go ashore. It was a bright day when our 
 ships got rid of them. 
 
 In regard to the hold, it should be remembered 
 that if it be not carefully stowed at first, it will 
 always be in confusion. Any master who prizes 
 his position, will be as watchful over his hold as 
 he is jealous of his chronometer. 
 
 In addition to the hold, and directly connected 
 with its charges, is the care of the wood and 
 water. It is true that our ships now condense 
 their drinking water, but it nevertheless reqLuires 
 management and attention in its cooling and is- 
 sue. At sea every person should be upon an 
 allowance of water, but that allowance should be 
 a large one. Fresh water cannot be deliberately 
 wasted, even though it is made at hand. 
 
 A very important word may be said about the 
 log-book, which is especially under the charge of 
 the master. It is the exception rather than the 
 rule to see a neat, well-kept log-book. Young 
 officers invariably commit one of two faults — 
 4 
 
74 THB MASTKR, 
 
 tliey either omit what is important and official, in 
 the record of their watch, or i-lse tin y naiiat<" tri- 
 fles and unofficial acts, which Blumld not ai)pt>ar 
 in a midshipman's iliaiv. The loii; b(K)k is tin- 
 offii'ial record of the ship's transjutions. As 
 sinli. any int«?lligent mind should conipn-ltcnd 
 what to writ.' in it. This book should W regu- 
 larly wnf to the <ommand('r for periodical in- 
 spection and signatiirf. And wIumi it is lians- 
 femnl to tin* Bureau of Navifi:ation, it should be 
 fit for an admiral to r>ad. 
 
 Then- has lomr Immmi a discussion as (o tlm pro- 
 jiricty of the ma-i.-r taking; a watch. I am of 
 opinion tliat, if no other reason weighs in lliii 
 discussion, the master should keep his watch 
 n»gularly, to be posted as to her jiosition and 
 weather at all times. The experience of watx;h- 
 keeping is a benefit no master can depi-ive him- 
 self of, without tlii^ imputation of wanting in 
 professional zeal and interest. I know of no 
 more painful sight than to se*- the master of 
 a ship lounging in the ward-room all day, oc- 
 cupied merely in finding his position thre<i times 
 a day. He is relieved from great-gun drill, and 
 that is a fair offset to his extra duty. 
 
 The Signal Quartermaster, vr\th his signal lock- 
 ers, stores, and lamps, signals, colors, and 
 bunting, is under the jurisdiction of the master. 
 
THE MASTEE. 75 
 
 And tMs department also embraces the wheel- 
 ropes, and steering gear, and whatever belongs 
 to the rudder and tiller of the vessel. In the 
 French navy, all the quartermasters are especial- 
 ly under the orders of the master, and it would 
 be well if it were so regulated with us. But a 
 general supervision, yet nevertheless a supervi- 
 sion, is all that need occupy the master in these 
 details. He should be responsible to the execu- 
 tive officer for the good order and efficiency of his 
 department. 
 
 The duties and responsibilities are not very fa- 
 tiguing, however closely and attentively they may 
 require watching. It is a position of the greatest 
 trust. It is an office of the most serious charac- 
 ter, and requires unlimited and unsparing devo- 
 tion. It is while the young officer is undergoing 
 this period of his life that he learns more of his 
 profession than he ever knew before. While he 
 is performing the beautiful and scientific duties 
 of navigation, his labors are diversified by deck 
 duty, and by a close observation of the mysteries 
 of weather, of tides, and of currents. Perhaps 
 the happiest person on a ship-of-war is the mas- 
 ter, or navigator. It would be pleasant to see 
 his title changed to one more appropriate to its 
 present meaning. 
 Lastly, his station at the hour of battle, or in 
 
76 THE lUSTKR. 
 
 cases and times of emergency, is always at the 
 side of the captain ; and also aa an assistant to 
 the executive officer. He stands in a confidential 
 relation to both, :uid is in reality an aid to eitlier. 
 \t is here that Lf learns to judge how a sliip 
 should be manoeuvred, and his opportunities are 
 tlic best for learning the seamanship of a sfcaint-r. 
 Let him not think liis station in tlie ship an unim- 
 portant oin', for none is ]H'iliaps more delicate 
 The only dfTicer of his rank on board, ho is more 
 subject to criiicisni, less subject to fault-finding, 
 and more observed than any other. If I were to 
 offer him a parting suggestion, it woul<l be, not 
 to neLrl<JCt the hold, and that a few swonds of er- 
 ror in the litth- instrument licking in his room 
 may strand the shij). ami cost the lives and honor 
 of all on board. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE OFFICER OF THE DECK. 
 
 After the terrible battle at New-Orleans, de- 
 livered by Admiral Farragut ia 1862, certain offi- 
 cers of the large steam sloops-of-war predicted 
 that they would probably be the last regular 
 men-of-war that we should have for a long time, 
 if ever. Certainly those ships were models, what- 
 ever may be said of those of a former day. They 
 were ia good discipline ; they were healthily 
 clean and trim ; and every man and officer on 
 board of them felt that they were a part of them- 
 selves. Better drilled men never served a cannon. 
 Drilled not only at the guns but at fighting iron, 
 fire, water, hot shot, and boarders. Whether we 
 shall ever see their Kke again, we cannot tell. 
 We know that fhey gave a "good account of 
 themselves." 
 
 It is profoundly to be regretted that the old 
 rivalry among our lieutenants, as to capacity for 
 handling ship and doing deck-duty, seems to have 
 entirely died out. A few years ago the deck could 
 
73 THE OFFICKK OF THK DECK. 
 
 neter be left without a lieutenant ui ohaigf. I'Iu'sb 
 officers criticised each other with a sharpness 
 and vivacity that served to stimulate to the high- 
 e:<t tlegree of professional perfection. Not to be 
 a sailor, or to be a vi-ry inferior oiir, was the last 
 t»-rni of ri]>r(>aoh that could be offered. Lieutiii- 
 nnts viinl with fadi other in iiobli' eniulatioii in 
 professional atiaiinnent.s. The style sliowcd the 
 (tfficer. ainl the style and taniagt' of tiie oHicit 
 imant something real. It has been a coiiiiuou 
 remark of capable observers lliat. in tliosi- days, 
 < .ich offic'T of till' deck was as fully comjM't^'nt 
 to take care <'f a .nliip as the <aii1ain. There was 
 nothing profes^^ionnl that was considered tfio mean 
 to cultivat<\ Tlie method of doing duty, tlie 
 manner of giving orders as tliough they meant 
 tliem to 1h» obeyed, the clieerful, good-humor<'d, 
 ;ind i>i'rliajis reckless air of the officer, and tlwi 
 very dnss and manner in which it was worn, as 
 well as the rapid judgment of and precision with 
 which evolutions were performed, were all alikfi 
 objects of attention and study. Those officers 
 liked nothing better than to be taken aback or to 
 .be caught on a lee-shore, or, in fact, to be i>laced 
 in any position that was critical, for the pure love 
 of working out of it handsomely. And, as a gen- 
 eral thing, they did it handsomely, too. It is 
 told of the elder Commodore Morris, that a cer- 
 
THE OFFICER OF THE DECE. 79 
 
 tain line-of-battle-sMp, of wMcli h.e was the first 
 lieutenant, was thrown upon her Ibeam-encLs, 
 and, amidst the most iatense excitement and iu- 
 extrical>le confusion, he came on deck, mounted 
 the horse-lblock, and coolly Tbegan to tie up his 
 shoe-strings, it is needless to say that his calm 
 deliberation fell upon his excited people like a 
 wet blanket, and the ship was saved. 
 
 A lieutenant, as the title indicates, is the repre- 
 sentative of the captain on deck. Hence the fic- 
 tion arose, that the captaiu himself is supposed 
 always to be on deck. Although the lieutenant 
 holds the place of the captain, it is proper to re-, 
 member that he holds a commission as well. 
 Every order he gives is supposed to emanate from 
 the captain, or to be given in furtherance of the 
 captain's wishes. This position does not release 
 him from obligations to the executive oflB.cer ; but 
 it requires the executive officer to perform his 
 duties, and give his orders through the medium 
 of the officer of the deck. The officer of the deck 
 has a right to know, and must know, all duty 
 that is being transacted everywhere throughout 
 the ship. He cannot be ignorant if work is going 
 on in the hold, magazine, or sheU-rooms. The 
 whole ship, from kelson to truck, is under his 
 immediate care. 
 
 When the officer is called to relieve, there is no 
 
80 THE orricKR of thk deck. 
 
 excuse orapoloiry for lingering bflow. Fivi* min- 
 utes is unple time for Mm to pi-l on dwk. This 
 matter of relief is of vital importaiiO(\ and oim 
 which si't-ms not to bo fully comprehended by 
 young officers. The most exactiiij? l•tiqm•tU^ 
 should be observed. No matter how intimate 
 tht* two officers may bi-, when (Iny ai*o brought 
 t<)getli<T. on<' to nlicve thf otli.r, the attitude and 
 act are purely official. Salutes nliould always be 
 ffircn and riturnal. The transaction is soltiun. 
 It is pnivf for the honor of both parties. Make 
 it formal as you choo»<>, for it is olllcial. Thc^ olii- 
 c'-r being n-lifvcd, transmits th(( Bituation of the 
 ship, her condition, the course steering, (if at sia,) 
 or the scoiM? of cxible and depth of water if at 
 anchor; tin* fxa<t coiidiiion of the weather, the 
 vicinity of land, sails, or color of (lie wati r, if it 
 has change>l ; the pin nil nature of i\w duties 
 goin;: on about decks, what boats are away, 
 where the remaining ones arc moored, and, finally, 
 what orders are unexecuted from the captain or 
 executive officer. All this information should be 
 given distinctly and intelligibly. K not undt-r- 
 stood, it must be repeated. If the relieving offi- 
 cer supposes he does not receive aU the informa- 
 tion he requires, he has the right to demand it ; 
 nay, it is his duty to do so. " My relitf did n't 
 teU me, sir,'' is the worst excuse ever given. So 
 
lEHE OFFICER OF THE DECK. 81 
 
 soon as this is over, tlie new office^ of the deck 
 first looks at Ms compass and passes the course 
 to the quartermaster at the wheel. It is a good 
 plan to ask the quartermaster what the course is, 
 to verify it ; for these officers pass their orders to 
 each other in the same manner as officers of the 
 deck. Having ohserved the ship steering her 
 course, it is proper to look around generally and 
 observe if the information given by his predeces- 
 sor is correct. A few slight orders are well to be 
 given, by way of announcing to the watch that 
 he is at his station. In this way, too, the petty 
 officers are apprised to whom they should make 
 reports or seek for information. I have before 
 stated that the course should always be given in 
 writing. If not so handed over, it should be put 
 in writing by the officer of the deck. Ifothing is 
 easier forgotten than a quarter of a point of a 
 compass course ; and nothing is easier lost than 
 a ship. 
 
 Having taken a general look around, a special 
 one should be made. If the master has neglected 
 to have his lead-lines ready for use, it should be 
 known why. I had as soon think of taking the 
 deck without having a course to steer by, as to 
 have no leads about. From the first moment an 
 officer takes the deck, he should give himself up 
 to its cares and duties. He should begin to antici- 
 4* 
 
82 THE OmCEK OF THE DECK. 
 
 pate some uiifon'stH'n aoiidt'iit, and prepare for it. 
 The Ixt^t place to study st^araanship is on watch. 
 Conceive of a thousand contingencies that iimy 
 suddenly aris--, wh.ilier by day or nighty and di'- 
 pending mainly mi what miijlit hajipen under the 
 existiiii: conditions. The mind will jirornijtly 
 sugjr>»st what to do. Discuss the wfutt and /ii>in 
 to do. and Bume dark night the reward for sncli 
 habits will be sure to conn-. All officer wlio, 
 after six months' serviee, will aTiswer the demand 
 of the captain for some infonnation piM-taining 1o 
 the ship, "I don't know, sir," or "my relief 
 didu't inform me, sir," deserves to be granted a 
 per]>etual furlough, ^^^th(lut payor emoluments. 
 Yet such pnictices obtain now but too univer- 
 sally. Hett.-r tlie boatswain's mate or ([uart^'r- 
 mn.'^ter had the deck, tlian such an officer. It is 
 his business to know, and if he do not lie is in- 
 competent. I liave thought that our present offi- 
 cers of the deck are getting fearfully spoiled. 
 Whose fonlt is it that they do not know and feel 
 that they have commissions and responsibilities 
 as well as the captain '. Yet is a grievous vice, 
 and the sooner we get rid of it the better. 
 
 II the execntive officer be fit for his place, it 
 should be the aim of deck officers to model their 
 style and methods of duty ujwn his. Nowhere 
 is uniformity so much reqtured as in daily deck 
 
THE OPFICEB OF THE DECK. 83 
 
 duty. The agents who perform that duty are the 
 watches, all under the same officers. If one hoists 
 ashes at six bells, and another at seven ; if one 
 officer requires a jib to come down at the "word," 
 and another allows the boatswain's mate to 
 "haul down when he is ready," you may rest 
 assured that there will be a slovenly ship, and 
 a discontented, ill-natured crew. Daily routiae of 
 ship's duties is soon obtained from the repetition 
 of the executive officer's orders. I think the 
 hardest task I ever had to perform was to get the 
 pea-jackets stowed away, before "breakfast, in the 
 morning watch, after having been used during 
 the night. Sometimes they are wet, and cannot 
 be put away. Sometimes there is too much 
 work ; sometimes they are overlooked. There 
 are always more exceptions than there are rules, 
 but for all that,.Wfe cannot dispense with a rule. 
 It is a perpetual point of reference, and one must 
 exercise good sense and judgment in coming back 
 to it or departing from it. The same thing may 
 be said of the executive officer' s routine for drill. 
 Have a routine by all means, but do not fear to 
 depart from it, when circumstances require it. 
 There is nothing more imperative to the well 
 working of a ship than a uniformity of doing duty 
 by all the officers of the deck, and this uniformity 
 must be obtained from a fixed model — the execu- 
 
84 THK OFFICKB OF THE DKCK- 
 
 tive oflBcer I The best execntive that ever livnl 
 will fail if he be not properly supportocl in liis 
 position and duti>s by the deck officers. Of what 
 usti for him to cud' r, and diitTt, and distij>lini', if, 
 the moment lie Kaves the dinik, his effi'd.s arc not 
 porsaed and rarried aKuii,'? There must be a 
 mutual support in these things, or neither party 
 will pt nloii^r. Supjtose tlie executivt> cannot al- 
 ways beappH'V. (I, Suppose he l>e not liked. So 
 much tlie worse ; but the personality, the like, or 
 tin- (lislikr, mu^t nevir for a inonient iiil<irpose. 
 If it does, you infallibly weaken yourseH" and 
 your authority. I cannot too hi iQngly word my 
 languap' upon this matter. Thrown, as liie ofli- 
 (•<rs of a wanl-room mess are, so closely together, 
 if there is a foibh-, a weakness, or a faixit, it 
 grows bigger every hour in the eyes of the ob- 
 server. From dislike it is hut a Ht<-p to the vUest 
 passion of hatred. I defy any officer to maintain 
 proper official relations with one whom he hales. 
 There is no plac- where a manly and noble indul- 
 gence should be exercised so faithfully as in a 
 ward-room mess. I have seen dislike grow into 
 hatred so extreme, that the two officers could riot 
 and would not remain ■tf)gether long enough to 
 pass the orders of a relief. Their usefulness was 
 entirely destroyed by it. It is better to agree 
 boldly to dislike each other, and tliere end th^ 
 
THE OFFICER OF THE DECK, 85 
 
 matter. Official courtesy, respect, and etiquette, 
 will come to your aid ia a most agreeaWe and 
 potent manner. Preserve the official relations 
 with, jealous care, with extreme fidelity, and you 
 erect a wall of fire around yourself and your per- 
 son which no personalities can ever pass over. 
 This is one of the highest and bravest duties of 
 an officer. 
 
 The officer of the deck is, Iby his position and 
 the nature of his duties, brought into more direct 
 personal relations with the men than he is gener- 
 ally aware of. Hence that relation should be an 
 object of culture. No body of men will ever be 
 admirers of a rough bully, or an iU-dressed, ill- 
 tempered, or violent officer. Human nature loves 
 contrarieties. There never was a more stupid 
 blunder than to suppose the language and man- 
 ners of the forecastle Carried force with them from 
 the quarter-deck. The greater the contrast of the 
 two, the better it is. If men will curse and swear, 
 if they will use obscene language or coarse jests 
 on the berth-deck, "they themselves loathe and 
 despise it on the quarter-deck. It is a mistake to 
 suppose the assimilation of manners of the two 
 parts of the ship will create popularity, or induce 
 a familiar obedience. All men, no matter how 
 humble, no matter how ignorant, no matter how 
 poor, require and seek, instinctively, to be' com- 
 
S6 TUB OFFICER OF THE DECK. 
 
 manded by a gentleman in manners niul habits, 
 if nothinir more. An order deliviM-ctl in good 
 grammar is the most pt>rsnasivt> tif all orders. A 
 blow with a wliite kid irlove behind it will .^ink 
 as deep as a soili'd list, if properly planted. So 
 that tli>i-.' 1)6 bnuns and courair.', men will over- 
 look i-viii a fastidious flctrano' in a leader. No 
 (hiss of men living so well a]>i)reciat<' the genuine 
 qnalitips of a caltivat< I geutleman as tlie Ameri- 
 (\in sailor. 
 
 The art of governing men is not to be had in a 
 day. Some men do not g't it all tlieir lives. An 
 otBcor of the deck who is ceaselessly growling, 
 always finding fanlt, and always in a coarse ill- 
 tempT, is a publie nuisancr. One of tliegreat- 
 • st and most valned traits in a sea ofRcer is a 
 broad, l'' ntle, grtod hnmor. Tlien^ is no adorn- 
 ment so bi'aatifnl and so much prized and beloved 
 by ev. ly Ixxly in a man-of-war, as an amiable, 
 even-temprefl oflBcer. l>"t the amiability be teni- 
 jiered with as much firmness and decision as j)os- 
 sible : let it be inexorable in discipline and points 
 of duty : but let it be amiability at the last. 
 Such a combination, if it possess a good shari- of 
 daring and dash, will win favor and make a lead- 
 er of men. 
 
 The relations of the deck officer should be es- 
 pecially friendly toward the men of liis watch. 
 
THE OFFICER OF THE DECEy 87 
 
 This friendliness in nowise militates against dig- 
 nity or authority. A gentle tone need not be de- 
 void of force, nor a gentle manner wanting in de- 
 cision. Discipline should be inexorable as j ustice, 
 and though every fault should not be punished, 
 not one should be overlooked or hidden. 
 
 Most young officers find themselves extremely 
 perplexed, as to what reports should be made to 
 the captain, and what to the executive officer. It 
 is difficult for them to draw the line of distiaction. 
 They hesitate about reporting too many things. 
 They fear to make trivial reports, and they fear 
 to make too few. Perhaps, after aU, experience 
 win clear up this point better than any other 
 teacher, and much too will depend upon the na- 
 ture of the orders given by the captain and execu- 
 tive officer. 
 
 Whatever may have a bearing, however re- 
 mote, upon the safety of the ship, or upon the 
 objects of her immediate service, should be 
 promptly reported to the captain. All move- 
 ments of men-of-war, or other important vessels, 
 and aU. signals, should be reported to him. The 
 approach and movements of superior officers, or 
 any officers of elevated grade, should be immedi- 
 ately announced. The captain is specially and 
 alone interested in these things. 
 
 All accidents of a comparatively slight nature, 
 
88 THE OFFICER OF THB DECK. 
 
 any emeutis, or difficulties; in tlio shii^, wlunby 
 the harmony is distiirbetl, the breaking or tlio 
 loss of property belonging ti> the apjiarel of the 
 vessel, are iimpir 6ubje<-ts of reports to tlu- I'x- 
 i'<:utive officer. Whatever may disturb the fr*>v- 
 emmciit or discipline of the slup riglitfuUy be- 
 longs to liiin. Si >iiii times, indivd, then? arc facts 
 that concern both captain and executive, and in 
 such cas4>s the rejiorts should be made to botii. 
 Till' ollicer of the deck uei'd liave litthf doubt as 
 to his duties in tinse thin/<s. If lie lie in doubt, 
 hi him give himself the benefit of it. It ia safer 
 to make t<Kj many ix'ports tlmn loo few. Th(f 
 captainls in the sliiji, to l)e disturbed as niucli 
 as the officer ]iha,s<-s, ni^ht or day, in such cases. 
 N" ai>olo;.'y is ever Uii'hd fordisturhiiii; the cap- 
 tain by making reports. The captain's custom- 
 ary orders will indicate his vnshes in such mat- 
 ters. 
 
 The executive officer must depend largely upon 
 the deck officers to obtain and secure a well-dis- 
 ciplined ship. His best efforts will laU if he be 
 not judiciously supported by them. If you de- 
 sire a well-disciplined ship, you must begin with 
 your watch. Make yourself an example to your 
 watch, and especially in your intercourse witli 
 the petty officers. Your relations with these are, 
 and should be, extremely delicate. Inform your- 
 
THE OFFICER OF THE DECK. 89 
 
 self carefully what their rights are, and respect 
 them. Petty officers have rights, and very sa- 
 cred ones too. There is no class of men in the 
 navy which has so earnest a claim upon commis- 
 sioned and warrant officers as this. They have 
 neither the position, nor dress, nor appointment, 
 that insures obedience to their rank. They are 
 held responsible for almost every thing in the line 
 of duty ; and just in that proportion of respon- 
 sibility, and want of rank to enforce it, they de- 
 serve your protection and support. Disobe- 
 dience or insubordination toward a petty officer, 
 by an inferior, is a worse offence than if commit- 
 ted toward an officer holding a commission. If 
 you make a boatswain' s mate a messenger boy, 
 or a "Handy BiUy," or if you use the quarter- 
 master to perform the service of an attendant, 
 you commit suicide to your own dignity and 
 authority. You cannot too rigidly abstain from 
 requiring one petty officer to do another' s duty. 
 You cannot inflict a graver wrong to the boat- 
 swain's mate of one gangway than to require him 
 to perform service in another. To the young and 
 inexperienced officer of the deck, the sensitive 
 feelings of these men are not generally appreci- 
 ated. It has become almost impossible to get a 
 good gangway boatswain's mate, or a good quar- 
 termaster, on this very account. Nourish the 
 
90 THK OFFICEB OF THK DECK. 
 
 pride — even the vanity, if you choose to call it 
 that — of your petty officers. Sui)}^"!! them in 
 their authurity. treat them with ii-sjuct, and 
 never, as you value their si-rvici's, infringe upon 
 the rank and riglits tacitly conferred n\)on them 
 as a (lass, ever since a navy I'xistod. Their i iulits 
 are traditionar\ I II i.s in }our n>hitions with 
 this abuwd and n^lected chiss of nun that you 
 can strike at tla- wry lieart of discipline and i-lli- 
 ciency. 
 
 I am awan' that I have but lij^^litly skctclicd an 
 outline of a 8ul)j«H"t ujion which a volume could 
 be written. But if I liave drawn outlines only, 
 it must be l>ome in mind that they are amply 
 traci-tl. No amount of study alone will make a 
 good offic«*r of tile (h'ck. A successful deck of- 
 fic<r must hav'- a versatile talent, an inlinitn art, 
 and a rapidity of judgment which few men pos- 
 iii'ss. It is in tlua cajiacity that tin- officer learns 
 what ari' tlie essential qualities of a leader, and 
 how to become one. lie is on trial of his metal 
 as an officer, and at school, training for the high 
 station of command. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 FOEWAED OE WAEEANT OFFICEBS. 
 
 Im" the army, officers are denominated commis- 
 sioned and non-commissioned officers. The army 
 has no class that assimilates to the warrant of- 
 ficers of the navy. Midshipmen, gunners, "boat- 
 swains, sail-makers, and carpenters, are warrant 
 officers in the navy. Their warrants are issued 
 on parchment, Iby the President of the United 
 States, and not "by authority of Congress, as the 
 commission declares. In England, the Sove- 
 reign's signature alone is appended to the com- 
 mission of an admiral. We have no regulation 
 in the navy which defines the limit of authority 
 of a warrant, or its distiaction from a commis- 
 sion. Custom and tradition alone seem to have 
 fixed the distiaction, the principal of which pro- 
 hibits the warrant officer from sitting upon courts- 
 martial. The authority of the warrant over infe- 
 riors in rank is as good and legitimate as that of 
 the oldest commission in existence. The sin of 
 diso"bedience to it is just as great. 
 
92 rOBWAKD OB WAKRAirr OFFICERS. 
 
 I have a long time held it as a trnisra, that if 
 discipline is to be maintained in a largt« body of 
 men, obedience should be the mort> exact ing, in 
 direct proportion as rank (hvraiscs, not as it /«- 
 creases. If the officer of the deck is faithfully 
 obeyed and nsiHctcd, the captain may have no 
 f<-ars of the obedien(<' granted to lum. 
 
 Of thf four ^'rades of warrant officers, sixcially 
 so calli'd, for we mrely include tlii' midBhipnian 
 when the t.-rm warrant officer is used, tlie gunner 
 and b'lafswain alone are lini' officers — tin' sail- 
 maker ami carpenter are stafiF officers. Tliese 
 distinctions arr of n'lM-nt creali(jn. Wliati'ver 
 may be naid of it by heated ni'ws])ai)er writers, 
 these officers have from time immemorial bi-rn 
 always tn»at<-d by tin- line oflicerH holding!; com- 
 missions with gn-at tenderness and resjH'd. 
 And it is oni- of the l)eantiftd traditions of th<! 
 wrvii-e. To tli<' fxecutive o f lice r, to our old first 
 li'-utenants and captains they were always pets. 
 Tlie author hopes they may always remain so ; 
 cherished and esteemed, as a part of ikepersonml 
 which never can be dispensed with from a ship- 
 of-war. If the recent rage and legislation for 
 rank do not destroy that old affectionate relation 
 which has existed always betw<'en this class of 
 officers and others, it will be a matter of profound 
 congratulation to them and the navy generally. 
 
FORWABD OE WARRANT OFFICERS. 93 
 
 It is painful to olbserve that many of tlie younger 
 appointments are becoming poisoned with, that 
 most unhappy notion, and without the elighto^ 
 foundation in. fact, that they are "looked down 
 upon" by others. This is the expression in 
 which the idea is couched. In all my personal 
 acqaintance with officers of any merit at all, in 
 all the professional reading I have had, I confess 
 I have never seen this class of officers "looked 
 down upon ;" but, on the contrary looked upon 
 with extreme official tenderness. And so it 
 should be. It was mystery to every officer of 
 the service, until he became an executive officer, 
 when that mystery soon vanished. 
 
 The change in the character of the vessels of 
 the navy has well nigh taken from us the neces- 
 sity for this valuable class of officers in most of 
 our vessels. But it is earnestly hoped that the 
 United States may yet have frigates afloat, and 
 then we shall always need the corps of warrant 
 officers. These officers on board ship are, and 
 should be, the special objects of interest to the 
 executive officer. Their duties seldom call them 
 into relations with any one else ; it is with the 
 executive officel- that they have all to do. 
 
 The gunner and boatswain are the only ones of 
 this class of officers who are termed line officers, 
 that is, one who possesses military authority, and 
 
94 FOBWARD OR WARRANT OPFICERS. 
 
 military rights to command I As for tlic jxuimor, 
 all the material, wlu-therof (ndiiaiui' or ordnance 
 8t< ID'S, used for fighting, is under his especial laic. 
 He is to a irn-at degree responsible for the condi- 
 tion of every gun, nmskft, and pistol, or board- 
 ing-pike. The orduance stores of every dfscrii)- 
 tion are under his charge ; and the magazines and 
 shell-rooras are the peculiar objects of his can^ 
 and soliiitudi'. The divisional oflirers look to 
 hira for the giMxl and iMifect ei>ndition of tlic bat- 
 t'ly and its e<iui])niint« — its carriage's, Uicide, 
 and general fiirnitnn' The executive h)ok8 to 
 liim for the pootl condition of thi* niai^a/.incs and 
 sliell-roonis. and tiicir valuable contents, lie re- 
 qures an accurati' account from him of the sniall- 
 t>t < xp<?nditur<" in Ids <h'partment. The captain 
 looks to him for the p)od kcc])ing of his Icd^ijcrs 
 and returns, and invoices, and the pajters per- 
 taining to tliis ilejiartment. The young men and 
 boys look to him to decide que-stions in discus- 
 sion of a (iamiliar nature on gunnery, and the 
 Bpecific duties of men in detail, at the guns, or at 
 general quarters. 
 
 Frequently, too, young divisional officers ap- 
 jx^al to him to settle pretty knotty questions 
 on the transportation and handling of heavy 
 guns, or on the details of ordnance instructions. 
 The master or executive officer looks to him for 
 
FORWARD OR "WARRANT OFFICERS. 95 
 
 the good condition of the lower rigging, the maia 
 yard and mainsail, if the vessel have such gear. 
 If a mainsail is to be close-reefed, the gunner and 
 his mates are the leaders in the work. If a main 
 shroud is carried away or stranded, if any acci- 
 dent happens to the mainmast, from a ratlin to a 
 truss, the gunner is caUed upon. Let no man 
 ever caU a gunner an idler ! If there ever was an 
 outrageous misnomer, this is one. Grood men 
 are, however, beginning to think that main yards 
 and anchors, and all such matters, would be far 
 better if left in the hands of the master, and the 
 gunner would be far better employed and more 
 judiciously responsible for guns and ordnance, 
 and that the boatswain should relieve him of 
 these matters altogether. 
 
 I cannot but think that the standard of educa- 
 tion and character of this noble class of officers 
 should be changed and elevated. 
 
 The gunner should be a sailor, no doubt, but 
 if he neglect "book-learning," as it is sometimes 
 called, he will soon show himself unfit for his 
 station. The gunner of a ship-of-war must study, 
 and should read books. And in this connection 
 I cannot forbear the regret that the illiberal al- 
 lowance of books, on the subjects of gunnery, 
 ordnance, and every kindred subject, in our 
 ships' libraries, is a sad error, which I trust may 
 
96 rOBWARD OB WARRANT OFFICEBS. 
 
 soon be obviated. Evory book and every pub- 
 lication, in the Fi-nch or English langnagej*, 
 on the subject of gunnery, should tind a prom- 
 inent \)hice in the ship's libi-ary, and that, too, 
 for the purpose of being used. 
 
 To the frunners of the n;ny I would say, let no 
 sickly notions of being "looked doim vjxm''^ 
 fvcr enter your imaginations. If you are intelli- 
 gent, activ"', and capable, cvfry body in a man- 
 of-war will lo<ik >/p to yon, and no ]iowi'r on 
 ••arth or wat«'r can get you to be looked down 
 u]X)n. Yoii must forget and ignore that nilHcra- 
 ble doctrine, which once obtained, that "book- 
 learning" was ignominious. You must study 
 IxKiks; but you must htndy the beautiful ques- 
 tions of your sjMcialtics as an artillerist to the vit- 
 most. If there is one tiling peculiar to a man-of- 
 war's man, and to all on board a man-of-war, oi, 
 in other Nvordn, to naval men, it is, that they are 
 the ^rt*at artillerists of the world. Of late years, 
 in the Crimea, among Ilussians, English, and 
 French, and among the rebels, and in our own 
 service, whenever a stem, hard, and severe artil- 
 lery duel is to be fought, the navy has always 
 been called ujwn. After the unhappy battle of 
 Btdl Run, the whole country and the army were 
 amdons, and the navy was called upon to man 
 the heavy forts of General McClellan's left flank, 
 
FORWARD OR WARRANT OFFICERS, 97 
 
 at Alexandria, where the exposure was very- 
 great. The distress of the hour, and the relief to 
 the commander-in'-chief of the United States ar- 
 mies, as expressed to the author many times by 
 him, were the highest compliments the navy could 
 receive. 
 
 To the boatswains belong the care of all the 
 rigging'^' whether over yards, mastheads, or in the 
 store-rooms. Daily morning and evening in- 
 spections are made by him, or should be made 
 by him, throughout the whole ship. He is re- 
 quired to examine carefully every masthead, 
 every fathom of standing or running rigging, and 
 their eyes or blocks, and report the condition to 
 the executive officer before he goes to breakfast. 
 At the same time, he receives such orders as Ms 
 superior may see fit to give, in regard to repairs, 
 changes, or remedies. The boatswain has gener- 
 ally been regarded as the leading head of a ship's 
 company. His influence for good or bad in a 
 ship-of-war is of the greatest, and a disobedient 
 or insubordinate boatswain should never be tol- 
 erated an hour on duty. There is no person in 
 the ship whose influence for evil is so quickly 
 felt, or who is of such importance to discipline, if 
 his influence be extended for good. 
 
 The importance, and the necessity, of this class 
 of officers are so apparent and so great, that no ship 
 5 
 
93 FOBWARD OR WAKRANT OtyUKlU*. 
 
 or gunboat carrying a half-clozi'U guns in baltory 
 should evi-r be without uiu'. It is much to bo 
 r^retted that the practice obtains, not to givi> a 
 boat<\\ai!i to any vessi'l not a frigate. It is my 
 opinion that .viry sloop-of-war. and fvcry doublo- 
 end<T in thf navy, can losf an anchor or a ann 
 • aaii-rt liana good boatswain. >ioniatt«'r \vlia,ttlu' 
 class of V(ss<-1 may bo — lu* it doublc-cnilcr, sidi'- 
 wln-*'!, or .s<r««w, Ik- it sloop or frigate, monitor or 
 inm-clad — tL' boatswain isan indispcnsablf i)art 
 <jf the vc^^'l's <iiuipmi'nt. It is not oiil}' tin- earn 
 of till- rigging of a sliij) that he is nijuirrd for, it 
 is as a li;ulerof tin- iifw. Aboatswaiiiof a ship:; 
 of-war is suppos»'il to be tlic most cajiablc sea- 
 man in h'T, and tlic coiira;;c and ]i]u(k of a ]r;u\- 
 t-r ari* •■minently tin* qualities we look for in Jiis 
 chanut<T. To "call all hands" without tin; 
 iKi.Uswain. is tin* Ix'^rinniiig of an in(!(jmiM4»iit 
 adiiiinistnition, and the boatswain who ])crmits 
 the ofRci-r of the dfck to mglcct or slight liim by 
 assiLTnintr .<uih duties to his mate, without a stern 
 remoiistmnc''. without injured f<ieling8, and a 
 Justly wounded professional pride, should be 
 broken, as a spiritl^s drone, unfit to carry his 
 can.' 
 
 For my own part, I am fond of remembering 
 the days when tlie boatswain carried his rattan, 
 and when he sometimes knew how to use it, even 
 
FOEWAED OR WAEEANT OFFICERS. 99 
 
 v^on the jacket of a wilfully mischievous mid- 
 sMpman. 
 
 No "boatswain can afford to carry a silver call 
 and not know how, norlse too indifferent to use it 
 well. There is something romantic in the charac- 
 ter of a boatswain, and the complete idea of one 
 has always found a prominent place in the naval 
 life on a true man-of-war. It has been so from 
 the days of Elizabeth and Raleigh and Shake- 
 speare down to the era of iron-clads and monitors. 
 No boatswain can afford to be ignorant, however 
 much he may realize the idea of a blunt, tough 
 old sailor. No boatswain can afford to be want- 
 ing in a thorough knowledge of seamanship, 
 whether it be that of steam or sails. The course 
 of Ms professional attainments is immensely en- 
 larged, whatever may be said of it. It is con- 
 stantly said that we ' ' have no sailors any longer. ' ' 
 The fact may be so, but it is the living shame of 
 the personnel, not the fault of the growing changes 
 in the navy ; not the fault of steam ; not the fault 
 of ironsides ! It is simply because the noble am- 
 bition of a simpler age is dead or dying. It is 
 simply because vanity has usurped the throne of 
 pride, and the false, hateful notion, that a strip of 
 copper lace on the sleeve, placed there by legisla- 
 tion, is sufficient also to legislate the wearer into 
 some vain, mythical region of position / 
 
100 FOBWABD OK WARBAHT OFFICKBS. 
 
 I would in\-ite the boattiwaius of llu> navy to 
 read our past naval liistory ; to i-ecall tlii- noble 
 traditions of earlier days, and, if poyyiMr, let 
 their calls speak in the old-fashioned toms of 
 luuisic so dear to the heart of fvi-ry sailor and 
 man-of-war's man ! Lf,i,n<lati(iii can't Ixlji you. 
 IntellipiMUH', plm-k, juid the old lime-honiurd, 
 rough- coat" nl bravery i-an and will, so soon as 
 professional prido n-i^ains its sii])rciiiaiv over an 
 imbecile and sickly vanity, and as]iiiali(>ii8 for 
 court ^,'m<'«>, nithtT than the Ktvrn aiul manly 
 grac<*H nf j-oTir calling ! 
 
 The K'rade of siiilinaJiers in tlu' navy has rc- 
 cvnlly been assigned to the jwsition of Ktall" ofB- 
 cers. This question of staff, as used in the navy, 
 is not idrniical witli the army f^tuff. Admirals 
 and commodores and raiiiains do not liavir a real 
 staff, riu- title seems to me a firtion, liarinlcss 
 enough, ixriiaps w<ll enou^di. (Jirtainly, therr 
 can Iv no o]ij<< tion to it. It seems to cla^sily 
 with precision (■< itaiji grades of ofliei is, and this 
 is one good reason why the term sliould be used, 
 though strangers maybe led into error, inasmuch 
 as it has become fashionable to assimilate navy 
 things with army things. 
 
 Th-' s^-maker has, like the boatswain aqd 
 gunner, his special charge and department, as tlin 
 name indicates. The routine of his daily mom- 
 
FORWARD OR WARRANT OFFICERS. 101 
 
 ing and evening duties is similar in Ms depart- 
 ment with, the boatswain and gunner. In large 
 sailing-ships, or ships- carrying suits of sails, this 
 officer is indispensable. It has been suggested 
 by some ardent controversialists recently, that 
 this valuable class of officers, in common with 
 tbe other warrant officers, should be abolished ! 
 No doubt progress never goes backward. But it 
 may be well to '■'■'keep a trigTit lookout ahead" 
 lest progress should, some fine morning, land us 
 higb and dry on a sand-bar. 
 
 This officer has, perhaps, less military functions 
 and responsibility than any other person in the 
 ship. But does he become jealous for this ? Is 
 he discontented because he is alone ? I hope not. 
 In large ships — ^iron-clads, monitors, and the like 
 — ^this officer has enough to do. In addition to 
 the duties of caring for the ship's sails, there are 
 the tarpaulins to the hatches, the canvas screens, 
 the^canvas shoots, the hammocks, the bags, and, 
 in fact, all the material of canvas that is used on 
 board ship — and it amounts to a great deal. This 
 officer is specially an object of interest to the ex- 
 ecutive officer. In small vessels and in gunboats, 
 his place is supplied by a competent saU-maker' s 
 mate. I do not think a regularly appointed and 
 warranted sail-maker has any business on board 
 of a ship of less rating than a frigate. A mate 
 
102 FOBWARD OR WARRAXT OFFICERS. 
 
 can perform all the dnfu's with caso ; but that 
 mate <liould be carefully rliusin, and well cared 
 for by the executive oflScor. But in iViiratcs, tliis 
 officer i.s as indisiH'nscjble as any other; ami if, 
 for want of his services, the liammocks and hags 
 of th<' inw are nt^lected or in Iwid condition, 
 the t'XfHMitive officfr is straiLciilway tlirown iii^o 
 trouble and ovenslielincd with eoni plaints, lift 
 it 1m' remembered that the liammocks and l)agH 
 of a ^hip*s crew are the only furniture, the only 
 direct jwrsonal (dije(t< of ecnnfort that pertain t(t 
 ea<di imlividiml. no matti-r how humble <ir lowly ! 
 If these Ik- netjle<-t<'d, discontent, disoheilience, 
 and tmhappiness are sure to follow. I am Huie f 
 need not airain n-mind my rea<li-rs that an un- 
 happy ship is sure to be an iiieflicjent whip. 
 People will not remain unhappy lon^^, nidess 
 then- is st>me good, Bubstaiitial reason therefor, 
 or unliss the community is irretrievably spoiled 
 and demoralized- 
 There is a class of warrant officeisLin the navy 
 denominated (('rpenters. Among other wrong 
 titles, or wrong names to things, this is also a 
 misnomer, and I hope may bo abolished without 
 delay. Things should be called by their right 
 names, especially in an exact service. 
 
 The duties of the "carpenter" of a ship-of- 
 war extend literally from kelson to truck. A 
 
FORWARD OR WARRANT OFFICERS. 103 
 
 BMp is like a house — ^it always requires to Tbe 
 kept in repair. It is the prime duty of this so- 
 called "carpenter" to maintain the hull and 
 spars of a ship, together with all her boats, in the 
 perfect condition in which she is supposed to 
 come from the hands of the constructor. This is 
 no easy. task. The wear and tear is immense, es- 
 pecially in times of war, or upon any hard and 
 severe service. Tf the running rigging is found to 
 lead wrong, the carpenter must alter shears and 
 angles. He must revise the work of the con- 
 structor. If the standing rigging chafes or works 
 badly, the carpenter is called upon to correct a 
 blunder of the constructor. If the various pumps 
 in the whole system of a ship do not work well, 
 again the carpenter is caUed upon. If a leak 
 springs unexpectedly from deck or hull, the car- 
 penter replaces the defect of the constructor. If 
 any accident happens — and they are always hap- 
 pening — again the carpenter is called to devise 
 remedies,- without means or material, except a 
 fertile brain and a. mechanical genius. Masts or 
 yards sprung ; boats out of order ; eye-bolts and 
 leaders not in proper place, the acute eye of the 
 carpenter must replace the oversight of the con- 
 structor by his own unaided faculties. I hazard 
 the broad assertion, that no simple carpenter — no 
 carpenter, in fact — can do aU this ; can give a 
 
104 rOKWARD OB WARRANT OFFICERS. 
 
 cheerful "Ay, ay, sir!" to smli demands as are 
 made npon him. He must be a nu>ilianii" of the 
 first water. lie is to revise the work, aud supply 
 deficiencies and errors of constructors, wlien the 
 ship gets to sea. I have knowni one of tliese 
 "carpenters" to shift wheel-ropes and steering- 
 gear all tlirongh, t>f a long double-ender, juid 
 work out a complete success in the problem of 
 steering so long and fost a shi]>, where tlie naval 
 constructor of the yard had totally faihd, and 
 the ship could not be steered within less than 
 sixte^'U jMiints ' If this fact rellecta upon the 
 ability of the naval constructor, it rellects cn^dit 
 upon the caqientor, who could do what the 
 constructor iailed to do. It niatt<'rs not whe- 
 ther the vessi'l bj- of wood or iron, or whetlier 
 site be of one rating or class oi- another, the luill, 
 the woodwork, the sjmrs and boats, and punijis 
 are alike under the charge of the carpenter. 
 
 I coiUd wish to see the title of this ilass of offi- 
 cers changed to that of assistants to naval am- 
 structoTs. It does not follow thereby that they 
 must become constructors, but it may follow that, 
 if the.officer has sufficient talent, he may become 
 assistant naval constructor. He Ls as much em- 
 ployed in construction as the man who builds the 
 ship. He has no rules or lines to guide him ; he 
 is an original worker ; and, besides understand- 
 
FORWAED OR WARRANT OFFICERS. 105 
 
 lug the structure and build of sMps and boats, 
 lie is, moreover, called upon to remedy tiie errors 
 of detail wMch. constructors may commit. If a 
 thorough mechanic is anywhere needed, it is in 
 the position of carpenter of a man-of-war. He is 
 the chief of all the mechanics in the ship, except 
 such as are in the engine department, and the 
 sail-maker. The armorer and his mate look to 
 ■him for orders and instructions. The calkers 
 are to be directed by him in the practice of calk- 
 ing. The carpenters and carpenter's mate are 
 specially his people. His examinations and re- 
 sponsibilities extend out-board and in-board — 
 from royalmast-head to keel. Painters and glaz- 
 iers are under his directions also. He is essen- 
 tially the master mechanic of the ship, and his 
 duties never cease. He is not a mere carpenter, 
 as we generally use the word. Neither is he a 
 ship-carpenter simply ; but every branch of me- 
 chanical art and skill is exercised by him. The 
 standard for admission of this class of officers 
 into the navy should be much higher than it is, 
 and the title by which he is known might be 
 changed with great advantage to the service as 
 well as the officer. 
 
 Every executive officer feels and comprehends 
 the great usefulness of these four classes of warrant 
 officers more than any one else. The routine of 
 5* 
 
106 FOBWABD OB WARRAUT OFFICERS. 
 
 a man-of-war proceeds so iiuietly, bo luiiscU'ssly, 
 so perfectly systematic, that few persons e:ui 
 fully appreciate the quiet rdle of duties assigueil 
 to warrant officers. Must persons are apt to think 
 tliey are quite an unnecessary exi)ense to ;i shij)- 
 of-war ; but the supervisor of this miniature 
 world, in tlie capueily of the exeiutive. feels and 
 e.vperieiK-es tin- full weight of their importance. 
 To do without them would be to reniovi' so many 
 Bpokes from a wIkvI, which wouUl soon fall to 
 ]»i<His, or relapse into a rickety, crazy niadiine, 
 liable to go t^) ]iii"Ce8 at any critical monn-nt. 
 Foster and cultivate the warrant officers (tf the 
 navy. We can <lo without many others rather 
 than them. A mistake, in (iun-s ])ast, was too 
 afl»'n luaih', in assimilatihf^ them with ])assed 
 midshi]inien, and midshipmen in niatt<'rs of lib- 
 erty and vi>iiin;j; tb«' shore, without once j iflccting 
 lliat they were' men of inatnn- at,^', and r(H[uire<i 
 not that '"parental care" which it was incumb- 
 ent for captains to proclaim to youngsters. But 
 such monstrous misconceptions of duty are fast 
 dissipating, even if we are admitting new ones, 
 nearly as pernicious. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 MIDSHIPMEN AND MASTERS' MATES. 
 
 It is now about fourteen years since we have 
 liad midshipmen, regularly established on duty, 
 ia our men-of-war. The system adopted, of send- 
 ing this class of officers directly to school, and, 
 indeed, of retaining them there duiing all their 
 novitiate, has deprived the navy of the services of 
 midshipmen. It has also deprived the midship- 
 men themselves of much valuable experience — of 
 much professional culture — which they, perhaps, 
 never attain. So soon as the midshipman gradu- 
 ates, he becomes an ensign, now a commissioned 
 officer. It is then too late for him to learn that es- 
 sential part of practical duty so necessary to him in 
 after life. Much discussion has taken place upon 
 this question ; but as the Government has decided 
 the matter, we must accept the fact as we find it. 
 The abuses and bad habits of an earlier day have 
 produced this result, no doubt, as much as any 
 thing else. Whether midshipmen would be ben- 
 efited by fiLrst serving a cruise of two years in 
 
108 laOSHIPSlEX AND 1L4STERS' UATES. 
 
 the eenrice, and xWn going to the school, I shall 
 not di.s<a<s. Whether their ]>i(S(iit iducation is 
 not more scfiola^tic. or whether, indeed, it be not 
 mor.- ptilundc than is goo<l for thmj, I will also 
 not discuss. The subject is a tlelirate t>ne, and 
 \\.- an- trvini: an exix'riment. AVest-Point is the 
 model on which our naval education is foiined. 
 I am mdineil. however, to the opinion, that naval 
 liff IB murh more of a pnietical thing tlmn army 
 lif>-. and that there is a strong" r call for judgment 
 — a judgment, t"", ai<l'd by stvrn cxpfiifnci'. It 
 is a mucli .-asit-r thing to I'^sc a ship than lo lose 
 an army. In tin- former case, it is not a (iinstioii 
 of rapture; it is a (pifstion of lift' or diatli. A 
 rush of wnt<'rs — a gurgluig at tlic liatclics and 
 ports — a few mumentd of settling — and all is over, 
 for ship and <nw. AVliilc tln' young ensign is 
 pondering in his mind the ]iarall<l()gram of forces, 
 tlii>'- fon-es taki- a sudden diagonal — and it is too 
 lat»'. The habit.s of the school-ship are the habits 
 of the academy, which is officered and manned 
 by tlie ahna mnttr ; the habits of the wrvice are 
 not scholastic — are not pedantic surely ; and the 
 school-ship and the man-of-war an; very far from 
 being the same thing, and they cannot be made 
 the same thing. 
 
 Wlien the midshipmen all disappeared from 
 our ships-of-war, it seemed as thongh the navy 
 
MIDSHIPMEN" AND MASTERS' MATES. 109 
 
 had changed its character! There was a vast 
 blank where before there was light; there was 
 a solitary steerage, where before it had been 
 full of noisy mirth, life, and sharp, cutting wit. 
 The forecastle was deserted of its young lord ; the 
 quarter-deck missed the "young gentleman" 
 more than I can tell. It seemed as though a 
 bright light had gone suddenly out, and the ship 
 became solitary afid lonely ! The performance 
 of duty became extremely awkward ; the routine 
 changed ; and, I am inclined to believe, the whole 
 service felt chilled by it. About this same time, 
 the order was promulgated to abolish flogging — 
 a noble order, not only a step forward, but a 
 whole seven-league stride at once ; but there came 
 no order for a substitute for flogging, and for a 
 year or two our ships were sailed over the world, 
 without midshipmen and without discipline, with- 
 out the power to punish mutiny, to suppress in- 
 subordination — ^in fact, to carry out the law. It 
 was a strange period — a transition period from 
 something, to something better, no doubt, but 
 which tried the abilities and courage of the offi- 
 cers of the navy to the last degree, j, But I leave 
 this subject as matter for the historian to chron- 
 icle. 
 
 The midshipman's berth had to be filled. The 
 department renewed the appointment of an old 
 
110 illDSHIPUKX AXD MASTERS' MATES. 
 
 class of (.fficer<. which had not existed for years. 
 M'lst-T^ mates were appointed. Thov were 
 phiced on the forec«:jtk', and on the qiiaiter-di-ck, 
 and at dirisional quarters. I neetl not add in 
 wliat manner those of that d.iy liU<il the bri^jjlit 
 pliio's of tln'ir predecessors. This iJi-uticc still 
 obtains, and, with all its incoui^iuitics, it would 
 be difficult to adopt a better plan, or fill avoid 
 of smh iiiaiTiiitudf otiii'rt\isi'. 
 
 M.istera' mut<«, then, an" to take the ])ositiou 
 aii'l assume the duties of midshipmen. Until the 
 advent of the pn-st-nt war, tlieir po8iti(ni was 
 extn-mely anomalous. A]ti)oiiite(l from wliulever 
 f-ourcesi'iiK d b'st, these officers liail no advances 
 ment to hope for — no ])roino(ion to ex])i'et,. See- 
 ing every other jMixm in tlie semce on the way 
 or ill the way to advancement, no matter how low 
 or how high they might be, tJiej/ alone stood like 
 stocks and stones, without progress and without 
 future, their hopes killed, their zeal dying out ; 
 they had neither the animation to be U8<iful nor 
 the sjiirit to be efficient. They were, indeed, as 
 stocks and stones. Without much or any educa- 
 tion, destitute of culture, and often of refinement, 
 they possessed all tlie keenness of injured sensi- 
 bilities and humiliation. The crew never respected 
 them : they would not obey them, even when they 
 gave proper orders ; and from their i)eculiar po- 
 
MIDSHIPMElSr AND masters' . MATES. Ill 
 
 sition as pivoting between officer and man, they 
 were ever producing iasubordination, by the fact 
 of insisting upon tlie execution of improper au- 
 thority and command. Half, or more, of the in- 
 subordination, and consequent punishment, of 
 our crews was traced to this very cause. The col- 
 lisions between them and the petty officers were 
 constant and unceasing. The men would not 
 and did not regard them as officers, and were 
 reported constantly for disrespect or disobedi- 
 ence, which would never, or rarely, occur to other 
 officers or to midshipmen, who are readily edu- 
 cated to the habits of subordinate command. 
 The report-hooks of ships, at that period, show 
 that three fourths of the complaints and punish- 
 ments arose from the masters' mates. I have 
 heard men say, repeatedly, when brought up to 
 the mast, and angered by being reported for some 
 trifling offence, that " these men an^t officers any 
 Jiow''^ — "they don't know how to treat men." 
 And no amount of punishment could overcome 
 the difficulty. 
 
 The advent of the war brought some relief to 
 the difficulty. Masters' mates of a better quality 
 were appointed — some by the department, and 
 large numbers by the commanders-in-chief of 
 squadrons. The prospect of promotion to the 
 rank of ensign and to that of master was a pow- 
 
112 MH^HIPMEN AND MASTERS' MATES. 
 
 erful etimuLoBt, ami the irradf iH'gan io assume 
 the character and attitiulo of a permanent thing, 
 recognized by officers and men. -V better ile- 
 monstration of the effect of no pn>nu>tion in tlie 
 grades of officers could not be wished for. You 
 may have " stocks and stones," but not keen, 
 live ni>n. 
 
 I have often been asked by masters' mattH 
 tliemselvis. who n»ally wen' anxious to ac(iuit 
 thcm.Helves well and ilutifully : " AVhat are tii(> 
 dutii»8 of a master 8 m.ilr '.'' If it were j)ossibl<' 
 to sura up a disjointed and fratrinentary statement 
 of tliosedutii-s, it might bfcompn'in'ndcd in tins: 
 Yon an' an assistant to the officer of tlie dedt on 
 watch ; von ar«- an assistant to tin' divisional ofli- 
 c»'r at your division of guns. The mids!ii])man'8 
 quf-rv was juTliajis more comjiri'licnsivcly an- 
 swen-d : " You were to do wliatevi-r you were 
 ordt'D-d ; you an* nnd'r thi- paternal care of the 
 captain."' Tliis may not have been so satisfac- 
 tory ; it certainly was vast enough. As an assist- 
 ant to tlie officer of tlie deck, there is certainly 
 duty enough to perform. To walk up and down 
 the deck for four hours ; to lounge away th(; time 
 on hammock-boxes or rails ; to quietly look on 
 and see the officer of the deck manning boats, at- 
 tending to the detail of deck duties ; to wait for 
 special orders from him for every thing required 
 
MIDSHIPMEN AM) MASTERS' MATES. 113 
 
 to be done — ^these are not the duties of a master's 
 mate. The officer of tlie deck who may Tbe so fortu- 
 nate as to have a master' s mate in his watch, de- 
 serves a reprimand if he allows himself to attend 
 to every detail of duty, beyond a sharp eye to see 
 that the proper persons are executing his orders. 
 There seems to be an utter want of comprehen- 
 sion, by officers of all grades, as to the assign- 
 ment of duties to masters' mates. Yet nothing is 
 simpler. Once the general nature of his position 
 known and understood, the master's mate who 
 waits to be called on for help, when duty is being 
 performed, may be given up in despair. The 
 sooner he goes forward, the better. He is the 
 mustering officer of the watch and division. He 
 sees the look-outs posted, and alert. He super- 
 intends all the detail duty of the deck. He is the 
 official medium of communication from the quar- 
 ter-deck to all the officers of the ship. An official 
 message to an officer of whatever rank, should 
 always be carried by an officer, and never by the 
 messenger-boy. Official communications to petty 
 officers and men should be carried by the mes- 
 senger. If boats are called away, it is the duty 
 of the master's mate to see them properly man- 
 ned, properly provided, and then report them such 
 to the officer of the deck. If sails are to be taken 
 in or set, he should attend to it himself, and see 
 
114 lODSHIPlfEN AMI masters' MATES. 
 
 that the roj^K-s an? properly led out aiul luaniitHl. 
 In the {livi?ion, his position is indicatinl in a sim- 
 ilar manner. He is the mustering ollicer, and 
 should use his .vos, at inspection, to assist the 
 divisional officer. He sliouid be pennitt<»d to 
 drill the division, so soon as he is eajiahle of it, 
 hut n<-ver b«-fi)re he is as well .icciuainted witli 
 t!i'- <x«'rcis4 s as the in«'n whom hi> Htteni]>ts to 
 t' aeh, oth<-r\vis4' it would 1>e worse than "blind 
 leading; the blind" — it would be insult aihled to 
 wrong. 
 
 Much. \'vry much, must ch'jx-nd u])on tlie indi- 
 vidual ability and exi-rtioii of the oflicer himself, 
 if Ik- <l<'sin*s to succeed. The uuiioiiii alom- will 
 never make an offiwr, liowi-ver iiiucli Ik* may 
 fancy it wmiM be aicreeable. If one man is to 
 command vtliers, he mu^t be »uj)erior to tliem in 
 niu>t things at l<:ist. Tlie master's mat<; is even 
 yet in that llii.itiiiLr, uncertain condition between 
 tlie officer and the man, which occasions embar- 
 rassment. It is one of the difficulties he first and 
 last encounters. With a very small salary in- 
 deed, he is inclined to lavisli it too extravagantly 
 on those necessitit^ of api)earance which are ab- 
 solute in an officer. But it was never contem- 
 plated that this class of officers sliould attc-nipt to 
 maintain a mess, other than that within the reach 
 of the navy rations. Any attempt to do more 
 
MIDSHIPMEN AND MASTERS' MATES. 115 
 
 than tMs is foUy, and will result, in most cases, 
 in disgrace or crime. 
 
 It seems to me, tliat no more indications need 
 be given to this class of officers, as regards du- 
 ties, and position, and station. live withm the 
 means of your pay and devote yourself to duty, 
 and in so doing you gradually acquire the know- 
 ledge of the profession you have chosen, and per- 
 haps "become a close critic of your superior, whom 
 you are mated with to assist. Your official po- 
 sition will never be measured by the extrava- 
 gance or elegance of your mess, but by the effijrt 
 to maintain the sbli4. dignity of the grade and' 
 rank which the Government has bestowed. 
 
 Much may be said of the distribution of officers, 
 to render a ship-of-war efficient. ^ My own observ- 
 ations lead me to feel that a good corps of junior 
 and subordinate officers, of different rank, is in 
 the highest degree necessary to the complete or- 
 ganization and discipline of a man-of-war. The 
 want of midshipmen ia the service is severely felt 
 in the matter of discipline, as weU as ia a great 
 number of cases of duty to be performed. These 
 subordinate classes of officers mingle more di- 
 ^rectly with petty officers and old seamen, and 
 come in direct contact with the crew of a ship-of- 
 war ; and while thus the influence of their edu- 
 cation and esprit du corps is communicated 
 
116 IflBSntPMEX ASD VASTKUS' MATES. 
 
 throughout, they benefit its moral tone and dis- 
 cipliu.'. in an infinite manner. These officers 
 shonld nut, therefore, be renownetl and famous 
 for ignorance or immoral character. The influ- 
 ence for good or evil of subordinate oflitcrs is far 
 pnaiter tlian is generally supjioscd. They should 
 !>•' encouraged where i iicoTnajj;i'nu'nt \\ ill ]>iolit; 
 tht-y should be protected where prDtcction is 
 nt-tnl' d ; and whilf a ]inidcnt and careful indul- 
 irfiice can 1x' Iwstowed, it kIiouIiI bi> tciiipcr^'d 
 with till- just rigor of naval discijjline. As they 
 an' always in such relations witJi tlic jx-oplc of 
 till- ship, the tone and diann I'T of (lie oflicers 
 are ]>assfHl t<> the in<Ti. and it follows naturally 
 tliat a proper and judicious fjovcmment should 
 bf i-\-<rcised on-r these odicers. Thiir is noth- 
 ing so fatal, -wj com])l<tely dtmoraiizinti; to the 
 discipline and •frKiiiiiy of the crew of a ship, 
 as till' bad government and dis^^ast of (he inferi- 
 or oflictTs of that sliip. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 PETTY OFFICEBS. 
 
 As I approacli this part of my subject, so fruit- 
 ful in discussion, I feel aware that I am getting 
 into deep water ; but deep water is the general 
 indication of " sea-room." I am aware, too, that 
 I am verging gradually nearer to the sensibilities 
 of a certain class of persons, which perhaps I 
 may touch not too lightly. But here is a large 
 and important class of officers, who had been too 
 long ignored, and who perhaps are the most 
 overlooked — ^perhaps neglected — of any in or out 
 of the naval circle. Observe their history, ob- 
 serve their stations, their duties, and, I may add, 
 responsibilities too. Are they not responsiltle, 
 indeed, to every body ? Are they not looked to 
 for all drudgery, all the dreary detail, all the 
 calls for posts of danger? If an extraordinary 
 effort is to be made, if somethingjmusual is to be 
 done, if a severe task is to be performed, are they 
 not the first ones called upon ? Do we not re- 
 quire them to spur the flagging strength and en- 
 
118 PETTT OFHCERS. 
 
 ergy of those under their onlers ! Do wi> not 
 require them to Sft not only an »>xaini>lc of clirci- 
 ful obedience, but of t-Uni and hanl tiKlurancc? 
 A'ship's vitality is in her petty offlci'is ; and as I 
 approach this subjcit, I feel somcwliat as tlHuii^li 
 I was about to take up the gauntlet in (IiTcnco 
 of a class of men honored by our history, hon- 
 oreil by tradition, honored by bravery, yet iie- 
 gle<-ted and overlooked to a sad def^ree. In tlie 
 French iia\^- nearly all appointments of jjetty 
 officers are Imis' il iii>ou tlieir merits as gunners. I 
 think this system is extreme. There are other 
 qualiJicatioiis. .ilso, than a knowledge of gunrn'ry 
 n-ciuired in a shiji. 
 
 The jx'tiy officers of a sliip an- all made by rat- 
 iiii:s upon the ordi-r of tli<* captain. Tlie author- 
 ity conijietent to ereat<" the rating is also conijie- 
 teiit to unmake it. This authority is never abused. 
 Tlie capi;iiii is tofi well aware of tin; imi)ortanc(! 
 of his ratines to almse the power. 
 
 TJhe S'lections are generally made by the exec- 
 utive officer, who seeks the past history of the 
 men. the previous servire and ratings tliey liave 
 held, and their character in every respect, when 
 the apjKtintments are made probationary for a 
 few weeks or months, to verify his judgment us 
 to capacity. If found capable, they are confirm- 
 ed. They form a large class of th'- ship's crew. 
 
PETTY OFFICERS. 119 
 
 The ratings carry with them a slight iacrease of 
 pay, a great increase of responsibility and au- 
 thority — the latter of which is very Ul defined — 
 and iacrease of rank, which is equally ^ague. 
 ,' When we reflect that these petty ofiicers live, 
 mess, and fare in precisely the same way and 
 under the same conditions as the rest of the crew, 
 and that their associations are iatimate, and 
 blended all into one whole, it is matter of sur- 
 prise that they retain the power of command- 
 ing obedience and respect at aU. It cannot be 
 done, indeed, when there is not merit. The sole 
 power of this class of officers rests purely upon 
 the superiority of merit, unaided, except rarely, 
 by the usual attendants of rank. When these 
 facts are considered carefully, a proposition laid 
 down in an earlier page becomes apparent. Obe- 
 dience should become the more imperative pre- 
 cisely as we descend the scale of rank. Disobe- 
 dience, or abuse, or insubordination to a petty 
 officer is infinitely more aggravating than when 
 committed against any one else. If the petty of- 
 ficer is not supported in his authority, he has no 
 business to occupy the positjLon. 
 
 The principal solution to the question of disci- 
 pline appears to lie here. What is discipline? 
 It is the right government of men, and an efficient 
 system of order. An unhappy ship can never 
 
120 PETTY OFFICERS. 
 
 be in good discipline. Mi-re arbitmry cogicion 
 to obedience is not ilisiijiline. Have jx-tfy of 
 ficers rijrhts I I am aware that tliat wmd has a 
 fearful soond, and a portenUms tiiguiticaiuc to a 
 good many oflScers. But the age has ih-rlared 
 that all mi'ii have rights, ami the fact may ;is well 
 1h- nduiitted g^nicefully. The rijjclits of nnii of- 
 war's nu-n nre imt luau}-, but tlu-y are ilrar and 
 sicrcil. Wi' may ignore and d'sjiise tlifin, but 
 the fruit.-* will W bittor disajipointnii'nts, and the 
 indifference will be visited with nlribution, soun- 
 < r or later. V<iy fi'w young ofBciTs, and not 
 many older on- s. 1 fiar, brar in mind that tlu> 
 .'i«'n.sibilitii'S of brave, but humble, men, are 
 >ir<inp and lioly. A reckless violation of them, 
 no matter on how small occasions, will jiinve dis- 
 a-in>iis to the I !li( i. iiey and discipline of a sliip- 
 of war. 
 
 It should be the first can- of a commander and 
 his exifutive officer to cultivate a sense of self- 
 n'S]T»'ct among the petty officers. Officers of the 
 deck, who have not long held that position, never 
 think how humiliating it is to jrive improper or- 
 ders to their inferiors, or to require without cause 
 that one ]>-tty officer should perform the duties 
 of another. There is nothing a boatswain's mate 
 dreads so much as to be ordered to have his own 
 station to i)efform the duty of another. There is 
 
PETTY OFFICERS. 121 
 
 notfiing so mortifies one petty officer as to require 
 Mm to do a duty that does not "belong to him, if 
 unnecessary to require it. The allotment of a 
 station to him is as sacred and dear as that as- 
 signed to a commander. To humiliate him before 
 the crew is the gravest wrong. If he does wrong, 
 he will suhmit to punishment as another. But 
 an act of injustice ruins his usefulness for ever. 
 The act of carrying on duty with these men is an 
 extremely delicate one. It is that I would im- 
 press upon all young officers. An indulgence in 
 money, or in ^^ liberty " a confidence and trust to 
 responsibility, are little rights which no one will 
 more fuUy appreciate than the old petty officer. 
 If he has a complaint, listen to it patiently. If 
 he has a grievance, redress it. If he has been 
 wronged, right the wrong as publicly as it was 
 given,. Impress Mm with a deep sense that he is 
 of importance ia the sMp, and that her honor is 
 as much to him as it is to yourself. 
 
 Moreover, the petty officers are the only me- 
 dium through wMch the crew can reach the ex- 
 ecutive, or commander. Such applications for 
 personal intercourse should never be demed, or 
 granted grudgingly. There is a point, too, at 
 which such liberties should find a limit. I have 
 seen a sMp's company so spoUed, with frequent 
 and idle appeals to the captain, that they were 
 6 
 
122 PETTY OFFICERS. 
 
 on the Tei;ge of mutiny. It sivms that a very 
 simple judgment can discriminato when an abuse 
 is made of a privilege. Whenever it is jtossible 
 to show a deference to or compliment a good act, 
 or a marked deportnu'iit of good behavior, it 
 should never be omitted. Tlu-si- an> soino of tho 
 rights to which men of this class iling witli real 
 tenacity, and which aro tacitly theire. 
 
 Then- is nothing so much conduces to tlie effi- 
 ciency of a shi]". as a .studious care to grant cheer- 
 fully the favors and jirotection of the littl(3 com- 
 f'Mta of our jx'tty ((fflccrs, together with good 
 humor and amiability. Choerfolness is worth 
 more t<j a ship tlian good rations. Men will go 
 hniii^ry, so that they may live cheerfully and in 
 good humor. A iK>r])etual fault-finding execu- 
 tive, or offici-r of the di-ck, is a curse to a sliii)-of- 
 war. 
 
 It s«''-ius to I"-' a misfortune that a greater dis- 
 tinction is not made in the uniform of the petty 
 officers. Something is certainly needed, to draw 
 the lines of distinction clearer than they are. A 
 badge upon the sleeve, simpler than the one now 
 , prescribed, might be suggested ; or the shirt might 
 perhaps be more prominently marked. Under the 
 present pressure for time, occasioned by drill and 
 exercise, there is not opportunity to work those 
 tedious sUk eagles, which are now rarely worn. 
 
PETTY OFFICERS. 123 
 
 It has "been suggested more than once that the 
 chief boatswain's mate, the chief gunner's mate, 
 and chief quartermaster's, should "be required to 
 wear their jackets all the time. There is no rea- 
 son why it should not he done, save the peculiar 
 prejudice of sailors to it. Why that prejudice 
 exists I am at a loss to know, hut it does exist to 
 an extraordinary degree. An effort on the part 
 of commanding officers might overcome it. A 
 fashion too much prevails for a certain class of 
 petty officers to wear flannel sack-coats. Nothing 
 is more slovenly, nothing more out of taste, and 
 nothing more calculated to hring disrepute upon 
 the time-honored jacket. A greater attention to 
 this matter of dress is surely required throughout 
 the whole navy. The present cap is an outrage 
 upon the face, the neck, and the whole person of 
 a man. It is not a lawful uniform ; it is not ap- 
 propriate, and it is not ornamental. 
 
 It is probable that this matter of uniform for 
 the crews of our ships has been unavoidably ne- 
 glected, or overlooked. There are grave reasons 
 why the whole subject should be looked to, and 
 perhaps a great change made. If our medical 
 officers would take time to look into it, they 
 might find many useful and healthful observa- 
 tions to make on the manner of dressing our sea- 
 men in the navy. Each rating should be distin.- 
 
124 PETTY orncKES. 
 
 gaished clearly in the dress ; and tlu' petty of- 
 ticers have as L'rtat, or greater, m-ixi of being dia- 
 Ungoished from their subordinates, as others of 
 a higher rank. The whole class of petty officers 
 should be elevated. iLshould be a rank Id be 
 «igerly suurjlit for, on account of its lionors, ita 
 emolmneuts, and distinction. That distinction 
 could nowlu-n- better begin than by jjjiving them 
 a uniform belter adapt4'il to llieir positions. 
 
 We should regard the petty officers as the main 
 bulwark of a ship. They are the chosen men of 
 all tlie crew for ex]Hrienci', length of service, de- 
 votion to their profession, and genial, manly, 
 and intelligent qualities. They are all flicked 
 men. They are the leaders, when leaders are 
 wanted. They ai-e tlie tutors and teacliers of the 
 n'st of the crew. They give tf)ne and <haracter 
 to the sliip ; and, abovi- all, we relyu])on theni 
 to inculcate disci])lin<', and then to support it. It 
 is our duty to sustain them with f,'reat care in thi; 
 exercise of their authority, and (d)servc tliat they 
 be not treated with disrespect, either by thos*? 
 above or below them. Intercourse with them 
 should and can be always friendly and jileasant, 
 and very often, indeed, confidential. I never knew 
 an instance where responsibility was reposed in 
 them that it ever was abused. K a petty officer 
 is frequently found wanting, it is no use to find 
 
PETTY OFFICEES. •125 
 
 fault ; it is better to break Tn'Tn at once and 
 promptly. We should instruct young and iaex- 
 perienced officers especially, to use the greatest 
 circumspection in their official or personal inter- 
 course with them. There is nothing more diffi- 
 cult for young officers to learn, than the proper 
 discrimination of conduct to be held toward their 
 subordinates. One of the most fruitful sources 
 of discontent, and consequent inefficiency of a 
 crew, arises from this one fact. If the petty of- 
 ficers are once disgusted, jaded, discontented, and 
 indifferent to the position they hold, it will be a 
 hard task indeed to make much of the ship. 
 
 I do not wish to be understood that this class 
 of officers should never be punished, or corrected, 
 for wrongs. I do not mean to say, they cannot, 
 and do not, commit wrongs, or deserve rebuke, as 
 well as others. The same inflexible justice should 
 obtain here as elsewhere. Nay — the second, 
 certainly the third grave offence should be con- 
 fronted with the last penalty of the law. But 
 these men are human — and they are tried more in 
 their patience than any class of men in the navy 
 — and great allowances should always be made. 
 An officer will never go far wrong, who forgives 
 the wrong, when penitence is the pleader. Men 
 of iron endurance, and noble, modest worth, as a 
 class ! An infinite world of virtues and heroism 
 
126 I'lTrr orncsn^. 
 
 exists in their untold liistorios. Incomplaininp 
 and silent as they iirt- devoted and faithful, there 
 is not an old oflicer of the navy who does not fre- 
 quently look back upon Ins naval life, and liud 
 many of its hard and dreary jiassages brightened 
 and ennobled liy the memory of sonic one of 
 these men, wlio^e career in the service 1ms been 
 in parallel liiu-s to his own, and who can rcccnint 
 a thousand di'<'<ls, or a multitude of acts, lliat 
 would shid lustre upon a higher nami- 1 The 
 livis of thesi' have i)a,ssed into tradition — that 
 Jii^torj- of all otliiis tlif truest, the dearest, and 
 the most honorable. This class of men stands in 
 uo nee<l of l)4Mn!; ]Mttrd or humored. They are 
 too liardy a race for that ; they only ri(iuire fair 
 j>lay, and an hone-t chance in tlie common Htrug- 
 fih- for the riL'lits inherent to tli<ir manhood. 
 
CHAPTEE XI. 
 
 THE SAILOE. 
 
 I HAVE already stated that there are four grades 
 or classes, composmg the comlbatant portion of a 
 ship's crew, after the class of petty officers. 
 These many gradations of ratings, which consti- 
 tute grades in the scale of personnel, are eminently 
 wise, in the organization of a crew. There is al- 
 ways a hope for the aspirant to a Ibetter position. 
 There is always food for amlbition. There are al- 
 ways checks, and fears of falling into something 
 lower. They infuse a living vitality into the 
 whole body politic. I do not see why the Anchor 
 should symlbolize Hope. Hope is a close Mndred 
 to AmHtion, and its symbol is the Eagle ! 
 
 After selecting the petty officers, there remain 
 several seamen among the crew. These are gen- 
 erally composed of young men, who have seen 
 service, and profited by their service, and who 
 possess the ambition to learn, to lead, and to ad- 
 vance. They are smart, active men, for the most 
 part. Then there are others — older men — ^who 
 
128 THB SAILOR. 
 
 have seen long eeirice everywhere, both in and 
 oat of the navy. These men ai-o i)erhap9 indif- 
 ferent to the allurements of active leadfisliip. ami 
 are something of 8k>\v, steady pU>dcli'rs in tlieir 
 waj-. They are inraluahle in their plan*. The 
 seamen are distributed equally tliroiiLilKnit all 
 parts of the ship, and at eacli gun. They repre- 
 sent some special part of the ship, and beeouie, 
 in8«n>iMy, teachers to the younp'r men. It is 
 important to have a thorough kn<iwle(lfj;e of tlieir 
 natures, and. so to speak, of their official rein 
 tions to otlnrs. These men ani always no station- 
 ed in th'' ItiUs that at "all hands'' thej' take \\w 
 imjwrtant ]iositions. Tliey are the hwidsinen, on 
 whose report th>' Baf<ty of the ship often hangs. 
 They are th.- st.M-rsinen, on whos*? steady but 
 quirk ive the ex.cutive officer greatly dej^ends. 
 He is tlie leading man at every important post. 
 
 He is alr»'a<ly so well drilled by ])ast experience 
 that he readily acquirt-s the facility of acting, 
 when he is placed at something new. It is easy 
 to teach him, for he teaches himself. 
 
 The officer of the deck, and the executive offi- 
 cer, soon learn to distinguish this class of men 
 from others, and they are not slow to call upon 
 them, "\^^leneve^ it is possible, a good young 
 seaman should be marked for advancement to a 
 petty officer. They should always feel that pro- 
 
THE SAILOE. 129 
 
 motion is "before them, and the first happy oppor- 
 tunity will "bring it. I think executive officers 
 and others do not sufficiently estimate this power 
 of promotion, which authority confers upon 
 them. It does not seem to he sufficiently availed 
 of, for ohjects of disciphne and efficiency. There 
 is not a more powerful agent in the hands of an 
 executive, for good to Ms ship, than this of pro- 
 moting men from one rating to another. It is 
 true, the men must be so cultivated as to appreci- 
 ate it. Promotion should not "be considered a 
 stepping-stone to drudgery and fault-finding. 
 Vacancies for these pro5Jotions generally occur 
 much faster than men can "be found to fill them. 
 But this too is sometimes the fault of officers, as 
 well as of other circumstances. A good seaman 
 should he a marked man, and he will soon grow 
 into rapid favor. I have seen some ships where 
 capahle men could not "be induced to accept the 
 petty officer's l&erth ; so low was the self-respect, 
 and so wanting in professional pride were the sea- 
 men ! But those days are happily passed, and a 
 class of men are growing into service who are 
 only too eager for such gifts. There were two 
 reasons for such a state of things : one of which 
 was, that petty officers as a class were not prop- 
 erly appreciated ; and another was, the low order 
 
 of men in the service. 
 6* 
 
ISO THB SAILOR. 
 
 Ordinaiy seamen ar.' rated a grade lower in 
 pay and position. These men are almost all, 
 without exception, ambitious of bcoomini^ sea- 
 men. There are great fears of their beini^ ad- 
 vanced fast«.'r than tluy di'SiTve. Like tlic sea- 
 men, tiny are distributed oqnally throughout nil 
 parts of til.' shiji, and at the guns. This careful 
 and arcurate blendiii!; of classis or men togctlnr 
 on duty. iK^ins to show how perfect the system 
 of our organization is to the young officfr. 
 AMiile 1j.' has the example of superior ])ay. and 
 authority, and tru-t, above him. among the sea- 
 men, he has also a large class of nieii who are 
 again subordinate to him. ile lives and moves 
 in the very midst (tf aitivity and stimulants to 
 do well. There can be in > dead wood, no drift- 
 wiKxl tloating upon a diatl sea here Every ]ios- 
 sible ini-entive to do well is around and before 
 the onliiiary s<aman, as to others. He will rare- 
 ly linger in this rating longer than one, or at most 
 two craises. Seamen are, after all, educated 
 pr>tty last But it requires the unwearied atten- 
 tion of the executivi- officer, aided by the watch 
 officers, to keep pace with his duties and his ob- 
 ligations. These men should be constantly put 
 forward to the higher duties. Whenever it is 
 possible, they should be sent to the lead: No 
 executive officer can afford to lose opportunities 
 
THE SAILOR. 131 
 
 of caUitig out the abilities of Ms men. He and all 
 of ns must remember, that we are making sea- 
 men, as well as sailing and fighting our ships. 
 Use the greatest discretion and judgment in se- 
 lecting seamen from this class. Next to ability, 
 and general aptness for duties, let good char- 
 acter be the essential claim for the promotion.' 
 Indeed, this quality should be the^r*^ consider- 
 ered, for let a man be ever so smart, ever so good 
 a seaman, if he does not possess a character that 
 will bear trust, he should never be considered as 
 an applicant. An ordinary seaman of notorious- 
 ly bad habits should never be advanced to the 
 rate of seaman. He may as well be given over 
 at once, for sooner or later he will be broken, and 
 his fallen condition will render his estate worse 
 than it was before. 
 
 It is while in this rating that men become good 
 boatmen. Nearly all the boat's crews of a ship 
 are taken from the ordinary seamen. A more 
 important branch of duty than boat-duty can 
 hardly be sj)ecified. Broken oars, lost row-locks, 
 a plank stove in, or a gunwale smashed, are the 
 torments of an executive officer. 
 
 The landsmen constitute one half of a ship's 
 company. The proportion is large — too large 
 indeed for a ship that is expected to be ready 
 for action soon after she is in commission. The 
 
132 TB£ SAILOR. 
 
 large number of landsmen ■which constitiittnl the 
 crew of the lamented Lawrence, was the cause of 
 his unlia]iiiy but gallant di-atli. and the surren- 
 der of his ship. Yet we may not too readily n»- 
 gret it, for he has left us a heritam' in his dyiuj? 
 words that will !«• as imperishahh- as his fume. 
 
 A careful distribution of this class of iiu'ii 
 throughout till' shiji, alwaj's mixed ami associ- 
 ated with due proportions of numbers of tlio su- 
 ])eri<>r rating's, oliviates mucli (if tlic difficully 
 which other^vise would bf insnnnountable. With 
 acart'ful ninl judicious amount of drill, tradiing, 
 pimishmenta, and rewards, i li.sc men soon become 
 useful, rathi-r than obstructions to the progress 
 of duty. When ever}' body abf)V(^ and around 
 them an* activily •nLrai^'cd in professional but 
 stnintre duties to them, they soon catch the spirit 
 of emulation, .-nul make efforts to learn. Btit, 
 after all, much depends upon the character of Hie 
 men theni.<elves, and from what previous occiiji.i- 
 tions they hare sprung. The common shore- 
 laborer rarely emerges from the rails of the quar- 
 ter-deck, or from the dignity of an afterguards- 
 man. The farmer or the mechanic will. The fish- 
 erman and the whaler are the best materials out 
 of which to make a ship's crew. The daily 
 drudgery of ship's duties, the sweepers, the swab- 
 ers, the scrubbers, and cleaners, cannot strap 
 
THE SAILOE. 133 
 
 Iblocks, or pass seizings, or reeve running gear. 
 Their lot of lalbor falls to the capacity suited 
 to it. 
 
 Enlisted boys, not apprentices, are assigned to 
 the complement of vessels, for the purposes of 
 messengers and powder-l)oys. There are rarely 
 over half a dozen detained for each ship. These 
 boys are under the special care of the executive 
 officer, who again assigns them to the peculiar 
 guardianship of a master-at-arms. Small and 
 unintrusive as this class is to the people of ,a man- 
 of-war, they fulfil an important function in the 
 vast detail of the organization. In large ships, 
 especially in our long-floored steamers, the officer 
 of the deck, or executive officer, has constant 
 need of sending official messages from one end 
 to the other, and to different parts of the ship. 
 But it is not intended that official messages should 
 ever be carried to an officer by them, so long as 
 there is a master's mate on board ; nor is it the 
 duty of a master's mate to convert the official 
 messenger of the quarter-deck into errand-runner 
 for himself. This practice is a common abuse, 
 and no officer of the deck, or executive officer, 
 should go long without a stern rebuke, who per- 
 mits it. Ship's boys should never be converted 
 into attendants or servants, and the fact was so 
 important, that the Department wisely issued an 
 
134 THE SAILOR. 
 
 order prohibiting the practice. These boys should 
 be practised at every exercise the ship affords. 
 Thi-y are of an age to learn rapidly, and, if thoir 
 ambiti.-u be not early quenched, they will soon 
 become as useful as seamen. 
 
 Theri' is no titlf perhaps so monstrously abused 
 in popuUir lan^aiago and notions as tliat of sailor. 
 To fro on bcanl of a ship, and assist at niakiiit;; a 
 passa^TP arross the oct-an, and then to niiloail lior 
 and com*' back atrain, is vny far from making a 
 sailor nf a mdn. lie is more of a travelling stc- 
 ved'Ti- than a siiilor. 
 
 To sign the Ix'oks of a passenpor steamer, and 
 make a voyatT'" in hiT from port to ]iort, where 
 the highest duties are to wash off tlie lillii of emi- 
 grant pass<'np;en<, (Im.s not make a sailor eitlier. 
 
 <i<>ing out on the hanks of Newfoundland in a 
 schooner, to droji anchor and fish for cod, is not 
 makinir a man a sailor. He ia about as far from 
 being a sailor as the rod are from being meat. 
 ()ysterin£r and clamming are very useful voca- 
 tions, but one may pursue them many years with 
 credit, and yet never become a sailor 1 very far 
 from it I 
 
 A man may track a tow-path of a canal all his 
 life, and even then not become a sailor. Even a 
 three or four years' cruise round the world, in a 
 whaler, does not make a sailor. It makes a very 
 
THE SAILOE. 135 
 
 hardy, courageous fellow, but he is fer from 
 Ibeing a sailor still. 
 
 SteamTaoat-men, on tugs, steamboats, or our 
 Sound steamers, are not sailors, though they some- 
 times assume the title for its honor, and claim 
 a usurped privilege, which is a theft. Men may 
 live on the water, or near the water, or travel 
 over it in long voyages or on pleasant excur- 
 sions, and yet be no nearer the mark of a sailor 
 than any other traveller or lounger. 
 
 In earlier days, when ships carried heavy 
 crews, and mounted cannon, and carried arms 
 and powder, with the prospect of using them — 
 and when, indeed, they did use them — they car- 
 ried all the attendants for such purposes, and a 
 corps of officers — surgeons, chief mates, and su- 
 percargoes and pursers. Then they became sail- 
 ors, such as the best ships and nations boasted 
 of. A kind of military system and organization 
 and discipline obtained, and there was some ap- 
 proach to the modern idea of what a sailor is. 
 Perhaps my idea of a saUor is a large one ; if so, 
 I am not ashamed of it. The character of their 
 duties and education, the life they lead, the dis- 
 cipline and responsibilities under which they are 
 reared, make them a far superior class of men 
 to others of their grade in society. Their lives 
 are a perpetual combat with danger in every 
 
136 THS SAILOR. 
 
 form : danger from accidents, if tlu v go aloft or 
 if th'V go below ; danger from shipwreck ftxim 
 storm, from a feulty ship ; daiiixiT from air, lire, 
 and water ; danger from disfasi- ; danger from 
 battle ; danger from boat^servici" — a service 
 full of j)eril always ; danger ftx>m eollisiou ; 
 and tlanger ererj-Avhero. From tln« hour he 
 puts his foot on deek, that horn* begins a 
 cont'.st with difficulty. How many years i)f 
 such life can a man lead, and not have )iis 
 wits sliarpenetl or his intellect brightened ? 
 The naturi> of his duti.s are ever drawinu; upon 
 his mind for original thouglit, and a mw Judg- 
 iii<nt from the day before. Ilia very t'diication is 
 to attain a fruitful source of intelligent rcnicdii^s 
 for what<v.r un<'xi>«Ht<(l thing may happen. 
 The muid must becoiin- fruitful of resources in- 
 deed, when lift- or limb arc alwri} sat stake. The 
 discipline of his lift* makes him subordinate and 
 rsjx'ctfui. and gives him a reverence for law, and 
 for whatever is superior to himr- Reverence, alas ! 
 It is a word quite going out of use, as its idea 
 has long since among men. Discipline, too, 
 makes him polite. There is a polish in the man- 
 ners of a good sailor that would grace many 
 other classes of men. I never knew a lady who 
 did not respect — ^almost admire — ^the sailor. She 
 feels instinctively that he is a protector and a 
 
THE SAILOE. 187 
 
 guardian. There is that in Ms manner tliat still 
 speaks of cMvalry. The finest act of politeness 
 ever heard of is now a matter of history. Even 
 in the polite and gallant age of Queen EHzalbeth, 
 the greatest sailor of the times could offer his 
 doublet to his mistress for a carpet over a mud- 
 pool. No lady ever felt afraid of a sailor — 
 not even of a drunken one. Philip drunk, in 
 her eyes, is safer than some people soher. The 
 life-long hahits of a perilous career, the habit of 
 looking danger in the face deliberately in infin- 
 ite ways, will at last make man brave. Combine 
 bravery with politeness and humble modesty, 
 and you constitute gallantry of the highest type. 
 A sailor has something knightly about him, how- 
 ever roughly it may be expressed. If he fights, 
 if he conquers his adversary, he is the most gen- 
 erous conqueror in. the world ; he not only for- 
 gives — ^he embraces and lavishes love upon his 
 late adversary. You see this fact in every-day 
 life aboard ship. He is a stubborn foe, but a 
 generous one. He cruises over the world to po- 
 lice it, and if he meets wrong, he redresses it. The 
 law of nations requires this of him. In China and 
 Japan, the cause of one nationality was the cause 
 of aU — England, France, and America. The 
 man-of-war is a knight-errant, and the man-of- 
 war sailor instinctively becomes so, by the very 
 
188 THE s.viLoa 
 
 duties and discipline of his life. I ii<vtr knew 
 two sailore nourish a life-long hatred or grudge. 
 They wiU quarrel, and fight it out right manfully, 
 till one be victcir, and then they are the best of 
 friends. It is not sim]»ly living on tht> ocean, I 
 conceive, tliat produces this peculiarity of ehar- 
 a< t<r. It is the sum of nil his surroundings. He 
 is violent, rapid, direct, iu all his a( ts and 
 thoughts. He is not skilleil, moreover, in (lie jiro- 
 found ajts of p'tty vice^s, such as nowadays taint 
 the society of all men, esi)ecially business inin. 
 
 Soni.' ]>.-r8on8 have talked a Kri'sit- deal about 
 the sailor s generosity. Shore people an' always 
 harjiing upon this romantic virtne; others, and 
 thos<' who go to s-a, aver tliat the sailor is the 
 greatest miser in the world, and the stingient and 
 meanest of men. Both tliese views are extreme ; 
 1"iih are on<'-^ided, and both are right. 
 
 The sailor is the most profound stickler among 
 men for what he conceives to be his rifjldfi. He 
 will not bate a jot of them ; he wiU fight to the 
 bitter end for them. It is not because his pay is 
 so small ; it is because that little, to the quarter 
 cent is his ; his by divine and human right. 
 Paymasters sometimes make very slight mis- 
 takes. The sailor is ever on the "bright look- 
 out" for them, and woe to the man who is in the 
 wrong ! It is astonishing how close he is with the 
 
THE SAILOR. 139 
 
 accounts and paymaster's reckoning. He -will 
 detect the very fraction of an error. Once tte 
 money in his pocket — once the "business over, and 
 full possession given — ^the sailor is generous, lav- 
 ish, a very spendthrift with his hard-earned dol- 
 lars. In two ships I have commanded, I found 
 it to "be necessary to interpose my authority to 
 repress an extravagant generosity. In one ship, 
 the fashion got vogue, of making up contribu- 
 tions of money for every men who left the ship to 
 go home for discharge. I knew one man who 
 went away thus with five hundred dollars, con- 
 tributed by the crew of his vessel. The amount 
 of subscriptions was thenceforth more limited, 
 and, it is needless to say, reduced. The same 
 thing happened in another vessel. The aid soci- 
 eties, and benevolent agents to collect funds for 
 them, always know when a ship-of-war is in port. 
 Subscriptions of this sort also required at last to 
 be checked. 
 
 It is needless to gainsay these facts, which al- 
 most any commander has observed. I never 
 knew an instance of a sailor hesitatiug to put his 
 name to a charity subscription, or to share his 
 purse even with a vicious comrade. Yet I have 
 known him to refase to sign his accounts for 
 months, on account of a dispute with the pay- 
 master over a few cents. 
 
140 THK aAII/>R. 
 
 Are these stranpo contrarieties of charactor n 
 mjstf ry I I think not. They an? tlie inst>parable 
 adjuncts of his life and education. By the word 
 education, I do not mean tlie refinements of loam- 
 ini:. I mean the st'Tt'ii-. stem lessons of a life or 
 various and infinite conflict with things. As a 
 general thinp, our sailors all know lunv to read 
 and writ.-; but books, alas! are luxuries they 
 ii'V.r grasp. Tlieirs is the ripeness of a matured 
 thought ovtT \}\o n-alitit's of a bittvr, and Dftcn of 
 a too thankless lif»'. Hniiixh and cruth^ tliey may 
 Ix'. but tliere is always tc) l"' (h'tccfcd a cutting 
 Idfric in the naHoninus of thiir mind, tlia) arrives 
 at a definit*' and cfrtnin fnncliiHlon. 
 
 I iiiiir.ss I look upon this rharactiT of tli<^ 
 Ann-riian sailor with profound nsjM'ct, not to say 
 affectionate esti-em. There is a jewel of inestima- 
 ble v.'ilue nruli'r the blue flanml shirt, tliat many 
 a class nion* favored, more wealthy, more hariK-d, 
 might t-nvy tUl they despaired. Our sailors are 
 till- children of the sea — ^the orphans of the land ; 
 poor waifs of forgotten and neglected manhood, 
 floating like drift-wood upon th(; world ; the shield 
 of the nation's rights and laws ; the protectors of 
 our nationality and commerce ; the bulwarks of 
 our land. The ephemeral applause of our news- 
 paper literature rewards their passing achieve- 
 ments, but it dies out before the smoke of battle 
 
THE SAILOE. 141 
 
 dissipates. Long after they are laid in miserable 
 graves, with, torn bodies and stripped of limbs, 
 whose tombstones mark the sandy beaches of 
 every shore ; when their noble lives have ceased 
 to consecrate victory ; when a peaceful and pros- 
 perous people are enjoying Immunities of fheir 
 earning — then, perhaps, and not till then, will 
 history tell the world of their virtues, and honor 
 their modest and noble worth. 
 
CHAPTER Xn. 
 
 XAVAL APPRENTTrra. 
 
 The Government of tlic lTiiit*'il State has insti- 
 tut<(l an entirely nrw system of Naval A p])n'ntic('a 
 for its service. Smni^ twenty years ai^o, there 
 existed in tb<' navy an apprentice system, but it 
 had so many difect-< about it that it jmned a fail- 
 ure, and a loss to the national iiitcicsis. Boys f)f 
 a certain age wen> taken into the navy, and draft- 
 ed on board of ilitlVnnt Bhij)8 as they were (com- 
 missioned and sent abroad, a certain numlxT to 
 each VI -s. 1. The oflBcers wen; itquinMl to take 
 sjMiial care of thew youths; tiny were required 
 to drill them, and practise them in the details of 
 seamanship. '\Vith the usual zeal of naval offi- 
 cers, they entered into the principle with great 
 zest. But seamanship was about all they were 
 taught: and, indeed, all that the exigencies of 
 the service and the case admitted. These boys 
 were thrown at once, while in susceptible and ten- 
 der years, on the berth-deck ; they mingled freely 
 among the crew ; they contracted, as far as they 
 
NAVAL APPEENTICES. 143 
 
 could, the vices of older men. They learned 
 rapidly — became good petty officers and good 
 seamen ia an incredilsly sliort space of time. The 
 very fact that they were a class set apart, occa- 
 sioned jealousy, envy, hatred, and malice ; and, 
 moreover, this fact added somewhat to the possi- 
 Ibilities of an ahuse, and there was an abuse, and 
 a grave one, in spite of the officer who was gen- 
 erally detailed to occupy himself with their wel- 
 fare. The youths grew up the very best sailors 
 on the sea, after schooling iu a man-of-war for 
 three or six years. But, after a time, they sud- 
 denly disappeared, and in a few years those who 
 had taken an interest in them discovered that they 
 had fled — the bird they had loved and fed, had 
 flown ! The Grovemment had lost the fruit it so 
 carefully nurtured. Nearly every one entered 
 the merchant service, and of these youngsters 
 who may have survived the accidents and perils 
 of a seafaring life, there is not one to-day, who 
 cannot purchase the entire estate of any admiral 
 ia the navy. This, iadeed, was love's labor lost, 
 and the Government gave over the attempt, which 
 resulted in educating captaias and officers for the 
 merchant marine. 
 
 The present apprentice system is intended for a 
 nursery in which these young plants may be 
 cultured into thrifty oaks for the nation's serv- 
 
144 NAVAL APPRKSTTCE3. 
 
 ice. They are taken between the agea of four- 
 teen and lit^hteen, at a perio<l when judgment 
 can be made upon the chai-acter and mind of 
 the youth. Like the young appointineuta at 
 the Naval Arailemy, they are jiivi'ii away by tlio 
 ]jarent or guardian to the country. Thi- Gov- 
 ernment becomes their si)uutfors, and is responsi- 
 ble for their training and morals. At tho a,i;i' of 
 twenty-one this n-sponsibility ceases, and it is 
 siippot-'tl that the youth has by this time so 
 identified liimself with his profession, by his 
 tasteg, his peculiar and special education, by 
 habits which unfit him for other avocatitms, as 
 well as by the incitements to advancement, that 
 he is ever after engrafted into the servict^ of tho 
 state. His education has been purely profession- 
 al. He has been taught all the arts of the si-a- 
 man, and an ample amount of those of (lie navi- 
 gator. The Government is so jealous of this ed- 
 ucation, that it lias established school-ships apart 
 from other vessels of the navy, for his special ed- 
 ucation. These ships are officered, organized, and 
 strictly modelled on those of regular men-of-war. 
 Can-fuUy selected petty officers and a few seamen 
 are placed there to drill and teach, as well as io 
 assist in forming that peculiar character which 
 belongs to naval men. Schoolmasters are appoint- 
 ed to give lessons in navigation, and the solid and 
 
NAVAL APPRENTICES. 145 
 
 simple branclies of learning, wMch. are fitted to 
 make tlie apprentices practical men and pre- 
 pare them for stations of petty and subordinate 
 officers. .Hence it is contemplated that, on the 
 day a youth binds himseK to the navy, the parent 
 surrenders him for life to the service of the state, 
 which cares for him, educates him, and disci- 
 plines him for a career of usefulness and honor. 
 It is not contemplated that all these apprentices 
 shall become commodores and admirals. . While 
 the path is -opened to the ambition and ability of 
 the boy to attain the highest grades, it is not ex- 
 pected that there will be many whose capacity 
 will carry them so far on the way to greatness. 
 But it is believed and hoped that no one need at- 
 tain his years of manhood without becoming an 
 ornament to his country, an,d a credit to the pa- 
 ternal hand that has raised hitn. 
 
 As in every condition of apprenticeship, it is 
 not intended that the boy shall receive wages of 
 a sufficient amount to excite his cupidity or love 
 of money. He is clothed, fed, and has a. little to 
 spare. His wages are stored in his mind, and in 
 the ornaments of a character formed to last for 
 ever. 
 
 I regard this apprentice system of our navy as 
 one of the most beautiful features in it. It is of 
 recent creation. It is bom in the same hour with 
 7 
 
146 NATAL APPRKNTICKS. 
 
 the new nav^- it<.lf. E\ory youth thus planted 
 in its midst i< a tie which binds tho navy witii the 
 int«^ivsts and affections of ouriH>o})lo. ^VIll•Ill•v^'^ 
 the youth has a motlier or a Bister, tlicic lives an 
 imperishable iiit.ivst and jniil.' in the sliii) t() 
 which he belongs, and her course over tlu^ ocean 
 will be fondly traced and followed by the instmcta 
 of affix-tiou (if those left behind. The navy will 
 iMcome Ix'ttcr known, and, we trust, only known 
 \>> he bitt'T apprtH"iate(l. Ilitlierto the ^n-at nia- 
 joritv of the men in our n.ivy have been castaways 
 from tlie land. Men flung adrift from the world by 
 niisfoiiuni', by ptivirty, by tlie loss of kindred nud 
 home, have found an as3liim upon the sea, wliere 
 their bitter inisanthrojiy could be lost in tiie im- 
 mensity of sky and oe.-an. No tie bi'ckoned to 
 them from tli'- land, ita interest, or its love. There 
 was no chun liyard they could look U) when^ tlieir 
 graves niiglit one day be crowned with flowers. 
 T!i>- land had for them only visions of wrong, 
 neglect, and vice, which at times grew black 
 with hatred. Of such materials pirates were often 
 made, but of such materials it is hard to make a 
 ,navy that a nation can really cherish, ditain it 
 is, that society has vaguely looked upon navy 
 men, generally, as not being worthy of their high- 
 est r^ard. Vices and characters have been at- 
 tributed to them which they never possessed, and 
 
NAVAL APPRENTICES. 147 
 
 wMch. they disown with scorn. These casta- 
 ways of the land despise and scorn the petty 
 meanness and narrow vices which even a very 
 respectable portion of civU. society is tainted with. 
 
 Let us haU the advent of these youths in our 
 midst with gratulation ! The officers of their 
 * school-ships have a noble duty before them, and 
 one which they will perform with enthusiasm, 
 pride, and pleasure. There seems, however, one 
 thing to be profoundly regretted. The laws of 
 the navy do not give them quite that authority 
 for discipline which youths need. The grave pun- 
 ishment which is proper to a grown man — ^to an 
 old oflfender — ^is totally inapplicable to an appren- 
 tice. Who would wish to see a boy of fifteen in 
 irons ? Such a punishment, by its anomalous 
 character, would prove a failure. Yet such is the 
 law. The problem is difficult to solve. At a 
 time when nearly all parents have repudiated the 
 command of the wise preacher, it would be ob- 
 jected to if the officer in his official capacity 
 were to adopt it. Yet it seems as though that 
 official capacity was the very one to decide whe- 
 ther the rattan should be used, or not. 
 
 We must not forget or abandon the principles 
 of our discipline in this naval nursery. If we 
 would grow hardy, noble plants there, we must 
 remember that they will not flourish of them- 
 
148 NAVAL APPRENTICES. 
 
 !>»'lvc-s. If we would send fortli hadirs for tlie 
 m^ws of our ships, the tducation and tlisoipliim 
 must h.> such as to make leaders. Sooiut or later 
 thi'sc youths will become the IcjuUms of tlic st'i'v- 
 io'. and the past should adnumish us lli:it tli(> 
 qut^tion of .-ijiim'ntires is full of j?i"<'n ity to tlio 
 future, as it is fuU of hope to the imscut. 
 
CHAPTER Xm. 
 
 MAEINES. 
 
 The marines of tlie navy have "been called 
 " sea infantry y They are a class of men apart 
 and distinct from all others of the navy. They 
 have heen a much-ahnsed people, although a 
 secret recognition of their value has always heen 
 tacitly acknowledged by officers and men. 
 
 These men are soldiers — sea-soldiers lunsbj call 
 them — and an uniastructed observer would not 
 ordinarily distinguish them from the soldiers of 
 the army. In earlier times, soldiers from the army 
 were drafted for sea service, and were expected 
 to bum all the powder and do all the fighting, 
 while the saEors merely took care of the ship and 
 sailed her over the world. This practice finally 
 became obsolete, and, as sailors began to think 
 more of themselves, they claimed the privilege of 
 handling the great guns as their exclusive right. 
 StDl a certain number of soldiers were retained 
 for special uses, and right well have they served 
 them. 
 
150 iLvniNEa 
 
 It is the practice now to allot a guard of ma- 
 rines to each ship-of-war, depending; upon her 
 strength and importanc<'. Wssrls i>f the third- 
 rate have a corporal's guard ; a swond latf sliip 
 has a sergeant's sriiard ; and a lirst-nitc, a liiiiti'ii- 
 aiifs glla^l. These are in general terms the allot- 
 ni-'iita. 
 
 Drill and exen ise sailors at siuaU-anus as ju-r- 
 f<^-tly as pissibl"', Vit when tliey come to act on 
 shore, in companies and battalions, as infantry, 
 i-hey make straggling work of it without some sfii- 
 di'is to guide and form them. Allships-of-warare 
 rcquintl to Ix- able to land tlieir forces and operate 
 at t imea on shorv. Hence they are drilled and ex- 
 en-ised ton riirtain extent to meet such erner^'en- 
 ries. The marines nry oft<'n called upon to o])erat<! 
 thus. In times of jMaee, tlie (lovernnient always 
 fonnd the marines of the navy a staunch and faith- 
 ful ^nard in cases of riot or distti rbiince in our large 
 cities. Tliey have been honored with the title of 
 the Erer Faithful, and I am glad to believe they 
 earned it. In consequence of the absence of our 
 r^ular army upon our frontiers, the marines 
 have acted as the home-guard to thii Government 
 for many years. They have been tried every- 
 where in our lai^e cities in hours of temporary 
 disturbance, when the civil authorities were too 
 weak to preserve order and law, and they have 
 
MARINES. 151 
 
 still been the '■'■ ewr faithfuV The celelbrated 
 Jolin Brown raid, at Harper' s Ferry, at the com- 
 mencement of our intestine difficnlties, was crash- 
 ed hy a handful of marines sent from the capital. 
 When treason and rebellion, were fomenting in 
 frightful passion all around the horizon, the ma- 
 rines were still the "ever faithful." 
 
 Much has been said about the natural antip- 
 athy of sailors to marines on board our ships. I 
 thiak this is a great error. Since the necessity 
 arose which frequently prevented the guard of 
 marines from beiag assigned to some of our ves- 
 sels, I have heard more than one. sailor and petty 
 officer lament their absence. Sentry duty is intol- 
 erable to a sailor. He will take <«. lookout at a 
 masthead or a cathead, and keep it securely ; 
 but make him a sentry, and put him on post, and 
 he will shirk his duty in the face of court-martial 
 or punishment. 
 
 The chief duties of the maruie guard, on a ship- 
 of-war, are those of a sentry. The sailor loves to 
 see his stiff, erect form pacing up and down on his 
 post, with his clean trimmings and bright glitter- 
 ing musket. They feel a sense of security to see 
 him there, which is fully shared by those aft on 
 the quarter-deck. 
 
 Sentries are placed at conspicuous points about 
 9, ship, and they receive their orders from the 
 
152 nARnfBS. 
 
 marine oflScere uiily. They an^ always on jiolito 
 dotj", whether below or above. All prisoners an) 
 under th.ir charge ; ubjec"ts and places of trust 
 ar.' assigned to tluui, and in all cases of alanii, 
 or of an emeut(, ot of disturbaint', the marines 
 are required to ]tn»sorve order and maintain tin* 
 peace of the ship, lin-at pn'sorvt-rs tlu'}- aro, 
 with tli'-ir bright but pitiless bayoni'ts ! A shij)- 
 of-war loses her true character witlu)ut a marine 
 guard. 
 
 ThfSi«> men an» roffularly and carcfnlly drilli-d 
 at infantry exercises. ^V(• all know the admira- 
 tion with whicli Napol<<ni drilled the marine 
 guard of the English shij* that was carrying him 
 t<i St. Il.-li-na. <)f lato ycai-s, however, tlic prac- 
 tif<' lias obtain<-d of jiving tin' f,niard om- or two 
 guns of Hi.- lmtt«Ty \o drill and to fight. They 
 have shown themselves good artillerists, and take 
 gn-at pride in it. They are also drilled at the 
 light artiU'iy ]»iffes, so that in ease of need their 
 senices can be caUed into play. 
 
 Many officers have complained bitterly that the 
 marines are not allowed to perform the holy-ston- 
 ing and cleaning of a ship, the same as the sail- 
 ors. Thi s is quarrelling with one' s ovm bread and 
 butter, or with one's self. They do stand watch 
 at sea ; they do haul ropes ; they do pass water ; 
 but beyond this it is right they never should go. 
 
MARINES. 153 
 
 Do we forget that this sentry duty is a dreary, 
 tedious, responsible task? Do we forget that 
 they are a class of men apart, with special serv 
 ices assigned to them aR the time ? Are we un- 
 mindful of the fact that these men are the guard- 
 ians of the police and repose of the turbulent 
 community about us ? I fear so. The separation 
 and distinction of them as a class from their com- 
 rades of the blue shirts, is a prime necessity. 
 Living, messing, and associating with the sailors 
 from year to year, it is a mystery that they retain 
 their special characteristics at all, and he who 
 would totally obliterate them is an official sui- 
 cide. 
 
 I have been surprised that young officers have 
 so little and poor an idea of sentry duty. I have 
 seen an officer of the deck deliberately order a 
 sentry to come down from his post, and that, too, 
 in terms of ignominy and contempt. Instead of 
 addressing him as Sentry, the title was disrespect- 
 fully withheld, and he was addressed as Soldier ! 
 A sentry is placed upon post by an officer of his 
 guard, no matter if he be a corporal, sergeant, or 
 lieutenant, commissioned or non-commissioned, 
 and from him, and him alone, he receives his 
 orders. No power existing can relieve him or 
 change his orders except the officer of his guard. 
 
 A sentry is a sacred person. Officer of the deck 
 
 7* 
 
154 1LUUXE3. 
 
 or lieutenant, captiun or admiral, ca,nnot toacb 
 him — they caimut relieve him or ix»move him Ic- 
 pillj- ; a corporal of the guard can. A sentry on 
 post knows no rank, no power, no authoiit}' liv- 
 ing t'xr.])t tht' power that put him tlierc ; and he 
 ia as jufitifiable in pushing his lm3onft through a 
 commissioned officer, i\ tii if he be the officer of 
 til'- deck hinistlf, as ho would he at a sailor or 
 .'iny 8trangi»r. A 8t>ntry is a sacred thing ; and if 
 lie bid you stop, or ^^ivo you an order whicli you 
 do not oImv, no rank can wue you from Ii'ih bay- 
 om-t or his ball-cartridge, if In- knowH his duty. 
 I had as soon think of disobeying the President 
 as a w iitry on post, however humble. The com- 
 manil<T of a ship raunot place him there, and he 
 cannot remote him, once he is there, exce])t by 
 pOKsing liiH orders througli the marine ollicer. 
 Tlie eenir\- knows no rank, no person, no 
 anthoritv, Kive one — wluch is legitimate. The 
 President of the United States was not long ago 
 stopped b}- a sentry from passing from one room 
 to another in his own mansion. He had the good 
 sense, and the respect for orders, to obey him. 
 Many young officers of the navy may learn a les- 
 gr)n of value from this fact. There is no official 
 crime so great as the violation of a sentry on p(jst. 
 There is no excuse for its commission except the 
 grossest ignorance or the most wilful outrage. 
 
MARINES. 155 
 
 In all cases of great emergencies, the value of 
 the marines is felt and appreciated. There is no 
 alarm in a ship like the cry of fire. It fiUs all 
 minds with terror. It is appalling, and ia the 
 scene of alarm and Tbewilderment that follows, 
 even in the best drilled ship, the calm, cold atti- 
 tude of the guard, drawn up in file on the quar- 
 ter-deck, gives the only relief and sense of secu- 
 rity. There is one invariable station for the ma- 
 rine guard at all alarms. They are drawn up on 
 the quarter-deck, ready to receive any order the 
 commander may ^ve. 
 
 In times of battle, the marine guard act as 
 sharpshooters or rifle-men, if not otherwise direct- 
 ed. They always follow the boarders when called 
 away, and their bristling bayonets are ready to 
 receive the boarders of the enemy. The confi- 
 dence inspired by their presence, and cold, un- 
 flinching look, is a wonderful support to the 
 boarding party. 
 
 I confess I have a great esteem for the marine 
 corps of the navy, and I should feel as though 
 we had lost one of our great essentials in a man- 
 of-war if that corps were abolished, as I am sure 
 it never will be. No army soldiers can ever take 
 their place. They have a special fitness for their 
 peculiar position, which education and experience 
 alone can give. They are sailors in their pecu- 
 
156 MAKIXES. 
 
 liar way. They are sea-soldiers in one word, 
 combining the knowledge, drill, adaptabilities, 
 and peculiarities of soldier and saUor in one. It 
 is a happy combination of qualities and Borvice, 
 that is a mystery to even sea-offirers generally. 
 No sliip is pTfeet without them. The experiment 
 has Ix-en faithfully tried, and found a failure. I 
 eoiild wish to s<v the full dress— as it is calletl — 
 of the guartl abolished. There could be nothing; 
 better, or in finer taste, tljan tlieir jiresent un- 
 dn'ss. I would like tf> 8«'e them fuiiiislied with a 
 long-barrelled brifch-loading rifle, nnd the heavy 
 infantry drill totally- abolished. The marine iH 
 • ssentially a rifleman and an artillerist combined. 
 I would like to See a f,Miard on every tliird-ruti' of 
 the navy, and I believe the service would be infi- 
 nitely benefited thenby. 
 
 The kHiard of marines should be the H])ecial pet 
 of <xe(ntive officers — not a pet to be sjxjilcil or 
 humored, but to be cared for, as he would his 
 right arm. He should see that an undue inter- 
 ference by the officer of the deck, or young offi- 
 cers of the ship, should never be tolerated for a 
 moment. Above all, he should preserve the in- 
 violability and sacred character of the sentry and 
 corporals with a jealousy that should be direct 
 and personal. Remember that they are the 
 "ever faithful ;" they have earned the title, and 
 
MARINES. 167 
 
 they have a right to "be .permitted to retain it with- 
 out reproach or bleinish. They will Tbe faithful to 
 you, even though they he neglected and albused, 
 and if you are guilty of a want of fidelity to 
 them, they will reproach you only Tby fidelity to 
 you in return. 
 
CHAPTER XrV. 
 
 K NO INK DKPAKTMKNT. 
 
 We approach tlu' very heart nf the subject of 
 firpinizatidn <>f slii]>s-of-war. Amiil tlic multi- 
 ]>Iicity of ratiiiLTs, grad'S, ranks, and classes, we 
 see wlint a perfi*ct unit it all is, and how hanno- 
 nious and how full of fni'iyy and vitality such a 
 body ](olitic must Ix-. Thin- arc jostlini^s and 
 rivalries, jfalousics and emulation, and u zeal, 
 too, which attributes to itself eacli its importance, 
 each its ambition, and each its belief of superior- 
 ity over aU the i-est, Calmly and judiciously 
 piidiuL; all the activities and rivalries of each, 
 the executive stands at the head of all depart- 
 ments, the supreme judge, the conservative and 
 preservative element of each and aU. There is 
 and can be no one interest more selfishly Ids than 
 another. To his commander he owes responsi- 
 bility for the perfection of the world, intricate 
 enough in aU its noisy and busy rivalries, which 
 surrounds him. It is the perfection of the shii), 
 its efficiency, its strength, his pride in her to at- 
 
ENGINE DEPAETMENT. 159 
 
 tain more than is required of her, and that that 
 which, she may be assigned to do, she should do 
 gallantly and well — it is this end to which aU 
 his aims, all his interests, verge. 
 
 The engine department is composed, in person- 
 nel, of the officers, who are the engineers, and the 
 firemen and coal-heavers. The chief engineer 
 presides over the entire department. His assist- 
 ants are of three classes — first, second, and third 
 assistants. The men compose the first and 
 second-class firemen and coal-heavers. Thns it 
 wiU be seen that there are seven different classes 
 in the organization of this department alone, con- 
 tinning the scheme of gradations here as weU as 
 in the other portions of the ship's crew. Promo- 
 tion goes on regularly, from coal-heaver to sec- 
 ond-class fireman, and thence to first-class fire- 
 man, and, when capacity and character admit, to 
 the grade of an assistant, when the man becomes 
 an officer. All these grades receive pay, and 
 perform dutie^, and have responsibilities, in the 
 direct ratio of their positions. There is stUl pre- 
 served the incitement to good character and pro- 
 fessional improvement. 
 
 The coal-heavers, as their name implies, per- 
 form the labor of receiving and stowing the coal, 
 and wheeling it to the fire-room, to the hands of 
 the firemen. A hard, grim duty it is ! 
 
160 KXGINB DKPABTMKNT. 
 
 The firemen are r^^jmiisible for tho fires, the 
 bofler.-!. and are the oilers of the niaihiiuTy. 
 They are under tlie orders of the enginerr of the 
 watch, the men who work and run th(> engine and 
 machinery. A higher order of ability is iieetled 
 for this s<rvi(e. They are not mere laborers, and 
 some of the b«>st mechanics in the world are found 
 in thi-ir midst. Tlie art otfirhui'm one which 
 n^uin^s a pii at deal of skill and Judgment. 
 Soim- men will l^um a third more fuel than 
 oth'Ts. and got less steam fone from it, and burn 
 out prate-bars and boilers besides. Tlie matt«'r 
 of fuel \^ always one of extreme aiixiety to the 
 conimander. 
 
 Wat<lii-s are as regularly kept in the lire-room 
 .IS tli.y an* upt)n the ciuart4-r-de<k. There is 
 always an engini'-r there, superint<'ndin^' the 
 men on duty, the same as on deck. Watch 
 bills, cleaning bills, fire and quarter billH, are as 
 n^c.-ssary in this department as they are upon 
 deck. The whole system of duty is modeUe<l pr«}- 
 cisely upon that of the deck above. The same 
 discipline obtains ; the same system of rewards, 
 punishments, and reports. The engine watch 
 oflBcers make their reports to the chief engineer, 
 and he to the executive officer. 
 
 The relations of this department to the deck are 
 simple and direct, and any misunderstanding of 
 
ENGINE DEPAETMENT. 161 
 
 these relations are due only to extreme ignorance 
 orwilfal l>ad temper. .1 am aware that young 
 and iaexperienced officers are frequently making 
 trouble about this matter. There is no need of 
 it, and a little reflection ought to lead to right 
 views. The officer of the deck has probably 
 learned by this time, that mere arbitrary will is 
 not government. He has recognized the fact, 
 that in his relations with those around him, men 
 are extremely jealous of their rigMs. If they 
 were not so, they would be worthless. A deli- 
 cate sense of justice is imperative, for aU the rank 
 and authority that may be conferred cannot jus- 
 tify an injustice or coerce obedience to an im- 
 proper order. The men of the engine depart- 
 ment belong to that department, and they are 
 under the orders of the officers appointed for that 
 very purpose. Their duties are peculiar and 
 special. What greater violation can there be, 
 than to require a coal-heaver or fireman who has 
 just come off watch, or come on deck from a 
 heated, red-hot fire-room, with clothes dripping 
 and shining with coal-dust and perspiration, to 
 get a few gasps of fresh air, and require him to 
 haul out an earing or set up a ridge-rope ? He 
 is not fit to be there ; he is not free to go, per- 
 haps ; and it is not his duty. If such an order 
 be insisted upon, trouble will as surely follow as 
 
162 KNGIXE DKPABTMKNT. 
 
 the sparks fly upward. !Moreovi>r, it is an int<T- 
 ference with the officer immediately jilaced over 
 the man, and Le is wronged. 
 
 Onl'-rs to these men mast pass through the 
 rightful channel. If their services are ntH?ded — 
 and they sonu'times are — to give a lift to a heavy 
 drag, the chief enuiiieer, or the engineer of the 
 watch, rau:~t receive tlu> order, and not the men 
 thenis«"lv.-8. No engineer need ever fear that hia 
 men vn\l bo called upon without necessity or 
 ii'i'd. No executivo ever \vislie8 them, il" he ran 
 p>^«8ibly avoid it, inovinu about tlie paint-work 
 or the clean deck mtli oily shoes or ^^re.asy 
 clolliefl. Wlintever pertains to tlie eii^rine- 
 rooni, lin»-room, or coal-scnttleH above deck, 
 esjx'ci.'iny the smoke-stack and ventUators, be- 
 longs to the iiipne dijiartiinnt. The ladders 
 and combings of the liatchea leading to tlie fire 
 and eni:ine-rooms belong to the engine depart- 
 ment. NeverthelesSjJ am clearly of opinion that 
 the ppar-deck duties should all belong to the 
 spar-deck i)eople. I have seen a good executive 
 officer voluntarily relieve the chief engineer of all 
 these duties, in order not to have men with soiled 
 clothes, making more dirt than they cleaned up. 
 It worked well, and I became converted to his 
 idea. It is an astonishing thing, howev,^^, how 
 some chief engineers manage to keep such clean 
 
ENGINE DEPARTMENT. 163 
 
 floors in their tooms. It requires a great deal of 
 perseverance and judgment to do it ; and yet if it 
 Tbe not done, every footfall, from the rooms "below 
 to tlie decks above, and over those decks and 
 ladders, will make a greasy highway. There is 
 nothing that will sooner destroy the temper and 
 amiahmty of an executive officer than such a 
 thing, perseveringly followed out; and the en- 
 gineer who will look on with indifference to this 
 trouble, deserves to Tbe quarrelled with by every 
 officer and man on deck. It can be prevented, 
 and it has been. Yet, for the first few weeks of 
 a newly-commissioned ship, it will require pa- 
 tience, and the ■e-Secutive officer must remember 
 that the chief engineer has his drilling and disci- 
 pline to enforce as well as he, and under infinitely 
 greater disadvantages. Both officers must be 
 considerate and amiable, and exercise an earnest 
 effort to gratify one another. And after all, is 
 not and ought not the engineers to feel as much 
 pride in the ship as any one else ? Do they not 
 belong to the ship as well as to the engine-room f 
 I fear too many young men forget this, and when 
 they do, their just pride degenerates into a local 
 and puerUe vanity. 
 
 It is a common remark, and a true one, that 
 the engineers and their men are the best dressed 
 people at muster. It is a compliment I trust 
 
164 EXGLNE DKPARTMEXT. 
 
 they may always deserve. A tleaii, bright en- 
 gine-room and its approaches are etiually worthy 
 thi' aims of a good engineer. 
 
 It seems tome, that this harassing question or 
 the relations of this department and tiic deek is 
 reduced to a small issue, if any at uU. Certain- 
 ly, if peojili' do not wish to aLrnc. it is easy to 
 find mattt-r to light about. Be assiircil, the cpH 
 oiu will always find I'lfiity at hand. 
 
 No. engineer nfini cvcrbi- afraid of int^TfereiKoa 
 ftxiin tli<' quarter-deck. People tluTc an- but (oo 
 glad to get rid of a class of men from dfc k, of 
 wliom they gen. rally know too little. If an offl- 
 oT, whose exju-rience ia not great, siiould give an 
 imprc>]wT oni'T, it is rertainly easy to rectify it 
 without ]>ilt«'r acrimony. Do not all persons 
 commit errors, and ^onll•times blunder < As a 
 general rule, no deck officer should give orders 
 to tlie men of the engine department, until those 
 men an' officially surrendenjdte him from Inflow. 
 Thereisnonej'dof it ; the occasion can never arise. 
 The chief t-npneer needs the assistance of an 
 amiable executive officer quite as much as the 
 latt'T needs him. But the executive can have no 
 excus • for that want of consideration which was 
 more common a few years ago than it is now. I 
 have seen an executive officer wlio could not bear 
 to see a firenian or coal-heaver on deck. Per- 
 
ENGINE DEPARTMENT. 165 
 
 taps lie did not visit the fire-room often himself. 
 These men are as much a part of the crew as 
 others. They are as much under his supervision 
 as others. The executive officer' s duties and in- 
 terests stop at no bulkhead ; they are barred at 
 no passagQ-way. He must remember that he is 
 the executive officer of the whole ship, fire-room 
 as elsewhere. It does not follow, however, that 
 he should attempt to run the engine or order the 
 detail of engine-room duties, no more than it fol- 
 lows that he should enter into the detail of any 
 other officer' s duties. These dirty men, which are 
 such an eye-sore to deck officers, can be taught 
 habits of neatness and cleanliness ; and if the engi- 
 neer sees the deck or paint-work oUed, or soiled, 
 or smeared with grease, and does not strug- 
 gle to remedy it, he is unworthy of his place as 
 an officer. These men should all be furnished 
 with two clothes-bags ; they must have soiled 
 clothes, and they should be provided with a place 
 to put them, so as not to stow them with their 
 good ones. Rather than do that, any respectable 
 man will find a stow-hole for them somewhere. 
 The wash-room should never be appropriated for 
 such purposes. That room is made for these 
 men to clean in, and itself should be a model of 
 cleanliness and order. I would varnish every 
 wash-room, and ornament it with gHt if I could. 
 
166 EXQCfB DKPABTITENT. 
 
 There is uo surer way to make careful, clean 
 men, than to provide the means for becoming so, 
 and then, if advantage be not taken of it, pun- 
 ishment sbuold inexorably follow. 
 
 Tht-re is an unhappy notion, I fear, among 
 some ini:ine»r.s that Invause the dyck oflicers 
 are not skilled mechanics or eiiijiiKH^rs them- 
 selves, necessarily, they are totally ignorant of 
 evi-ry thing connected with their departnieut. 
 
 It ia n»lated that Lord Xelson, who was a v(>ry 
 ]><tulant man, once undertook to carry on the 
 detail of t.ickinj; ship, giving orders to tlic olli- 
 ciT of the deck. The indignant oflicer greatly 
 irritated his commandi-r, who relieved him and 
 took the truniiM-t himsilf. It so happened, how- 
 ever, that the rf?no\vncd admiral swung his yards 
 at the wrong moment, handled Ids shectH luwlly ; 
 the ship n-fused to tack, to wear, to box, or to 
 rhiijii*' 1 : .she was unconsciously tight in irons, 
 and tlir admiral was forced to send for the officer 
 to get her at liberty again. Lord Nelson was a 
 very y>oot sailor, but he was a stout fighU^r and 
 a good tactician. Will any one smile at any 
 thing in L< ad Nelson except his foolish irritabil- 
 ity ? It is the duty of the deck officer to carry 
 his ship into such positions as he may be ordered 
 to place her. He clearly has the right and the 
 knowledge, too, to slow, stop, or back her ; and 
 
ENGINE DEPARTMENT. 167 
 
 if tliese orders cannot and are not executed, the 
 fault is witli the engine-room, and it is not neces- 
 sary for him to know whether steam used ex- 
 pansively is Ibetter than if it be not so used ; it is 
 not necessary for him to know if Sickles' s cut-off 
 is better or worse than another. He does know, 
 if the ship or engine do not obey his orders, 
 that there is something deficient, and the officers 
 who are responsible should beheld to an account- 
 ability therefor. It is a very delightful thing to 
 know all things ; but I question if the gunner, as 
 he "brings his eye on a line vnth the reenforce 
 sight and the notch in the sight-bar," would fling 
 his bolt any better for knowing the atomic char- 
 acter of each grain of powder that sent it. I 
 would not discourage knowledge ; but the truth 
 is, there is so much in the book for a naval offi- 
 cer to learn, and, moreover, so much out of the 
 book to learn, that if he attempts too much, it is 
 probable he will fail altogether. 
 
 There is no reason at all why the relations of 
 the engine department and deck should be a vex- 
 ed question. Nothing simpler, I am sure. The 
 ship is or ought to be a unit. The engine depart- 
 ment is a part, and an important part, too, of the 
 ship. I knew an acting chief engineer who con- 
 sidered it so important, that when the ship was 
 anchored, he deliberately took large portions of 
 
168 ENGINE DKPARTMKNT. 
 
 his machinery apart, when the commandir was 
 expecting ti> get under ■way in an hour or so ! 
 There cannot be but one lu'ad to a body, unless 
 you have a monster. There eannot be but one 
 commander t«^i a shiji, unless you liavt> a mon8t«r, 
 too. A dual government never yet prosixTi-d, 
 nor a dual command. It is neither deinoeratic, 
 aristocratic, nor autocratic. It is not even a de- 
 (■• nt olijran hy. 
 
 I havr now rounded the circh' of discussion of 
 organization in a slup-of-war. Comphx, iiitii- 
 (•ai4'. many-sided as it is, lluie never was a more 
 perfi>ct unit of man's crention. It is founded on 
 the military ••.vjMrienci' of .-iges. It is tbi- result 
 of experience in all navies, and of all naval men. 
 It i^ the coHiiilfte work <if lime and wisdom. No 
 officer, old or young, can assiuin' his place and 
 cniiimaud Ikti- elfi-etively, without fully compre- 
 hending its lii.'<t<iry and its bearings. The rela- 
 tions are intimate, social, official, and dependent. 
 A vioLjuce offered to one relation, reacts upon 
 others. An ignorance of them will entail weak- 
 ness upon til'- officer, and incompetency in the 
 execution of duty. Nearly all the evils under 
 which we are suffering:, arise from ignorance or a 
 want of true x>erception of the mysteries of or- 
 ganization. Xo young officer, and surely no old 
 one, can afford to stumble along th<.' path of daily 
 
ENGINE DEPARTMENT. 169 
 
 and weekly routine, doing violence everywhere, 
 Tinder the shield of ofla.cial power. We should 
 make this more a study — ^more of ohservation, 
 ^nd more of culture. Nowhere in human soci- 
 ety — ^nowhere among "bodies of men, nowhere 
 in military life — can we effect so muchvrrong and 
 do so much evil, if we are content to ignore the 
 moral olaligations of men when we attempt to 
 command them. It is for this reason that, in 
 earlier days, a man-of-war tvas a name that called 
 up visions of violence, of sin, and of misery. 
 Men fled from their unhappiness, from tyranny, 
 and the despotism of a man-of-war, to madness, 
 mutiny, and rum, and finally to a death of shame 
 and dishonor. 
 8 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 SEAMANSUir 
 
 It is a viiy common saying that there is no 
 more seamanship, and that liicro arc no iiion^ 
 siiiora in ilie world. Pi-riiapB, indfed, tlicrc is 
 muchU'S.ss«>amanHliip displayed nowadays than 
 then- might !>•'. Seamanship is the art of caring 
 for and handling ami iiiand'iivriiig shipH. Now 
 so long as vissils an- built and go to Hca, BO long 
 as there are lioating mocliines to ))<■ carriid about 
 ond manojuvred and fought, just so long tliore 
 must be si;iman.sliip. An iiiiiiiciisi; mnditication 
 of practice is u<'c«-.ss.'ir5'. Th<' officer wlio goes on 
 board a M^ael and finds no topsails or courses, 
 no royals or topgallant-sails, need not for a mi)- 
 ment suppose that there is nothing to do, that 
 " the thing will go itself." I fear too many come 
 to this comfortable conclusion, to the great dis- 
 may of the commander. 
 
 Every class of vessels except the monitors car- 
 ries some masts, sails, and rigging. It is very 
 true, they are not always as trim about the mast- 
 
SEAMANSHIP. 171 
 
 heads, nor the eyes of rigging so neat, as have 
 been seen or might he again. But why should 
 they not be ? There is a great passion for wire 
 rigging in vogue, but it is questionable if it is 
 good. Wire rigging snaps to the frost ; if it is 
 shot away or stranded it cannot be spliced ; it 
 turns the compasses crosswise, and has lost more 
 than one ship thereby. Yery few officers appear 
 to understand the proper use to be made of the 
 sails of steamers, with which they are furnished. 
 The use of fore-knd-aft sails is becoming very com- 
 mon, and, indeed, they are the only kind of sails 
 proper for gunboats and sidewheel steamers. As 
 inconsiderable as these saUs are, they are of vast 
 importance if properly*used. But I take it for 
 granted now that all sails are auxiliary. To talk 
 about steam beiag auxiliary to sails, is very like 
 saying the horse is auxiliary to the wagon- wheels. 
 No doubt he helps them in their revolutions ! 
 Steam is the motive power, first and last. All the 
 gear and rigging you may put into or upon a 
 ship will help the steam do its work, but they will 
 never again be the "prime movers" in a man-of- 
 war. Perhaps there may be large frigates again, 
 with three royals aloft ; nevertheless, they will be 
 auxiliaries. The first order in preparation of battle 
 is to roll up the canvas, upon the probabilities of 
 an engagement ; clear ship for action, and get the 
 
172 SEAiiAXsniP. 
 
 auxiliaries out of the way. Every skip must be 
 mana?uvTed under steam, be alio largi' or small. 
 I have long thought that no vessel Tinder the size 
 of a first-class sloop-of-war, should ever carry a 
 square yard or a square sail. It would be better 
 if they w»re for.-and-aft rijiired ; but then these 
 sails should W lai>:f, carry reefis, and bo ri,u,i,n'd 
 so that thi'V <(iuld be taken in, antl not left to 
 blow away. Th>'se foro-and-aft sails in frigates 
 and sloops-of-war should be vtiy large sails, and 
 everj' inch of raiivas should T)e crowded into 
 them, so that they may be made to draw and Best 
 well. The reason ia obvious. A ])ro]icll<r should 
 II. v. T Ivc put head at it under steam aloiu', umIchh 
 there exist some grave reason for driving her 
 unduly: and evm then I regard it as ])ad sf-a- 
 manship. If the wind eonics out ahead, let the 
 sheets 1 >•• trimmed well aft, keep the ship off sharp 
 on a wind, and make tacks. A good ship will thus 
 lie at least within five points of the course, and 
 often within four and a half. I have seen gun- 
 boats very well within four points. It is not ne- 
 cessary that the sails should go a rap-full. When 
 the "eleven-inch gunboats" came out, there was 
 a general cry against them, and only because 
 they would not be driven right into a heaiy head 
 et^i and gale of wind. One can very well con- 
 ceive how their frail engines must have chafed 
 
SEAMANSHIP. 173 
 
 and worked at being required to do such, work 
 without any help from the canvas. A ship thns 
 handled will make good weather, and at -the same 
 time will crawl along toward her destination and 
 not Ibe going astern. She is ia a manner h.ove-to, 
 yet doittg duty ahead, especially if the weather 
 be not too heavy. If we accept the principle 
 that the sails are put aboard to help the steam, 
 then they should do so. None but sidewheeled 
 steamers ever expect to make a dead course to 
 windward, and even tTiey cannot do it always. 
 
 When the large sloops of the Richmond class 
 were first sent to sea, there was hardly one favor- 
 able report made of their performances. It was 
 gravely alleged that they would do nothing in a 
 head wind and sea, that they would not " hold 
 their own," and that in a gale of wind they were 
 aU " beasts. ^^ If they got into a heavy head sea 
 they pitched frightfully, and, in so doing, the 
 bows went all under and the propeller would be 
 thrown out of water, and, when thus released 
 from strain or resistance, they would spin and 
 whirl round to such a violent degree that it was 
 feared the engine would be rent to pieces. It may 
 readily be conceived, that such treatment would 
 produce precisely such results. Propellers do not 
 pretend to full steam power ; and so mucji the 
 more necessity is there for sails doing more duty. 
 
174 SKAMAXSHIP. 
 
 It WBS the pra»'tice. so soon as the wind liaulccl 
 ahead, to furl all sail and pnt the ship head at it 
 Tinder a full head of steam. To attempt to run 
 down a gale of wind and a heavy sea, in this 
 fasliioii. is not vi-iy good tJiamansliip. A ship 
 mnst bf huracm'd and jx'tted more tlian nnj- other 
 dHjuette in the world. In making passages, this 
 ilass of v.s><l8 shonld always lan y canvas. If 
 the wind draws ahead, thi« square sails must Ix' 
 furl.tl and tin- fore-and-aft sails kept on— all of 
 tbi-m— and kc»']> the sliiji by the wind and n-nu- 
 late the turns of the engine to suit the weather. 
 If a gale of wind eoincs <iii, there is no liel]) for i(, 
 the ship must go slow and she must makc^ tacks. 
 I would adajit the jiiinciples of schooni-r-sailiu^' 
 to all propellers, tiie moment the wind hauls 
 aliead, so that square sails cannot draw. So long 
 as there is st<am in the boilers and coal to spare, 
 if a quick passage is to bi- made, 1 would cer- 
 tainly beat up to a head wind under steam and 
 tiysails both. The ship will be eanier, she will 
 make lutt.r weath<r and better time. Of course, 
 if this principle is to be adopted to good advan- 
 tage, the trysails and staysails must be enlarged 
 to the fullest capacity. They must be provided 
 with reefs and bonnets. They must not be ex- 
 pected to come in with brails alone. Tliey must 
 be amply furnished yviih down-hauls and ch^w- 
 
SEAMANSHIP. 175 
 
 ropes, and tlie gaflfe must be rigged to lower eas- 
 ily. The throat and peak halyards must be- 
 come running rigging. 
 
 There is no reason why the larger ships should" 
 not scud as well as any old-fashioned frigate ; 
 but low steam must be carried, and the engine 
 used with extreme care. No ship should ever 
 scud, if it can be avoided, without steam being 
 ready for prompt use. It is an additional element 
 of safety, in case of broaching to. 
 
 The sidewheel steamer is perhaps the most dif- 
 ficult vessel to manage in bad weather. Her huge 
 paddle-boxes are always acting against the helm, 
 and tend to throw her up into the wind, if it be 
 forward of the beam ; if the wind be quartering, 
 it will be exceedingly difficult to steer her without 
 the aid of sails. As a general thing, the double- 
 enders refuse, incontinently, to obey the helm at aU 
 with the wind quartering. The sidewheel ship is 
 not intended to depend upon her canvas. Yet 
 the use of a fore-trysail is extremely necessary, 
 to heave many of them to. But these ships can 
 plunge fearlessly into a head wind or sea. It 
 seems that then they exhibit their real qualities. 
 In aU such circumstances the engine must be hu- 
 mored^ and it is an easier thing to run a sharp 
 sidewheel steamer under headlong than mdst 
 sailors believe. I once played with a ship some 
 
176 SEAltANSmP. 
 
 hours, trying her mettle, to observe how ninch 
 she coald stand. The breaking of Uie sena over 
 both bows, and a certain tremulous quiver through 
 her hull, plainly indicated when the ongino should 
 go a turn or two slower. It was a gradual pro- 
 cess of slowing down, until the sliip was fairly 
 li<ivt'-to. The proper way to heave sucli a vessel 
 to, i> to weather-bt)w it by about two jioiiils. 
 Mui-li, of coui-se, will depend upon the 8harpn(\srt 
 and model of the vessel. But the <'X]ierinieiit of 
 forcing a shar]^ sidewhcel sliiji into a heavy liead 
 Iwat se.a is somewhat hazardous, and might not 
 be rep-ated too often, if due regard be had to her 
 sjifety. 1 liave seen a sidewlieel steamer hove-to 
 under trysails alone, and she did remarkably 
 well. Tlie drift of the sea against tln^ stationary 
 paddles, Jiad a strong tendency to keep lier to the 
 wuiil. and at the same time to quiet her. So va- 
 rious are the models, and bo peculiar the charac- 
 teri.^tics of side-wheelers, that eaeli one must }n^ 
 studied by her officers to understand her wants 
 and caprices. 
 
 Of aU ve^els in the world, a side- wheeler should 
 never be put into the trough of the sea. They 
 will roll BO fearfully that there is great danger to 
 the machinery : and I have known one of them to 
 loosen her wheel from the shaft, and it was a 
 providence that she did not cast it off altogether. 
 
SEAMANSHIP. 177 
 
 If it becomes necessary to make a passage, and 
 the wind and sea cross tlie course, it -would be 
 much better to head-up for the sea and leave the 
 course. There is nothing else left to do, if the 
 ship is not to become untenable, and if the safety 
 of her machinery and hull are to be considered. 
 Grood seamanship requires a ship to be humored 
 as much to-day as it did before steam became the 
 motive-power. We have too long tried the experi- 
 ment of driving our ships dead on to the course, 
 without regard to consequences ; and when the 
 ships and engines complain of our bad treatment 
 and of our want of seamanship, we ungratefully 
 retaliate by condemning the ship and not our- 
 selves. It is proper to remember that a ship is 
 still a ship, and that gales and head-seas are just 
 as obstinate as tKey ever were. We should re- 
 member, moreover, that the motive power has 
 been transferred from the spars and from the 
 yards down into the bowels of the vessels ; that to 
 furl royals and topgallant sails, we have only to 
 touch the bell-puU ; and if we wish to reef top- 
 sails and furl the courses, we have only again to 
 touch the bell. Only now, we can take as many 
 reefs as we please, and the driving force can be 
 subdued to the least shade of our will, and al- 
 most instantaneously, too. It is from this very 
 fact, of the ease with which the gigantic power 
 
178 SKAMANSniP. 
 
 that propt'l:; the ship under us, with its living 
 world of freight that it does not occur to use it 
 more rationally. There st^ms to In- a perfect 
 infatuation, with many officers, to drive their ves- 
 sels, at all times, under n/our-htll speed ! 
 
 There have been plenty of opportunities during 
 the war to notice the al>sciHe of good st'aiiiaii- 
 sill]) in the handling of our vessels-of-war. Ships 
 under steam have been run into by others, broad- 
 side on, and sunk in ;i few minutes, and that, tot), 
 in daylight and on the broad oeean. Vessels 
 liavi' been known to run into ••acli other, umhr a 
 L'O'i'l h«a<l i)f steam, eacli bows on to the other. 
 Instances are known where a steannr lias gone 
 boldly into a line of hreakiis, and that, too, 
 when the bnakerswrrc seen somci minutes l)efore 
 i-triking. It was a display of eonragn "worthy 
 of a better cause." It lias been a common occur- 
 rence for ve88«'ls to com<' plunging into a closely 
 packed anchorage, and carry away ajtars, an- 
 chors, masts, and all at a clean swr-ep. To drop 
 anchor foul of another's moorings, has been often 
 done. In this manner Admiral Farragut's fleet, 
 in the Mississippi, was about undergoing destruc- 
 tion, and it has been said that the collisions and 
 injuries his ships were undergoing in the violent 
 current of that river hastened his movements to- 
 ward the great battles of April, 1862, pierhaps 
 
SEAMANSHIP. 179 
 
 "before h.e was quite ready. Sucli collisions and 
 fonltngs, and losses of anchors, chains, and spars, 
 no one ever heard of "before. WUl any one doii"bt 
 that niTich, if not all of it, was the result of Tbad 
 seamanship under steam ? Our officers, generally, 
 had not had. great experience in handling steam- 
 ers, and the large numbers of vessels grouped 
 into close anchorage, the preparations for battle, 
 the stream nightly filled with hlazing fire-rafts, 
 and the violence of the current in the swollen 
 floods of the river, all required the very "best of 
 experience and the "best of seamanship. The les- 
 sons of that school will never "be forgotten, and 
 will endure as long as the memory of the brave 
 Admiral's amiability of temper lasts. 
 
 Some officers think it fine and dashing to go 
 into an anchorage, or to pass through one, foam- 
 ing at a furious speed. I have heard an officer 
 lauded highly for dashing boldly up alongside 
 of a dock or a coal vessel without so much as 
 "slowing down" before the final bell to "stop 
 her." Such feats maybe ascribed more to good 
 luck than to good seamanship, where they result 
 without accident. A steamer, provided she an- 
 swers her helm, may be taken into any position 
 if she be properly treated. But woe to the offi- 
 cer if he neglect to observe the force and direction 
 of the wind, the force and direction of the tide or 
 
180 SEAilAXSHlP. 
 
 the current, and the momentum of his own vi^s- 
 sel : It is inlinitely a more critical operation to 
 work a steamer in a crowded amliorage, willi a 
 heavy current, than it ever was to make a '^ flying 
 moor." No steamer should ever be allowed to 
 aiii>ri>ach an aiuhoram" or another vtssd or a 
 dock under any thin^ more than a slow IhU. By 
 sloping and stoppiiii:. a shij) may l>e roaxcd into 
 the narrowi'st berth without bruising her juiint- 
 work. A propfllcr is the insiest of vessels to 
 maiKiuvn'. In a narrow st nam, witlx a violent 
 <urrent, it is jxissible, nay, it is tasy, to turn 
 round in four times Inr length ; but it ran never 
 be done under a fast bell ; indii-d, the shij) must 
 not Im' allowed lieadway at all. The )iiH)i)cliiT 
 aloni' will scnw her around if jnojierly managed. 
 The thing may be tried if tin- nadcr be not con- 
 vinced. If you would turn a ])rop<'ll(r short 
 around, try t Ik- slow process — ring four bells until 
 the ship gathers headway, when stop ; as soon as 
 Bhe ceiLses to cant, rejjeat the same bells, and 
 continue the same operation. The ship will truly 
 ''come round on her heel." 
 
 I have peen some ships which seemed so anx- 
 ious to dash up to their anchorage, that they 
 would drop anchor before headway was stopped. 
 As a sure result, when she dropi)ed astern, and 
 got a strain ujwn the cable, the anchor lifted, and 
 
SEAMANSHIP. 181 
 
 was fouled and the sMp dragged. In nine cases 
 out of ten there is no necessity for a ship to be 
 always dragging around the harhor. A little, a 
 nery little sternlboard when the anchor was let 
 go, would have secured it firmly to the ground, 
 and there would be no dragging or compelling 
 other vessels to get under way to avoid a trouble- 
 some neighbor. 
 
 The question as to the proper management of 
 iron-clad monitors at sea is divided into two opin- 
 ions, both of which are maiataiaed by our high- 
 est and the most capable authority in the navy. 
 It is said on the one hand, that they should al- 
 ways be kept ia tow, especially in heavy weather, 
 and that they should be kept up to wind and sea 
 the same as other vessels, the ship towing with a 
 long scope, not less than one and a half or two 
 cables length, and weather-bowing it. This treat- 
 ment looks natural, and accords with all of our 
 past and present notions of seamanship. On the 
 other hand, it is asserted upon authority that car- 
 ries with it the profoundest respect, that on the 
 approach of a gale of wind or a heavy sea, the 
 towing vessel should cast oflf, and the iron-clad 
 should be surrendered to the free action of the 
 sea, and drift to it as a log would do. It is said 
 the sea wUl break and roll over her as harmlessly 
 as it would over a log, and the vessel wiU drift as 
 
Ic2 szAUAssmr. 
 
 easily and without liann. This proposition is 
 certainly novil. and has much to recoramond it. 
 But as discussion upon the matter would be both 
 imprudent and premature, it had Intttr rest with 
 the division t-xiiiTi.'nce may render. It is very 
 certain if a monitor can be delivfred U]) tlnis to 
 t!i'' aitiuii (if the sea, the question as to tlnir 
 abiliiy to malci' a sea passage is for ever set at 
 rest. 
 
 The Wilmington blockade has taught us jintty 
 Well what ships will do at their anchors when 
 ]iropt'rly t<-n'bil. A propeller may ride out a 
 ver}- heavy pale in a lough sea Ijy a little pru- 
 dent use r>f h<T screw. I have seen one of (mr 
 large sloops-of-war ride out a terril)le storm with 
 a huge pile of rocks directly under her taffrail in 
 tliifl way. Sir Walter Rah-ipli, who wr<it<} gr«!at 
 deal of good seamanship, writes in KifiO: "We 
 h.ive fallen into oonsideration of the length of ca- 
 bles, and by it we resist the malice of the greatest 
 ^vinds that can blow ; for true it is, tlmt the length 
 of the cable is the life of the ship in all extremities ; 
 for the reason is, because it makes so many bend- 
 ings and waves, as the ship riding at that length 
 is not able to stretch it, and nothing breaks that is 
 not stretched." However perfectly we may have 
 known this fact in earlier years, we seem to have 
 overlooked it entirely of late. 
 
SEAMANSHIP. 183 
 
 Our notions of seamansMp require some modi- 
 fications to adapt them to the present state of 
 things. I fear we have not kept pace with our 
 ships, as slow as people say they are. A well- 
 handled steamer has not hitherto been a very 
 common sight. But experience is helping us 
 vastly, and if we are not willing to see our beauti- 
 ful art relapse into a lubberly system of blunders, 
 seamanship must occupy some little place in our 
 attention. Nor do I think it fair to hold our ships 
 responsible for their ill-doings when they are not 
 guided by a better iatelligence. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 DIS( IPLINE. 
 
 So much has already been said upon tlic sub- 
 ject of discipline, tliat it scfins almost huimtHu- 
 oustoconsidt-ritfiirthpr. Yet, pcrliaps, tlicic lias 
 btH'D no wonl hh much almsi'd in naval circles as 
 this. It is fvcrywlii'ic said that thfic is no disci- 
 pline lik<- that wc have in Ihc navy. Tiic army 
 profess admiration for naval di8cij)lino wherever 
 they go. . Writ'-ns and cilizcns alike praise? the 
 navy for its discipline. Among fnirsilvcs, we are 
 ])l<;ised to think it the best that olitains in any 
 society, or among any organized body of men in 
 exist<nw. Parents with bad children arc ever 
 striving to get them under its benign influences, 
 and think, by so doin^, it will make a man of the 
 evil-doer. It is, perhaps, not so much because 
 naval discipline is perfect, as it is because th<ie 
 is so little everywhere else. I am no admirer or 
 the discipline, such as I have seen it, in our 
 armies. There is a code of laws there which pre- 
 
DISCIPLINE. 185 
 
 scribes rigorous punishments for crimes, but this 
 is not discipliae. It may be the next best thing 
 to it attainable. It does not make duty of law, 
 and performance a thing of high moral obligation 
 and happiness, and a thing of love. 
 
 It is a trite saying, that there are no longer child- 
 ren In the land. The saying is almost a truism. 
 Those bright, beautiful pictures ia our society 
 have vanished, or are vanishing. It is a terrible 
 thing to say, and still worse to believe, that 
 "there are no longer children in the world!" 
 They are leaving a vast, dreary blank behind, in 
 society, which no image can fill. Our youths are 
 men before they are boys ; and what kind of men 
 are they? The innocence of boyhood, and its 
 simple love and faith, its beautiful obedience, 
 give place to a preriiatuie monster of vice, of 
 rudeness, of infidelity and disloyalty, and a 
 brazen defiance of law. There is no discipliae in 
 our houses and at our firesides. The disrespect 
 of the child at the fireside has but a step to go 
 to disobedience to the civU and divine authority, 
 and a step more attains to defiant rebellion. 
 How many are taught to obey commands because 
 they are commands ? Who teaches obedience to 
 law simply hecause it is law ? simply because it 
 is duty? simply because law is of divine author- 
 ity ? Eather are we taught to obey because it is 
 
156 DISCI PUNK. 
 
 pleasing, or because' it is iilrasiiii: t<> tliosi' who 
 order. 
 
 I have intimattHl tliat discipliju' was tho rij;ht 
 government of men ; that it was tJie art of ob- 
 tainiiii: (ibi-dii-nn-, for the romniou good and haji- 
 piness of those who j^dvem and are governnl. 
 The governed have as profound an interest, theii'- 
 foie. in pond discipline, as those who govern. 
 There 8*"era8 to bean inveterate dislike growing 
 amongst ns to recognize and a^-knowledi^e any one 
 as sii]>erior to oiu>elves ; and tiiis feeling has h-d 
 men to think, in their gross ignorance and sellish- 
 ness, that there is no superior thing above tliein. 
 Can any one be suqirised that tliat divine tiling, 
 law, is draggetl down from its high estate, and 
 draggle<l into the dust of self? I have h<ard 
 vtung officre nlijiit to use the words, " siijm'- 
 rior officer.*' Cannot one officer be superior to 
 aii'iiher. then f Can lie not l)e superior in age, 
 rank, wisdom, and even in honor and virtue < 
 Cannot labor, toil, sirviee, brains, and ])lu<k 
 makn (111'- man superior to another? Rank is 
 the fitting reward for merit and for service. Is 
 any youth so dull, so stupid, so dea<l U) arabi- 
 tii '11. as not to hope to become himself, some day, 
 a superior officer % Many men conceive, that be- 
 cause we are taught — and rightly taught — '* that 
 aU men are bom free and equal," there can be 
 
DISCIPLINE. ,187 
 
 no one superior to another. We are born free 
 and equal in the noble heritage of human rights, 
 and these rights permit all to struggle for honor, 
 for fame, for learning and wealth. It is the 
 grandest heritage of humanity, that the poorest 
 and humblest can have fair play to become su- 
 perior in position to another. This declaration is 
 a sublime one, and fitly is it the corner-stone of 
 our liberty and our land. Yet all men are not 
 bom to the same talents, or to equal wealth, or to 
 equal privileges. If this fact be stern — ^if it be 
 our enemy— we must quarrel with nature, and 
 not with society or ourselves. God himself has 
 placed obstacles in the path of men. He has 
 sent sickly bodies, sickly miuds, poverty, and a 
 thousand miseries. He has planted bars of brass 
 and iron in the paths of some, over which they 
 can never pass. The American Declaration — ^the 
 most sublime declaration that ever sounded 
 through the ages — permits men the noble privi- 
 lege to struggle with their destiny, and attain 
 superiority wheresoever and howsoever they can, 
 without human hindrance, and unfettered by ar- 
 bitrary law. The right to competition among 
 men, gives the right to its rewards, and the enjoy- 
 ment of that superiority which claims honor and 
 obeisance from inferiority, wheresoever it may 
 assert its right. 
 
188 DISCIPUNE. 
 
 Naval rank and 8ui>riiority an^ batiiMl npou 
 these broad principles, tho same as others. 
 The siuct'ss of long aiul anliums service gives 
 rank tofiuiiii', and the brilliant manifestation of 
 talent, or loiirage, or cajiarity, gives it to otliera. 
 Xaval rank is the rewanl of nu-rit as much as it 
 is in ( ivLl or military life, and he wlio fails to 
 reci>pii/,t> a superior, fails in hia concejilion of 
 human rirtue. In the nary we recognize tlu'se 
 gi-neral princii)les, and bow to them. It is the 
 first lx>w we make to discipline. If naval rank 
 be the result of merit, then it shoulil be ol)eyed 
 and honored. There is nothing arbitrary in this ; 
 it is a nece.'^sity, after conviction. 
 
 There is nothing arbitrary in our naval disci- 
 ]iline. If there is any thing the eonclusion of 
 nasdii. it is our discipline. So deejjly ro()te(l is 
 this faet in the minds of our sailors, that it grows 
 dowTi into their hearts. There never was an or- 
 ganized mutiny that di<l not Cf>in(; from the at- 
 tempt to enforce arbitrary and unreasonable 
 laws, and even then tliey were endured to the 
 bitter end- Our naval discipline is uniformly 
 based upon the recognition of certain rights, 
 which inhere in all grades and classes. Hence it 
 is that justice has so large a living, and is so re- 
 spected in our ships-of-war. The absence of dis- 
 cipline in a shijvof-war is more lamented by the 
 
DISCIPLINE. 189 
 
 crew and the subordinates tlian "by any one else. 
 Without it, there is no protection to the weak, 
 no shield to those who have no rank, and no 
 guardianship over the subordinate. Arbitrary 
 will usurps the place of justice, and violent ca- 
 price breeds riot, and disorder, and wrong. 
 
 To govern men rightly, the cardinal principle 
 is to know what are their rights, and not only 
 cheerfully to grant them, but to protect them by 
 authority. I dwell much upon this obligation 
 of authority, for the moment it is violated, that 
 moment authority itself is struck. No man ever 
 yet was strong when he was wrong. He may do 
 much mischief, but he is vulnerable and weak at 
 last. If the rights of subordinates be not reli- 
 giously respected, there will be weakness dis- 
 covered in authority, and discipline is injured. 
 Naval men will endure wrongs perhaps longer 
 and less complainingly than any other class of 
 living men. But it is a silent endurance, that 
 produces misery and unhappiaess, and saps the 
 vigor out of their usefulness. This remark is 
 true of all classes, officers and men. While I 
 plead so earnestly for this sacred obligation to 
 respect the most delicate rights of men and offi- 
 cers, I do not wish to be understood as pander- 
 ing to the morbid sensibilities of discontented 
 and jealous men. 1 do not mean to say that it is 
 
190 DI8CIPI.IKE. 
 
 the sole duty of an officer to cater to the cnjirices 
 and wishes of men, when they go a hair l>(?yond 
 those rights. I do not wish it luulcistood that 
 men should be spoiled by indulirt'iico and then 
 trt-ated like spoiled children. It is a worse error 
 than the withholding of indiUgencn altogrtluT. 
 I do n< >t Ix'liovo in tliis thing of indulgence at all, 
 among large bodies of ni^n. A f<iin])l(< guarantee 
 of inalienable, reasonable riiilits, is not an indul- 
 g«-nre. 
 
 I liav(> never thonirlit that naval discipline 
 shouM i-xist only abaft tlie mainmast. 1 do not 
 know why insuliordi nation or wrong should be 
 punished inexorably on thr quarter-det;lc and 
 nowhere els<'. I liave seen some ships where 
 what wa-^ called discipline was found nowliere 
 exiept aft. Disciplini; is inex<irable. If the 
 lawB are ma«l'' and n'a<l— and that is what we 
 take good care to do in the navy once a month 
 to i-veiy body — if these laws are violated, no mat- 
 ter where, or by whom, they should be vindi- 
 cated. That disfijiline which is partial and not 
 whole, is an outrage. If we have one fault more 
 than another in the navy, it is in too great a le- 
 niency forward of the mainmast. K the punisli- 
 ment of death is too grave for the crime of deser- 
 tion, let it be altered ; but so long as the law 
 reads Death, it should be administered. Justice 
 
DISCIPLINE. 191 
 
 is inexorable. DiscipUiie, wMcli is founded on 
 justice, should be inexorable and pitiless, too. 
 
 WMle discipline provides, witli extreme care, 
 over the administration of men, guarding tbem at 
 every point against wrong, it must equally pro- 
 vide and execute punisbments on all o:^nders 
 and violators of law. The babit, so general, of 
 not punisbing a first offence, is arbitrary and 
 puerile. "It is tbe first step tbat costs," and it 
 is tbe first offence tbat needs to be punisbed, to 
 guard against a second. It sbould be ever un- 
 derstood, tbat it is not tbe officer wbo punisbes 
 offences ; it is tbe law ; tbe officer is tbe obliged 
 agent to fulfil tbe law. Tbere can be no plea in 
 tbe navy of ignorance as to wbat tbe law is. 
 Tbere is not a montb tbat passes, wben tbe arti- 
 cles for tbe government of tbe navy are not read 
 to every officer and man on board of every sbip 
 in tbe service. Tbis fact alone is tbe best index 
 of our discipline. As tbe rules of discipline ap- 
 ply in tbe protection of every soul in a sbip-of- 
 war, so it applies to tbe punisbment of every 
 offence committed by tbe least person on board. 
 No concealment can avert tbe searcbing eye of 
 discipline ; no plea can extenuate a wrpng, to 
 avert its punisbment. Tbis bas bitberto been 
 applied to officers only witb great severity, and 
 it bas been said tbat officers sbould suffer as an 
 
192 DKCIPLIN'K. 
 
 example. Now, I am not at all aware that the 
 crew of a ahip-of-war are any more ignorant of 
 their duties than the officers ; nor do I wf that 
 the sacrilioo of :in officer ehoold be made upon 
 the altar of a ship's company. Let discipline bo 
 just ; and it will confer happiiu-ss and fflicicncy, 
 inst<a<l of misery and wralviu'ss. Let it jit'no- 
 trate the lire-room and forecastle, the berUi-dock 
 and hold, as well as the quarter-deck. 
 
 The ol'j'-ot of discipline is to protect men from 
 wrong and t<> fxi-cute tin- law. Tln> law was 
 made for tlie imiimon poitil. But the law must 
 be n-siMit.d ;iii(l loved in order to insure a dieer- 
 ful ol>(lii'nce to it. I never knew an unliappy 
 ship that was an •Ificii-nt one, and I never knew 
 a ship that obtained a good condition of disei- 
 ]iline that was unliappy. The two conditions are 
 iuK-parable. < )l}edien<c and resjx-ct of superiors 
 never made a man unhappy. An improper or- 
 der can never be justified ; but to obey it need 
 not to produce unhappiness. No duty is ever 
 degrading. Duty is sacred, and its execution 
 confers dignity upon the i)erformer, whatever 
 may be its character. An humble duty can 
 never humiliate ; it can ennoble ; and the manner 
 of performance gives character to the performer. 
 Every man and officer is sworn to obedience; 
 hence the crime of disobedience is twofold, for it 
 
DISCIPLINE. 193 
 
 involves the violation of an oath as well as of 
 duty. I fear too many young officers forget this 
 grave fact ; and I fear, too, they forget it when 
 they sometimes give improper orders. It is easy 
 enough to give an order, "but he who gives it 
 should rememher that it is a grave thing to 
 ohey it. 
 
 Our naval discipline is patriarchal. While it 
 imposes an inflexible obedience and a relentless 
 system of punishments to evil-doers ; while the 
 violation of duties, of respect, and obedience, is 
 subject to an unwavering consecLuence, the 
 relations existing between the different grades 
 are characterized by. the refinements of cour- 
 tesy and the elegancies of politeness, which 
 approach often to an affectionate esteem. The 
 navy is justly honored for its graceful amenities 
 as well as for its pure integrity. The politeness 
 of the disciplined sailor is proverbial. There 
 is nowhere a society of men, deprived of the in- 
 fluences of womanhood, or even where their 
 presence flings a graceful charm over men, that 
 is so distinguished by the dignified amenities 
 that mark the gentle life. I have seen a soldier 
 enter the tent of his commanding officer with his 
 hat nailed to his head, and deliberately help 
 himself to a comfortable seat, without so much 
 
 as receiving permission to enter. The sailor 
 9 
 
194 DISCIPLINK. 
 
 would be shocked at such a thing, and would 
 rightly feel tluit such a presumption waa an mit- 
 rAge upon his self-respoct. His fueling of inde- 
 pi-ndenoo would ni'Vfi- toU'rato such a bn-.-uh of 
 good tastf, not to s-iy of pei-sonal rrsju'ct. lie 
 would stand in the pn'semi< of his superior until 
 the '"rnuk of lioom," if that superior did not 
 invit<' liim to tiie rights of ease. It is nut the 
 gi<'nf*<' of humiliation it slavish fear, as some per- 
 sons would s»npix>se. but it is the liigher sense of 
 ]iersional indtjH>nden<i' that olmracterizis his no- 
 tions of courtesy. If civility W not fn-dy given, 
 it is unwortliy to he accejited. Such notions, 
 such a system of education, ia hardy, and men 
 learn to Ue bra V.', when the challenge for battle 
 cones. It is the blending of courtesy and polil*-- 
 n< •^s with bravery that makes a man gallant. 
 (J.illantry and tlie obligations of a ])roteitor, 
 which the sjiilor ever wears in his heart, consti- 
 tute him the finest type of chivalry 1 know. The 
 sailor is the true knight-errant of the nineteenth 
 century. 
 
 The discipline of the Roman armies and of the 
 Roman society was as brutal as their savage 
 lust of conquest. The discipline of the Roman 
 society was that of the legions, and it recogniz<'d 
 no rights to the inferior. It was blind, fjatal obe- 
 dience or death, or worse than death. The power 
 
DISCIPLINE. . 195 
 
 of migM and tlie supremacy of authority, which 
 were alasolute in the Roman camps, gave its sanc- 
 tion to the iron laws that bestowed upon the 
 parent the right of life, or the right to take the 
 life of his own child. In later days, human sen- 
 timent began to touch the hearts of men. Men 
 began to feel that punishments might be greater 
 than offences. The weak claimed the right of 
 pity from the strong, and pity ripened into a 
 nobler sense of the recognition of duty. The op- 
 pressor became the enemy of society, and war 
 was declared against him. Chivalry was bom, 
 and grew uito a vital principle, and the sword 
 and battle-axe were wielded into new uses. The 
 discipline of the French armies has ever since 
 been tempered by the warmth of sentiment cul- 
 tured from the school of chivalry. But it never 
 yet, even in the days of the great Napoleon, dis- 
 tinguished clearly between the right of claiming 
 an implicit obedience and a profound respect for 
 the sacred rights of the inferior. The discipline 
 of the English army and navy has always been 
 of the Roman school, without its prestige of 
 grandeur or regal splendor. The flowers of 
 European chivalry never bloomBd in England. 
 There is much theory there of the great chart 
 of human rights, and everywhere, save in 'the 
 army and navy, the noble Anglo-Saxon love for 
 
196 DISCIPLIXE. 
 
 '■'■fair plan" ^ the brightest element of social 
 discipline. That discipline is sombre, iiu)od_\-, 
 violent, and arbitrary, n's]H'cting neither rank, 
 persons, or condition. It ifi the bastard imita- 
 tion of the Roman, without its genius in author- 
 ity, orits silent acquieseence to obey in tlie un- 
 thinking and unffi'lin^ inferior. Our Anieritjin 
 discipline has always been a myt!t<'iv to the Va\^- 
 lish officer. How people who are nil " born free 
 and eqnal " can ever lind superiors or inferiors 
 among thems<'lvi's, or how tliey ran learn to obey 
 and n-spi'ct, is a jiroblem tlu-y have not solved. 
 Yft they find the fact that our sailurs obey and 
 are courtt-ous. and they si-e mir clean, tidy Hhips, 
 and qui>-t, orderly dicks, and cnnsdlc thenisehis 
 that we do not exerci-^"' or drill. Tliey Hr-c, loo, 
 that otir shijis-of-war, instead of ])res<iiting a 
 motley, rabbli- crowd upon their " i)<'()i)l(d 
 decks," anj presented to them as models of or- 
 der, efficiency, and obedience. 
 
 Of all men in the world, the American is the 
 most easily governed, and tin- most readily sub- 
 mits to discipline. If it be based upon int<illigenci; 
 and justice. Justice he will have, cost what it 
 may. The troubles, the insuboidination, and 
 the violence to order in our ships, rarely or 
 nevi^r occur from native-bom Americans. They 
 arise invariably from foreign-bom men, from 
 England or Ireland- The loudest-mouthed di»- 
 
DISOIPLINE. 197 
 
 content, wlio brawls most about Ms being as 
 good as others and a free, independent citizen, is 
 invariably a native of the British Isles. 
 
 Good government of men — a calm, inflexible 
 but just discipline — conduces to the happiness 
 and efficiency of ship or state. Without it, 
 disintegration and disorganization -will as surely 
 foUow, as the apple does gravity. Injustice to 
 one or a few members of society will not insure 
 justice to the rest. Protection is the first law of 
 life, and in a ship-of-war authority must protect 
 when it is refused to the individual. Good men 
 must suffer if bad men are allowed a course of 
 wrong-doing. If certain men neglect their du- 
 ties, others as surely will be compelled to per- 
 form them. Discontent must then occur, and its 
 contagion will spread as no other evil will. A 
 keen sense of perpetual and daily wrong fixes 
 itself in the heart, and gloom, indifference, un- 
 happiness, and anger will destroy the efficiency 
 of a crew as inevitably as they occur. The finest 
 ships, the bravest men, the most terrible fighting- 
 men, I have ever known, were all happy, and 
 their lives were filled with a breadth of humor 
 that made them invincible. But no ship will be 
 happy, no men will be contented, if it be attempt- 
 ed to purchase those boons at the expense of in- 
 dulgences, rather than by the hardy gifts of just- 
 ice and an unflinching demand for obedience. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 oy BATTLK AN'D KIOIITIXCi QUALITrES. 
 
 Thk final objiHt to whioli our organization ami 
 thi- aiuainments <>f the p<rson/iil and ilisciiiliiin 
 of tlie rn>w t.'iul. is for the Imur of battle. It is 
 for this final end, tliat tlio Blu})-()f-war is built and 
 eqaipp'd and fniiiiiiissidiifd. Slu- must jxjssoss 
 the Iiigbest tii,'hting qualities, or bIk' fails in Iut 
 mission. No ship can be fully prepared for liat- 
 tlf tliat has not Ixi-n sonn- months in service. 
 ller ]>e<i])io um>t knowtlieir sliip, and be familiar 
 %vitli the ])erfeft use of her wea])ons and of her 
 own powers. It requires time, moreover, to ^et 
 the officers and men familiar wilii their stations. 
 Ev' ry ship has something i>eculiar to lierself. 
 Even if a large jwrtion of her officers and cr<\v 
 have been drilled before, it needs experience to 
 make them fully prepared for that particular 
 ship. Officers and men, too, must become habit- 
 uated to their vessel ; and they must identify 
 themselves with her, and feel that she is their 
 home and castle. This sentiment acts jwwer- 
 fuUy upon men in the hour of battle. A man 
 
OF BATTLE AND riGHTING QUALITIES. 199 
 
 "will figM better iu tlie defence of Ms own home 
 which, he loves, than he will anywhere else. 
 Hence it is, that every possible effort should be 
 used to attach the crew to their vessel. 
 , Speed is not a necessary fighting quality for a 
 ship. It is a great convenience, and that is all. 
 It is rather a negative quality, for it is mamly 
 good to help her escape from a too formidable 
 adversary. I never knew a man who would wiU- 
 ingly sacrifice any positive virtue for a negative 
 one. This is specially true of a broadside ship. 
 It is worth more to her to be able to maintain her- 
 self stoutly when once in combat, than to be able 
 to escape from one with great ease. It is better 
 for her to bear herself proudly into conflict than 
 to be sure of safety by getting out of it. Our 
 frigates and sloops-of-war are Une-of-battle ships ; 
 and they have no such great need of fleetness. 
 There never was a greater mistake than to crip- 
 ple the quarters for the battery, for the sake of 
 the long floor and narrow beam. To endanger 
 the stability of the battery for the sake of a few 
 fathoms speed, is a very false economy. The 
 ship should be built for the battery, and not the 
 battery for the ship. 
 
 The present arrangements for the supply of our 
 batteries, and for their whole service, leave noth- 
 ing to be desired. They are as perfect as they 
 
200 or BAXTLS A>D nQIITINQ QUAUTIKS. 
 
 need to be. No gim need to wait a second for its 
 ammtmitiLin, if the men be well drilled. There 
 is hardly an actideiit that can meur, which nkill 
 has not .amply provided for. Evi ly magazine, 
 .'v.-n- sheU-room, and ever} gun is jierfect in 
 itself. There is no deix*ndeiice of one updii nu- 
 otlit-r. 
 
 UntU very recently, there has been a most jhi- 
 nicioas habit of overloading and enruiubering 
 onr ships-of-war with an immense quantity of 
 rubbish. One sliip-ofwar has f^rncially eaiiii;d 
 another inside of her, in tiie way of Kjxtre mal< ■ 
 rials. Tlie chains liav-' been so crowded with 
 spari- pjmrs that another vessel might Im' com- 
 pl«t-]y ripged out an«\v. Sp^re topmasts, yards, 
 ]MX>ms, two s«-ts of tojfirallant masts, wtn- In iqxd 
 an<l \n\'->\ up inlKjard and outboard, until a grand 
 magazine for splinters was jinijared sulBcit-nt to 
 destro}' the whole <nw. I have seen an entim 
 gun's cr<-w wound'vl by splinters, from a shot 
 coming through the bulwarks, when there were no 
 spare spars at all in its wake. AVTiat would have 
 been the result if it had ])assed through a half- 
 dozen spars lashed tightly togi-th'T ^ Tiiis cns- 
 tom obtained when the world afforded few liar- 
 bors where a lost spar could be had. But like 
 many other things, it long survived its necessity. 
 I have never seen a topmast carried away yet, 
 
OF BATTLE AND FIGHTING QUALITIES. 201 
 
 it may be because I bave been lucky. But this 
 supply of spare spars is unnecessary, and in tbe 
 last degree pernicious. A similar passion to pro- 
 vide spare objects in case of accidents which 
 never happen, has flUed the berth-deck with lum- 
 ber and the hold with trash. It all adds weight, 
 and every useless article occupies a space that is 
 invaluable. Certain ships have so cleaned out 
 their holds that they were converted into hos- 
 pitals for the wounded, during the slaughter of 
 action. It was the best use ever made of them. 
 There is no part of the globe where a spare spar 
 cannot be had. There is no port where most 
 spare articles cannot be bought with money. 
 There is barely room for the necessaries of a 
 ship' s life, and if any can be spared, the engiae 
 department will gladly take it for fuel. As a gen- 
 eral rule, every unnecessary piece of lumber or 
 carpenter work about a ship-of-war should be 
 dispensed with. Our constructors are using what 
 they term "booby hatches," in our smaller ships. 
 They teU us it is cheaper to use them than hollow 
 brass railing and hoods. Perhaps so. The great 
 box of wood is always in the path of shot, and 
 the lives of the men surrounding them are placed 
 in expensive jeopardy. These brass railings can 
 be unshipped in one moment and put out of the 
 way — ^the big wooden box never can be. 
 
202 -eF BATTLK AXD «GHTLNG QUALITIES. 
 
 To prepare a sliip properly for battle, slie must 
 be stripped completely of her adtirnuneuts. Ev- 
 ery possible tliiut; that cau obstnut the path of 
 the projectile should be jnit out of tin- way. Not 
 a railing should be left, but ropes for life-lines 
 rove instead. I am personally knowing to more 
 than one life lost by the eutting of a anioke-stack 
 ),'uy, which shoiUd have bi-en put out of tlie way. 
 There must !>'■ a clean, eh-ur sw.cj) for the i^uus, 
 on the probability of an eni,'au;ement. Mueli must 
 depiid upon till' time alhiwed lor jji-eparation 
 befon- an action taki-s plaei-. There are an inlin- 
 it.- numlxT of small (Icviei-s and rares which 
 ivi-ry ship must make, and which should tax tlie 
 skill of the officers. If men observe an anxious 
 
 solicitude to siiv.- life, there h I be no fear tliat it 
 
 will make them timid. On thi^ contrary, there is 
 nothing ko settles rmn in courage as to know that 
 every thing has been done for their ^ood ; and 
 men thus convinced will fight with sterner re8(du- 
 tion than ever. I liave seen a sjjan; lashing upon 
 an anchor save a ship from a most unpleasant 
 anchorage, where disaster would have been sure 
 to ensue. In a night action, I have known white- 
 washed deck.s and a spotless white paint-work to 
 lighten the gear of the guns better than battle- 
 lanterns could serve the enemy. No ship should 
 ever be painted any other color within than the 
 
OF BATTLE AND FIGHTING QUALITIES. 203 
 
 most dazzling white. It not only gives a clean and 
 wholesome look, Tbut it gives light at night which 
 no enemy can see. I see no reason why a ship- 
 of-war should not be as scrupulously white, and 
 her decks as spotless in times of war as at any 
 other. It is no sign of a brave ship that she 
 should be slovenly or ill-kept, no more than it is 
 for a man. Stripped of her ornaments, every 
 particle of useless dress laid aside, snow-white 
 decks and a spotless paint, she is ready to move to 
 her work like an accomplished athlete, conscious 
 of her strength, as if she were an animate creature. 
 No ship-of-war, however, can be prepared as 
 she should be for battle without a previous long 
 and careful drill. There is so much in the art of 
 sea fighting to be learned and practised, that it 
 requires immense industry and activity to accom- 
 plish all of it. Pew, very few, ships, indeed, are 
 perfect in the use and drill of all the exercises of 
 battle. In this respect, the soldier is formed and 
 schooled ia a fraction of the time a sailor can 
 possibly do it. The soldier learns his musket 
 and his march, and his school is over. The sailor 
 must use the cannon, the field-artillery, the rifle, 
 the musket, the pistol, the broad-sword, the board- 
 ing-pike, and battle-axe. Naturally, his school 
 begins with the great guns ; but at once he is put 
 to drUl with the broad-sword and musket and the 
 
204 or BATTLE AXD nOHTINQ QUALITIES. 
 
 rifle. Oftentimes, indeed, the haste is t»<) great, 
 the emergency so pressiiif:, that lie is irowdetl 
 into exiri_i<«"S unto he is bewilclen'tl. Drill can 
 never cease in a ship-of-war. The oonununder 
 cannot afford to have arms furiuBhed to him, with 
 hands to use them, and ntit have them under- 
 stood. Drill cannot cease with a tolenil)lt> pro- 
 firii'iuy at j^rreat guns, or witli muskets, or light 
 artilltTy. The bnnid-sword is one of the most 
 iss<^ntial drills in a ahip-of-war. The boarding- 
 pike and pisi"! demand less attention, yel tliey 
 d<>mand ext-rcisc and drilL There is not a weapi ui, 
 not a iiiithod of liglitiiig tiiat ciiii Im* dispensed 
 with. A sliijis rrew that are incitid to the usn 
 of tlie«e wcajx>iis, will soon take pride in tlifiii, 
 ami their accompli si icd use of them will render 
 them very devils in battle. If men know what 
 they can do, they an- ready to undertake it. To 
 every additional a<-compli8hment of tlie art of 
 fighting tliat is added to the sailor's education, 
 there is also added an immense confidence and 
 element of strength. I have seen some ship's 
 companies that could make a better fight with 
 singlesticks than others could with bayoni.'ts 
 upon their muskets. An accomplished man-of- 
 war's man can fight under any circumstances and 
 with any weajwus. The drill for boarding and 
 repelling boarders is soon learned, as it is gen- 
 
OF BATTLE AND FIGHTING QUALITIES. 205 
 
 erally taught. But as a divisional officer, I should 
 never let my men separate from each other or my- 
 self, and if I could not cover my own guns, I 
 vyould cover those of some one else. If the en- 
 emy is to be met hand to hand, if swords and 
 pikes are to Ibe crossed, there is need of the men 
 and officers of a division fighting side by side, as 
 they have done already at the guns. Men and 
 officers can never be too perfect at the art of 
 fighting. DriU. is needed for every thing, and 
 among the rest a drill for fighting fire. The 
 fire bUl, in most ships, is unhappily too little 
 looked to. There have been seen ships where 
 none existed even on paper. No one would ex- 
 pect such ships to fight. In time of battle, a ship 
 must be prepared to fight fire, water, and the en- 
 emy, all at the same time. 
 
 It is surprising that so little divisional emula- 
 tion exists among the officers of our ships-of-war. 
 If the officers themselves do not enter body and 
 soul into these duties, they cannot expect the 
 men to do so. It needs zeal, it needs untiring 
 energy, and it needs a love for the noble profes- 
 sion of the arms they have embraced to be thrown 
 into the work of preparing a ship for battle. If 
 she is to be invincible, if she is to go fearless to 
 her work, strong in the confidence of her miglit, 
 she must first undergo the drudgery of drill. 
 
206 OF BATTLB A>T) FIGimXa ylALITlBS. 
 
 Mere drill of empty motions is penorally profit- 
 less. M<ir<' powder should bo Ininit in tarj^i't 
 practiiv. M.-n must first fcfl the si)itoful recoil 
 of a gun and see the effect of tlio shot it lliugs 
 before thoy can have full confidence in its virtue. 
 Ammunition thus expended is well sjn'iit. But 
 most of our tarLC't pnu-ticc of late j-oars has Ixcn 
 at tlic live enemy at our doors, and a f^ood school 
 it has bi-.ii. 
 
 The porfi-ct sliip-of-war nnist liavc hor peo])le 
 imbiii-d with a large cfiprif-ffc-ctir/is. Thoy must 
 Tjc fond of their siiip— tliey must be proud of lier 
 and of tlii'ir professinn. and if tliey are rc;otisti< al 
 :iiid fancy ihat particular ship to possess more 
 virtues tlian :tiiy other, it is a fault that should be 
 cultivatetl. I knew the crew of a cei-tatn ship-of- 
 warrefns<» to speak to tliatof anf)tlier, occasioned 
 by some disres|M'(tfnl words spoken of the vess<'l. 
 The boat>" crews would lie alongside in tiieir 
 boats and could not be induced to go aboard. 
 P>ut when those ships move<l into battle, it was 
 terrible. Suc]i fighting the world never saw. If 
 th'-re are virtues in a ship, the men will soon find 
 tliem out and make the most of them. But the 
 pride and affection for a ship by her ofiicers and 
 crew will, if properly cultivated, render them in- 
 vincible. K that pride is wanting, it must be 
 cultivated or the ship will be a £ailare. 
 
OF BATTLE AND FIGHTINC QUALITIES. 207 
 
 We see now wliat a cliarm an enlightened dis- 
 cipline gives to a sMp-of-war. It is, after all, tlie 
 very heart of its vitality, the life of its being. It 
 diffuses a spirit of contentment and personal in- 
 terest throughout the whole ship. The vessel 
 herself becomes personal to the officers and men, 
 and one is identified with the other. The honor 
 of the ship is the honor of the people as weU. 
 There is no danger of stimulating this pride in a 
 ship beyond undue limits. If the men of a ship 
 are boastful of her, it is easy enough to require 
 them to make good their boasts by exhibiting 
 their efficiency. 
 
 I am convinced that much drill by general quar- 
 ters is not productive of great good. It is well 
 enough to practise it at times in order to keep the 
 men in hand to work together. But the driU 
 must be special and particular, if men are to 
 learn much from it. It will be obvious from this, 
 that after the ship's work is done, after such as 
 the daily duties of sailing her, cleaning her, and 
 keeping her in repairs, there is not much time to 
 be lost if the men are to undergo that perfect 
 system of drill I have indicated. I know of no 
 busier place than a man-of-war. A gale of wind, 
 at times, is a comfort, for it brings rest with it. 
 
 A ship-of-war, under ordinary conditions of 
 equipment, in furniture and ordnance, if she have 
 
208 or BATTLE AM) nOHTINa QUALITIES. 
 
 no Berious defect.-, cjin thus be mmio oiio of the 
 most formidable engines of war that a nation can 
 prodncf. Under a humane but striiiiitnt disci- 
 pline, til.' oflSciTs and men alike inspired witli 
 pride and confidence in her, her people well 
 tanght in every accomplishment of na\ al duties, 
 in every mode and raetiiotl of lighting an enemy, 
 bold for ofTenie, confident in defence, her com- 
 mander may well feel himself a sti-ong man and 
 :i dangerous enemy to an jjggresaor. There arc 
 no fears or (]^uaking8 among his men as to what 
 th'V can do, nor does their fearless confidence in 
 theiiis<'lvi^ 111- tliejr oaken bulwarks pass over 
 into an extreme of vanity. If any men on earlii 
 can know ]ireci.sely wliat tliey can do, they are 
 t hone of such a man-of-war :ls I Inive depicted. 
 If any men can ni'-.osure their own strong arms 
 with ])re<'ision, tliey are they. 
 
 A ship tlins jirejjared, stripped and ready for 
 combat, should move into aetion with clean, livid 
 fires, but with low steam. Guided by tlie intelli- 
 gence of her commander, she goes silently, slow- 
 ly, but magnificently, to the work of battle. It 
 is no time for multiplied orders, or for human 
 voici-s. The dead silenee of a ship-of-war movin;^ 
 into action is sublime. The hour comes when 
 instruction ceases, and when orders are not need- 
 ed. I love that sUence that precedes the strife of 
 
OF BATTLE AND FIGHTING QUALITIES. 209 
 
 battle ; it gives men time to say a prayer, and then 
 to look the lion ia the face. There is n5 rush, nor 
 shout, nor clang, nor brazen trumpet-blasts, that 
 open the scenes of a naval conflict. The enemy 
 is before you, and the approach is slow, solemn, 
 and stately, like the tread of a demon of concLuest, 
 whose victory is already won. It is good to look 
 the enemy fairly in his face, to contemplate him 
 as he is, and select your position with cold delib- 
 eration before the guns have spoken. It is the 
 American temper to let the enemy open the first 
 communications, and treat them with that scorn- 
 ful disdain, which a consciousness of strength and 
 will alone can give. These serious moments that 
 usually precede a naval conflict, do not shake the 
 courage of our men. It is plain that there is 
 manly, solemn work to be done, and fears of re- 
 sults find no place of lodgment m the hearts or 
 minds of the men who are to do it. The ship 
 slowly and sUently moves to her position, and 
 that once assumed, the work begins. The men, 
 who were as cold as the iron of their guns, only 
 warm with the huge masses they are serving. 
 Not a man falls that he is not taken to a place of 
 safety by trusty hands, who have already been 
 drilled to the duty. 
 
 ' The report of fire has now no alarms, for there 
 are men already chosen to fight it. The report 
 
210 OF BATTLE AND nOHTING QDAUTIES. 
 
 of water making below has no terrors, for that 
 also has been provided for. The men at the guns 
 st»-adily ply at their wi.rk, dazzled only by tlie 
 blazing flanu-s from their own pieces. The eon- 
 flict prognsses with the qxiiet, orderly system of 
 a daUy routine, s.-ive there isa d<i]) and profound 
 f.'inifstni'ss xipon the faces of the toiiibntants. 
 Tliere ran be no disaster to that ship! Slic is a 
 living, rriishing Amazon at Iht Avork of deutii. 
 Ev.m though Ikt vitals an- struck and pierctd by 
 the < iicmy, tin re is no tn-mor, no cry, no falter. 
 So long as the ship tln.its, even though slie can 
 no longer nrnve, even though slie be cripjiled and 
 blindinl. yi t her guns can work, and their liolts 
 W llun:r witli increased rapidity ami deadlier 
 aim. So long a^ the ^-hip floats upon the bosom 
 of her " l.iiiciii. so long she is terrilile in combat, 
 ami no gun hesitates or slackens its lire. 
 
 People talk very easily :ind fluently about send- 
 ing a ship to the bottom. It is much easier said 
 than done. She may be pierced and torn to 
 pieces, but it is a difficult thing to sink her, and 
 is very seldom done. If the machinery and 
 steam could In- confined below the vrater-line, a 
 ship-of-war might be nrnde invulnerable, and in- 
 vincibility might become a reality instead of a 
 word. It is incredible how much injury a ship- 
 of-war may sustain, and yet prove a dangerous 
 
OF BATTLE AND FIGHTING QUALITIES. 211 
 
 adversary. Tlie perfect haMt of our profession 
 of encountering obstacles, removing difficulties, 
 and repairing injuries, is the great element of a 
 ship's tenacity in action. There is a ready rem- 
 edy for every evU. It is not, perhaps, that there 
 are special, inherent capalbilities in a ship that 
 makes her so formidalble as an antagonist. It 
 will "be readily observed that it depends mostly 
 upon the drill and education of her people and 
 her commander. The fighting power of a ship 
 may Ibe measured by the character and amount 
 of drUl she has had. A single fatal shot may 
 sink the best ship that ever floated; but that 
 single fatal shot rarely strikes in the right place. 
 I know of a certain ship which was taken delib- 
 erately abreast of a heavy casemated fort, and 
 there stopped within less than one hundred yards' 
 distance to fight it out, ' ' yard-arm and yard-arm. ' ' 
 The combatants on either side were so close that 
 they talked to each other. At the third broad- 
 side from the ship the fort was as silent as the 
 clay and brick of which it was made. Live men 
 could not stand at the embrasures or barbette 
 guns, under the heavy shower of nine and eleven- 
 inch grape that was poured into them until the 
 entire face of the fort was spattered over with 
 their scars. The fort sUenced, the ship quietly 
 passed on. This, too, happened at a time when 
 
212 OF BATTLE AND nOHTIXG QDAUTIES. 
 
 army teaching half led ii? to believe that one gun 
 ashore was competent to fight livf guns afliwit. 
 Yet there are artillery oflScers wlio are foolhardy 
 t-nough to clini: to this srhool ytill. For my own 
 part, I trust 1 may nevi-r find ,mvat<»r odds ai^aiiist 
 me in the path of victory •. nor should I bi' ron- 
 tent with much K'ss, whether the lcuus be oi Ixtr- 
 btUe or in casemate. 
 
 I know of no nobler or gmnder eight tliaii a 
 b-autiful ship going into action. A man wIki 
 once set's it, is not Iik<ly to forgi-t it ; and Uw. 
 yiiung officer who doi'S not fi'cl ciinoblcil by liis 
 magnificent jmifi-ssion, <aii ])()sst'Hs in'illii'r an 
 imagination to strike nor a mind to coiicrivi' 
 N.arly .v.'ry great event in lln- history of nations 
 and mi*n lias been (b-fidi'il by a naval batlli'. 
 Th<* l)attl<» of Salaiids ovcrtlinw tin- Persian 
 power for ever, and stayed its romiucst over (in;- 
 cian civilization and letters. Th<' battle of Lepanto 
 broke the scinKtar of the Turkish power, and the 
 Christian world was at last relieved from ttie 
 shadows of Mohammedanism which had so long 
 threatened to blot it out for ever. Europe was 
 upon the very vf-rge of losing her Christian lights 
 and Christian name, and we may shudder to thinl: 
 what the world would have been had the scime- 
 tar triumphed over the Christian sword. The 
 battle of the Great Armada extinguished the lafct 
 
OF BATTLE ASTD FIGHTING QITALITIES. 213 
 
 dream of universal monarcliy. It ended tlie hor- 
 rible wars of conquest against the brave republic 
 of the ^Netherlands by the greatest power on 
 earth, and finally freed Protestantism from the 
 crushing grasp of its arch enemy. It laid Philip 
 the Second in the tombs of his ancestors, and 
 sent the Duke of Parma unto despair and death. 
 The fight at Trafalgar established England firmly 
 among the nations, and enthroned her upon the 
 British Islands for a lasting memorial to liberty 
 and Christianity. The conflicts of our noble Old 
 Ironsides did more to establish American nation- 
 ality upon the Western Contiaent than all the 
 fighting of 1813 upon the land. 
 
 Almost every memorable event among the na- 
 tions has been connected more or less intimately 
 with a battle on the sea. I trust that the Ameri- 
 can navy may not prove unworthy of its high 
 and generous mission, and that our young offi- 
 cers will bend themselves to renewed labor, to 
 ceaseless study of their gallant profession, which 
 calls for endless toil and tireless application. 
 
CHAPTER XVm. 
 
 HE X A V A I, o F 1 I C K R. 
 
 Thk cntniiu-"' into ivgular imval life of thia pub- 
 lic servant is ma*lf in boyhood. The youth ia 
 giv<n away l>y the parent to the nation in tciidi r 
 yars. To ucertain ili'^n-i', Ww Ixiy is scvcii'd from 
 the family, and the homo discipline and home 
 authority pvi-n up for tliosi' of Um CJovernment. 
 The ihijd it» lii<r;iliy ^,'ivon away to fin- State, for 
 w^eal or woe, for life or deatii. iicnnforth, liis 
 oducHtioii. his morals, his labors of mind and 
 body, belong to tlie country. He enters under a 
 discipline that is both parental and military. 
 
 The first four years of his new life are devoted 
 to a preparation by study to mould both mind 
 and character for the peculiar duties of the pro- 
 fession he has chosen. This course of education 
 is mostly theoretical, its main object being to d*;- 
 velop the mind into full capacity for thought and 
 judgment, as well as to attain that scholastii; 
 knowledge which the many problems of the na\ - 
 igator continually present. There is also blended 
 
THE NAVAL OFPIOEB. 215 
 
 with, this course of education as much practical 
 experience as possible. He gets an insight into 
 the world of service beyond his horizon, and gets 
 some early and primary notions of the responsi- 
 bilities of command. It is intended to embrace 
 in this four years' course of study such, and only 
 such, teachiags as bear more or less directly upon 
 his profession as a sailor, and a public man. It 
 is a course of education that is peculiarly techni- 
 cal, and which, outside of his special sphere of 
 life, is not calculated to fit him for other pursuits. 
 It is true, his mind is taught positive and exact 
 things. Only such graces of education as will 
 bear upon his usefulness in public life are need- 
 ed, and only such are given. His whole course 
 of education is special, and apart from that of 
 other men. And hence it is that the naval officer 
 is rendered so unfit for the pursuits and business 
 of civil life. 
 
 As a special institution for professional learn- 
 ing, I doubt there is any in existence so carefal;^ 
 so thorough, and so complete, as the Naval Aca- 
 demy of the United States. In contrast to the 
 military schools of our own and other countries, 
 the naval student graduates with a mind bet- 
 ter tempered for the prosecution of future 
 study, and with a healthful elasticity, that none 
 others give. On the day of graduation, he learns 
 
216 THE NAVAL OFnCKR, 
 
 the lasting lesson of life that he is only thor- 
 oughly prepared to attain knowledge, mikI that 
 Tie knows how to thiiik. He is then thrown inti) 
 the arena of senice — a serrici' that is almost new 
 to him, and wln-re a stern, practical school is 
 opent'il. where l.'ssons are learned in the nets of 
 duty. Respmsibilities an^ thrown n])on his 
 yonng shoulders, aa wciLrlity as ho can bear. 
 But tiny an- worn like a mantle, clothing him 
 ■with dignity and care. From a pupil, he :it once 
 IxTomes a teacln-r to liis stibonlinatcs. Every 
 task tliat he has Icanicd at bcIkjoI now finds a 
 prnctic. The prohlcma of the blackboard arc 
 8olvc<l among the st.irs, and in tlic (lc])tliH of the 
 ocean. 
 
 The naval officer ia always at school. Tlie very 
 routine of his prf)ffssion changes day by day. 
 PniLrnss. invention, cliange, keep him ever learn- 
 ing new things, and solving new problems. To 
 keep pac'' with the progress of his profc-ssion, he 
 jnnst l^e a scholar as well as a laborer. New 
 ships are given him to sail, and fight. New wea- 
 pons are placed in his hands. Progress meets 
 him everywhere, and on every tack. He has 
 already learned to take interest in the progress 
 of sci'ucea, and the teeming events of each day 
 invite him to study their nature. There is hot 
 Little time for general reading, but tin- demand 
 
THE NAVAL OFFICER. 217 
 
 for it is imperative, if he would not be ignorant 
 of those things which men discuss around him. 
 In the mean time, the labors of daily duty tax his 
 temper, his judgment, and wisdom. 
 
 His cruisiQg over the ocean enhances the pow- 
 ers of his observation. Foreign tongues and 
 habits, foreign systems of government and reli- 
 gion, foreign society, and contact with the great 
 world in its multifarious aspects and inter- 
 ests, are so many volumes for study and intelli- 
 gence. Such a life renders it less possible for the 
 naval officer to deceive himself than any other. 
 Of all men who make direct approaches to truth, 
 he is perhaps the one who finds the shortest line. 
 
 As age wears on, rank briags with it additional 
 responsibilities. With increased authority come 
 increased cares, and a more composed and 
 thoughtful judgment. He begins to realize that 
 to some extent many of the great interests of his 
 Government are intrusted to his keeping. He 
 is brought la contact with the chief men of his 
 country, as well as those of other nations. 
 Wider and broader opens up the sphere of his 
 action, and the sun never sets upon his horizon. 
 
 In the mean time, he has passed the best years 
 
 of his life, away from ties and associations which 
 
 are the dearest to man. The life apart has weaned 
 
 the brother, perhaps the sister, jfrom the passion- 
 
 10 
 
218 THE XAVAL OFTICKR. 
 
 ate lovo of youth ; and tho jmrtMits. who ^;ivo 
 him away to the country, arc buried in tln' ^ravc. 
 Till' society of his youth liaa undorfjonr chanj^o. 
 Tiny know him by his good name, and delight 
 to recofiniz'- him, if by chance In- ])ays a tran- 
 hii-nt \ isit to the tombs of his now brok« u and 
 disjxrsfd frit-nds and family, lie then feels a 
 seen t. ])assionate longinj; to get away again iijiDn 
 the broad bosom of his mother ocean, wiiere he 
 can draw a sigh from the deejx'st depths of his 
 soul. II<- fi-fls indeed that he is the child of the 
 ocian, and the orphan of the laud ! 
 
 There isan habitual sadness, as well as earnest- 
 ness, in the di-ejHT currents of the naval officer's 
 life. If he be not like the brave and noble Ool- 
 lingwoocl, and have cliildn-n born to him, they 
 prow up to lis]) till- name of the absent, or to 
 ]Kmder over the lines of a photograph. Thin al>- 
 sence, this utter sundering from social life and 
 home, brings a well of ev<i]asting love in liis 
 heart, and the delusive jdeasures of his life art; 
 spent in long, earnest yearnings over the sea to 
 the little islet of affections, anchored on the very 
 rim of his horizon. Why should he not be an 
 earnest and thoughtful man 'i From the day he 
 leaves his school, and enters fairly upon the du- 
 ties of his profession, his life is a ceaseless strug- 
 gle with difficulty, and a never-ending combat 
 
THE NAVAL OFFICER. 219 
 
 with, danger. Men thus living together on ship- 
 Tboard contract fellowships which are unknown to 
 other men. There is a common bond in the so- 
 ciety of the shipboard life that, though it may be 
 unspoken, has a singular strength and tenacity. 
 
 The stern earnestness of tlie naval character is 
 not a morbid or gloomy one. If too often the 
 heart is carried upon the sleeve, there is generally 
 an honorable confidence in it that is fearless and 
 cheerful. A life spent amid tempests and ocean 
 storms, with the symbols of eternity above, be- 
 low, and around, is not calculated to make a 
 man very bad. I never knew a sailor who was 
 an infidel, and who did not reverence and know 
 as much of God as most men. Unaccustomed to 
 the infinite vices of every day civD. life, the mean- 
 ness of a lie or a cheat fills Mm with angry indig- 
 nation, whicli most men smUe at. A life of com- 
 mand, and of th.e exercise of autkority, renders 
 him impatient at beholding a wrong, and his im- 
 pulse is always to redress it. A mean act fires 
 his indignation sooner than a crime. 
 
 • Of all men living, the naval officer skould pos- 
 sess in the fullest degree the graces of a Christian 
 gentleman. No man is so closely watched, none 
 so closely criticised, nor so relentlessly discussed 
 by citizens. As a living example, more than any 
 man, he is all his life through placed before 
 
220 THK KAVAL OFFICKR. 
 
 others who are but too willing and ready to quote 
 him for autliority. Tlu> sailor lonks to him as 
 his model, the young officer as authority, and 
 the citizen to scan and probe, lie is a sworn 
 man. and his word should be bettor tli.m nutst 
 men's oaths. Sworn to truth, sworn to fidelity, 
 to loyalty and homir, he is, or should b<>, tiie 
 incarnation of a gentleman. 
 
 lU'V. Dr. Channintr, of Boston, in a very able 
 discussion on the character of the greut Niijioleon, 
 .assunns that the geniu-stind abilities ri'iinired for 
 a great military man am of a secondary order. 
 In this discussion, liowever, he confines military 
 genius to the exerci.'ie of overcoming physical 
 olistacles only. He limits tlie ca])acity recpiired 
 for a great military man to th<' art of i-rossing a 
 rirer, or a desert, r)r a mountain, or to overcome 
 fortifications, and lines of defence, and the me- 
 clianii-al tactics of an army of men. Had any 
 other than so great a writer assumed this ])OHition, 
 I should not ae,|uit him of a partiality too strong- 
 ly tinctured with prejudice. If tlie Duke of ^^^el- 
 lington never made a fluent speech in the House 
 of Lords, history gives him credit for shaping 
 and originating the articles of the great treaty of 
 181. J, which has secured the peace and happiness 
 of Europe and the world ever since. Whatever 
 conquest is made, the victor must create a gov- 
 
THE NAVAL OFFICER, 221 
 
 emment, and organize society, out of violent and 
 dismemlbered fragments. Will any one say it 
 is a secondary order of talent that performs this 
 duty successfully ? Was Lord Nelson greater at 
 Trafalgar or at Kaples ? Grranted, at Naples he 
 was not so agreeahle to contemplate, but which 
 position gave England most advantages 1 If Na- 
 poleon did not write the articles of the Code Na- 
 poleon, it is weU understood that he framed the 
 best body of laws France ever had. Napoleon, 
 dictating the principles of his Code to his min- 
 isters, is greater than Napoleon in Russia, or 
 at Tilsit. Csesar was essentially a military man. 
 Was Csesar greater among the Grauls or subdu- 
 ing the turbulence of Eoman society, and creat- 
 ing the grandest empire the world has ever seen 
 out of its torn and mutinous elements ? WhUe 
 the statesmen of England were coquetting with 
 their Spanish politics, and ruia to the world of 
 religious liberty was hanging on a balance, the 
 old admirals of Elizabeth grappled with the Ar- 
 mada, and secured freedom to the world and 
 safety to their Country by making a wreck of it. 
 Our own commodores of an earlier day were as 
 ready at making treaties as they were at conquer- 
 ing them. The statesmen of Europe had humored 
 the Barbary pirate princes, and paid a shame- 
 ful tribute to them from the days of Louis XIV. 
 
222 THE NAVAL dPTICKK. 
 
 to thus*? of Porter, and Di^catiir, and Bain- 
 bridi:--. 
 
 There is sonutldng mon' required of naval and 
 military men than merely to lonquer rivers, and 
 mountains and fortri-sses. Inllie highi rdciiiauds 
 fur talent, ki^^t«lIy furnishes no example where 
 military or naval edueatimi was unequal to tho 
 duty to bo ]M-rformed. >;o nation ever yet got 
 into In .11 bio that this talent was not ealled int(. 
 re<iuisition to extricate it. 
 
 Therr is sonifthing hiaufiful to me in the eon- 
 t< inplation of the charaitir of our naval men. 
 Their simplicity and directness is admirable, whe- 
 thiTWi' conc'di' to them ability or not. No naval 
 ofhc»T can '-ver consoh^ himself that his school- 
 days an? •>Dded, except with his life. The bright- 
 est and fairist (lualitii-s that adorn human nature 
 must be his. K h«- 1ms not tin- local j)olish and 
 elegance of manners of the etiquett<i of the land, 
 it may <'asily be forgiven. I'ut there are quali- 
 tk's and virtues that, if wanting, nevir can be-. 
 He is as often called upon to exhibit the wisdom 
 of a statesman as he is the coura^^e of a hardy 
 warrior. We expect from him purity of man- 
 ners and morals, and the cultivation of a scholar. 
 AV>- look for wisdom in his judgment, and gi-aco 
 in his deportment. We expect the courage of 
 the lion to be blended with the gentlen<.s3 of a 
 
THE NAVAL OFFICER. 22S 
 
 woman. His position in society and in th.e state 
 is anomalous. Placed on the nation's borders, 
 lie is a sentinel on post — ^the very incarnation 
 of fidelity and vigilance. His life passes in 
 exile, oftentimes hungry and stinted for the 
 commonest necessaries of existence. Often for- 
 gotten, frequently neglected, he is the guardian 
 at the watch-tower of the nation's liberties. If 
 he be not rich, or honored, as other men are, 
 with half his labor, and half Ms inellect, he pos- 
 sesses the inestimable consciousness, at least, that 
 his career has been useful, and his life spent for 
 the welfare and good of his fellow-men. 
 
D. VAN NOiTRAND S PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 A 
 
 Treatise on Ordnance and Naval 
 
 Gunnery. 
 
 Compiled and arranged as a Text-Book for the U. S. Naval Acade- 
 my, by Lieutenant Edward Simpson, U. S. N. Third edi- 
 tion, revised and enlarged, i vol., 8vo, plates and cuts, do. 
 
 "As the oompilor has charge of the instraotion in Naval Gonneryat the Naval Acad- 
 emy, his work, in the compilation of which he has consulted a large number of eminent 
 authorities, is probably well suited for the purpose designed by it— namely, the circulation 
 of information which many ofl&cers, owing to constant service aQoat, may not have been 
 able to collect. In simple and plain language it gives instruction as to cannon, gun-car- 
 riages, gunpowder, projectiles, fuzes, locks, and primers ; the theory of pointing guns, rifles, 
 the practice of gunnery, and a grear variety of other similar matters, interesting to fight- 
 ing men on sea and land." — WasMngton Dmiy Globe. 
 
 \J 
 
 UNNERY Catechism, 
 
 As Applied to the Service of Naval Ordnance. Adapted to the 
 latest Official Regulations, and approved by the Bureau of Ord- 
 nance, Navy Department. By J. D. Brandt, formerly of the 
 U. S. Navy, l vol., i8mo, cloth. $1.50 
 
 BUEEAU or OEl>lfAK0E— Navt Depaetmeht, 1 
 Washington City, Juhj 80, 1864. ) 
 
 Mr. J. D. BEAHnr— Sir : — 
 
 Tour " CATEcmsM of Gttnneet, as applied to the service of Naval Ordnance," having 
 been submitted to the examination of ordnance officers, and favorably recommended by 
 them, is approved by this Bureau. 
 
 I am. Sir, your Obedient Servant, 
 H. A. WISE, 
 
 Chief of Bweom. 
 
 G 
 
 UNNERY Instructions. 
 
 Simplified for the Volunteer Officers of the U. S. Navy, with hints 
 to Executive and other Officers. By Lieut. Edward Barrett, 
 U. S. N., Instructor of Gunnery, Navy Yard, Brooklyn. 1 
 vol., i2mo, cloth. %\ 25. 
 
 " It is a thorough work, treating plainly on its subject, and contains also some valuable 
 hints to executive of&cers. No officer in the volunteer uftvy should be without a copy."— 
 Boston Enmiimg TravMer. 
 
 25 
 
D. VAN NOSTRANd's rVBUCATIONi. 
 
 Tp^LEMENTARY INSTRUCTION IN N.W AL OrD. 
 
 NANCE AND GuNNERY. 
 
 By James H. Ward, Commander U.S. N.ivy. Author of " Naval 
 Tactics," and '-Steam for the Milli .11." New Edition, revised 
 and enlarged. ^\o, cloth, tt. 
 
 ** II eooTrx* Ml Arooanl uf loftmnaUon la tlt« Mmi> K[Map i" }» fouml nuwh<ir« c]m>, and 
 fflrtm wlUi m Ht*nti*t which ivndcr* It uadUl as w«U tu the gcii«nJ at tho i<n<fta»1uuaj 
 ittqiitrat.''— .V. )'. KrtniHf /iwt 
 
 M 
 
 .AN UAL OF Naval Tactics j 
 
 Together with a Brief Critical Aiulyiis of the principal Modem 
 Naval Battles. By Jamm H. Ward, Curimandcr U. S. N. 
 With an Appendix, being an extract from Sir I iMwarJ Douglas's 
 "Naval Warfare with Steam." 1 vul., 8vo, cloth. I3.00. 
 
 N 
 
 AUTiCAL Routine and Stowage. 
 
 With Short Rules in Navigation. By Johk McLcod Murphy and 
 Wu. N. Jepfeiis, Jr., U. S. N. 1 vol., 8vo, blue cloth. 
 
 T 
 
 otten's Naval Text-Book. 
 
 Naval Text-Book and Dictionary, compiled for the use of the Mid- 
 shipmen of the U. S. Navy. By Commander B. J. Totten, 
 \ U. S. N. Second and revised edition. 1 vol., 1 zmo. t^j 00, 
 
 "Thli ^ ri; u prvpartd for Uie Mldablpmcn of the United '■tatea Sary. It la a compIeK 
 mamial of uutmrdoni aa to the dotlca which [icrtain to their olBee, and appcan to hara 
 b«ai pt^indwlth great care, aroidbig error* and lna«.tir»«laa which had cr<-|.t Into a 
 ronner rdltfcm of the woA, and embttRing Talnable addtUoiial matter. It la a book which 
 •hooM be In the hands of errry mldablpman, and ofllocn of hl|^ rank In th« nary waaU 
 aftcii ^L'i ft a nsefvl companivL." — li'M-^n Journat 
 
 •J a 
 
D. VAN NOSTRAND S PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 L 
 
 ESSONS AND PRACTICAL NoTES ON StEAM, 
 
 The Steam-Engine, Propellers, &c., &c., for Young Marine Engi- 
 neers, Students, and others. By the late W. R. King, U. S. N. 
 Revised by Chief-Engineer J. W. King, U. S. Navy. Ninth 
 edition, enlarged. 8vo, cloth. $2 00. 
 
 " This iB the second edition of a valuable -work of the late TV. E. King, U. 8. N. It con- 
 tains lessons and practical notes on Steam and the Steam-Engine, Propellers, &c. It ia 
 calculated to be of great use to young marine engineers, students, and others. The text is 
 illustrated and explained by numerous diagrams and representations of machinery. This 
 new edition has been revised and enlarged by Chief Engineer J. "W. King, U. S. N., 
 brother to the deceased author of the -vvorlc." — JBoston I>adl/y Acl/v&rtiser. 
 
 'T^HE Steam-Engine Indicator, 
 
 And the Improved Manometer Steam and Vacuum Gauges : Their 
 Utility and Application. By Paul Stillman. New Edition. 
 1 vol., izmo, flexible cloth, $1.00 j flexible morocco, $1.25. 
 
 Qteam for the Million. 
 
 A Popular Treatise on Steam and its Application to the Useful Arts, 
 especially to Navigation. By J. H. Ward, Commander U. S. 
 Navy. New and revised edition. \ vol., 8vo, cloth. $1. 
 "A most excellent work for the young engineer and general reader. Many facts rela- 
 ting to the management of the boiler and engine are set forth with a simplicity of Ian" 
 guage, and perfection of detail, that brings the subject bomo to the reader. Mr. Ward is 
 also peculiarly happy in his illustrations." — Americcm Ungineer, 
 
 s 
 
 CREW Propulsion. 
 
 Notes on Screw Propulsion, its Rise and History. By Capt. W. H, 
 Walker, U. S. Navy, i vol., 8vo, cloth, 75 cents. 
 
 "Afterthoronghly demonstrating the eflficiency of the screw, Mr, "Walker proceeds to 
 point out the various other points to be attended to in order to secure an efficient man-of- 
 war, and eulogizes throughout the readiness of the British Admiralty to test every novelty 
 calculated to give satisfactory results. * * * * Comiqander Walker's book contains 
 an immense amount of concise practical data, and every item of information recorded fully 
 proves that the various points bearing upon it have been well considered previously to 
 expressing an opinion."— jtomt^ow Miivhig Journal. 
 
 27 
 
a VAN NOSTHAND i PVBUCATIONt. 
 
 H 
 
 ISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES NaVAL 
 
 Academy. 
 
 With Bi grapKicil Sketches, and the names of all the Superintend- 
 ents, Professors and Graduates ; to which is added a Record of 
 some of the earliest votes by Congress, of Thanks. Medals and 
 Swords to Navjl Officers. By EowAan Chavncdy Marshall, 
 A. M. 1 vol., i2mo, cloth, plates, f i. 
 
 ■ Knrf Biv jj ma tIU tM It not only • piMunt comimnton, bat ui tnviUiublo book of 
 niTmafK. It !• mMooi Hut -J maeh Inftmnalloii U mad* aooaulbla lu to sfrackbl* 
 * Baaaaar Id •• Mii*U * tpMb*— .Vne I*ar£ ThoM. 
 
 M 
 
 ANUAL OF Internal Rules and Reg- 
 ulations FOR Men-of-War. 
 
 By Comjn<>JfTc U. P. LEvy,U. S. N., late Flag Officer commanding 
 U. S. Navsl Force in the Mediterranean, tec. Flexible blue 
 doth. ThirJ edition, revised and enlarged. 50 cents. 
 
 " A:aaa< Uw pniOsitniMl imbtlauion* It which wo wo la>lc>bt«l to ths wnr, wn wllllna' 
 ly 0Te a iwnmtwiit plara t'> thi* oai^Ail Uttio ManuoJ of UiiK» anil Ui'ifiilatlonii to bo 
 » b « m« l uo board .-r •hlpaof nr. luanthorahlp Uaanfllrh nt ({iiiinuiUi'for lu cururacy 
 aad pracUcal Taloi ; aad a» a fnldo to foiinf ofllrurs In pnivldlnK t't tha dladpllna* 
 palloa, aa4 ualtwy toTatanaadt of Ibo Toaaola unilor tboir oauiiaaiHl, w» know of nothing 
 npmtat.-~.V. )' OtraU. 
 
 N 
 
 AVAL Light Artillery. 
 
 Inscrucdons for Naval Light Artillery, afloat and ashore, prepared 
 and arranged for the U. S. Naval Academy, by Lieutenant W. 
 H. PAMtEn, U. S. N. Second edition, revised by Lieut. S. B. 
 Luce, U. S. N., Assistant Inflructorof Gunnery and Tactics at 
 the United States Naval Academy. 1 vol., 8vo, cloth, with w 
 plates. $3.00. 
 
 **T1m Bcrrtoe for which thli Is tha text-book of inslrnctlon I* of special impartaaee la 
 the pR4cot war, Tha nje of Ught boat^looea la eoDstant and Important, and yoarv; ofll- 
 ccn arv freqnentlj* obliged tolcareth-ir boata. take their pieces aaboro.and inantearre 
 UMm aa field artOlerr. Hot mtfrniaentlr, al v,. they are Incurjiorated, when ashore, « lib 
 troopi, and moat handle their guna like the artlllci7 aohUera of a battery. "The Exnrlae 
 of the Howltier Ailoat' waa iirepared aad amTufi-'l bjr Captain Dahlgren, whaaa nama 
 gtras additional aanetion and talne to the book. A mamial fcr the Hword aod Filial is 
 •IsoglTea. Tbe plateaare numerous sad eaeeediogjy dasr, and tiia wlwla tjpo^ 
 tseellcBt*— /UlodalpUa Jnquinr. 
 
 28 
 
D. VAN NOSTRAND S PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 0>gUADRON Tactics Under Steam: 
 
 By Foxhau, a, Parker, Commander U. S. Navy. Published by 
 authority of the Nary Department, i vol., 8vo, with numer- 
 ous Plates, cloth. I5. 
 
 "In this useftil work to Navy officers, the author demonstrates — hy the aid of profaso 
 diagrams and explanatory text— a new principle for manceuvring naval vessels in ac- 
 tion. The author contends that the winds, waves, and currents of the ocean oppose no 
 more serious obstacles to the movements of a steam fleet, than do the inequalities on the 
 Burfiice of the earth to the manceuvres of an army. It is in this light, therefore, that he 
 views a vast fleet— simply as an army; the regiments, brigades, and divisions of which 
 are represented by a certain ship or ships." — Soi&nUJlc Americcm. 
 
 o 
 
 RDNANCE Instructions for the Uni- 
 ted States Navy. 
 
 Part I. Relating to the Preparation of Vessels of War for Battle, and 
 to the Duties of Officers and others when at Quarters. Part z. 
 The Equipment and Manoeuvre of Boats, and Exercise of How- 
 itzers, Part 3. Ordnance and Ordnance Stores. Published 
 by order of the Navy Department. 1 vol., octavo, cloth. 
 
 N 
 
 AVAL Duties and Discipline ; 
 
 With the Policy and Principles of Naval Organization. By F. A. 
 Roe, late Commander U. S. Navy. 1 vol., l2mo, cloth. Jn 
 press. 
 
 o 
 
 sbon's Hand-Book of the United 
 States Navy. 
 
 Being a compilation of all of the principal Events in the history of 
 every vessel of the United States Navy, from April, 1861, to 
 May, 1864. Compiled and arranged by B. S, Osbon. i vol., 
 i2mo, blue cloth. $2.50 
 
D. VAN NOtTILAND i FCBUCATIONt. 
 
 uce's Seamanship: 
 
 Compiled from various authorities, and Illuicrated with numeroui 
 Original and Selected Designs. For the u»e of the United States 
 Naval Academy. By S. B. LvcB, Lieut.-Cnmmander V . S. N. 
 In two parts. Sctond Ediuon. One royal octavo vDlumc, 
 cloth lia 
 
 /Calculated Tables of Ranges for Na- 
 vy AND Army Guns. 
 
 With a Mct)iod of Fmding the Distance of an Object at Sea. By 
 Lieut. \V. P. BucKNER, U. S. N. i vol., 8vo, cloth, ti.50. 
 
 npiiE N 
 
 AVAL Howitzer Ashore. 
 
 B7 Fozhaix a. Parkeh, Commander U. S. Navy. 1 vol., 8vo, 
 w-ith ?h:n. Cloth. 
 
 HPhe Contractors' Manual and Build- 
 ERs' Price-Book. 
 
 By A. B. CuwcH, Architect. 1 vol, i8mo. cloth. 50 cents. 
 
 Principles and Practice of Embanking 
 Lands from River Floods, 
 
 At applied to the Levees of the MississippL By Willum Hewson, 
 Civil Engineer, i vol., 8vo, clotlu $2.00, 
 . 30 
 
D. VAN NOSTRAND S PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 H 
 
 olley's Railway Practice. 
 
 American and European Railway Practice, in the Economical Genei. 
 ation of Steain, including the materials and construction of Coa\> 
 burning Boilers, Combustion, the Variable Blast, Vaporization, 
 Circulation, Superheating, Supplying and Heating Feed-water, 
 &c., and the adaptation of Wood and Coke-burning Engines to 
 Coal-burning; and in Permanent Way, including Road-bed, 
 Sleepers, Rails, Joint Fastenings, Street Railways, &c., &c. By 
 Alexander L. Holley, B. P. With 77 lithographed plates. 
 I vol., folio, cloth. $12. 
 
 " This is an elaborate treatise by one of our ablest civil engineers, on the construction 
 and use of locomotives, with a few chapters on the building of Bailroads * * * All these 
 subjects are treated by the Author who is a first class railroad engineer, in both an intelli- 
 gent and intelligible manner. The facts and ideas are well arranged, and presented in a 
 clear and simple style, accompanied by beautiful engravings, and we presume the work 
 Will be regarded as indispensable by all who are interested in a knowledge of the construction 
 of railroads, and rolling stock, or the working of locomotives."— &i»*5;?e American. 
 
 \ Treatise on Ordnance and Armor. 
 
 Embracing Descriptions, Discussions, and Professional Opinions con- 
 cerning the Material, Fabrication, Requirements, Capabilities, 
 and Endurance of European and American Guns for Naval, Sea- 
 Coast, and Iron-Clad Warfare, and their Rifling, Projectiles, and 
 Breech-Loading; also. Results of Experiments against Armor, 
 from Official Records. With an Appendix, referring to Gun- 
 Cotton, Hooped Guns, etc., "etc. By Alexander L. Holley, 
 B. P. With 493 Illustrations. 1 vol. 8vo, 948 pages. Half 
 roan, $io. Half Russia. $12. 
 
 "The special feature of this comprehensive volume is its ample record of facts relating 
 to the subjects of which it treats, that have not before been distinctly presented to the 
 attention of the public. It contains a more complete account than, as fiir as we are aware, 
 can be found elsewhere, of the construction and effects of modem standard ordnance, in- 
 cluding the improvements of Armstrong, Whitworth, Blakeley, Parrott, Erooks, Eodmam 
 and Bahlgren ; the wrougM iron and steel guns ; and the latest system of rifling projectiles 
 and breech-loading. 
 
 "The practical value of the work is greatly enhanced by its numerous engravings, which 
 flimlSh convenient illustrations of the text, and which H&ve been finished with great 
 accuracy and precision. 
 
 "As a manual for the military engineer, or the student of military science, the volume 
 cannot fail to hold a high rank, and needs only to be commended to the notice of the pro- 
 fession for its merits to gain due appreciation."— J/'. Y. Trilnne, 
 
 31 
 
O. VAK hOSmLASD't niBUCATlL>N«. 
 
 Practical Treatise on Limes. Hydrau- 
 lic Cements, and Mortars. 
 
 Papcn on Piacdcil Engineering, U. S. Engineer Depirunent, No. 
 9, containing Reports of numerous cx[->crimcnts conducted in 
 New York City, during the years 1858 to 1861 inclusive. By 
 i>. X GiixMORE, Brig.-Gener3l U. S. \ oluntcers, ind Major 
 L . S. Coqn of Engineers. With numerous illustrations. One 
 volume ocuvo. cloth. ^4. 
 
 ieber on Guerilla Parties. 
 
 L 
 
 Guerilla Parties considered with reference to the Laws and Usages of 
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 tECK, Gcncral-in-Chief of the Army of the United States. By 
 Francis LuBU. 1 ;iii<>, paper. 25 cent?. 
 
 u 
 
 NioN Foundations. 
 
 A Snidy of American Naiinu.iliiy, as a Fact of Science. By Cnpt. 
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 cents. 
 
 'T^EXAS, AND ITS LaTE MiLITARY OCCUPA- 
 TION AND Evacuation. " 
 
 By Capt. F.DwiN D. Phillips, ut Infantry, U. S. A. 8vo, pnpa 
 
 :; cents. 
 
 I 
 
 nstructions for the government of 
 Armies of the U. S. in the Field. 
 
 Prepared by Francij Lieber, LL. D., and revised by a Board of 
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 Mechanics, Celestial Mechanics, Potential Physics, and Ana- 
 lytic Morphology. 1 vol. 4to. Cloth, $10 00. 
 35 
 
D. VAN WOSTRAND i fUBUCATtONf. 
 
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 ilitarv and political llfk of the 
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 By Bakon Jouim, Gcneral-in-Cluii' and .AiJodc-Camp !■> the Em- 
 peror of Russia. Translated from the French with note*, by 
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 "TIm AUh UUrlicd to ibUTcralon »r Jouiitra -V<ij><>/«nn tdja vorjr MiAl<rUl.r lo Ita 
 TmliM. It (natalu aii^ir Mv, > llloMMIVKor N>|»l<<in'i oxtnumllfurjr milltarjr nuwri 
 twfinnin; «Ub %}>»■ Immoflal lullu > ui>|>aXKi)> of ITM, uiil rlonlnt wllh Ui« iloriilTo 
 Cten|Mi(n at FUadtni, In )'<l.\ Uw lul Ujip tbovInK Uia tinUI<' "T Wivro. Th<«) Mn|>t 
 tak* (ho nador i" Ilalf , ll«n>l. t*ilr«Uiw, Orniumj', MnrnrU, Uuwia, !*pi>tii, l'<niiciil, nml 
 > '^::tT»; ami ll»rtr Dsmbvc uidrKrlri.v, am) t-hp rut uiil vnriauit Ibcatrr* of nellnn nlilrh 
 1^7 Iftdtrai^. t««tify to iik« ImmrnM riidnl at Na|ia)iK)n'» npomtluitft, nnd to ttin (ritfniitto 
 €kuwou^ of hi* pawrr. Tlw^jr u« •dmlrably prepared, Ix-lng m mnikrluiblo for Um Wautjr 
 '•r ibrtr rtMwUoii M for IWtr vljici fldclliy •• UltulnUaiii of wimo of tho irrpiktrat <[i'>.<U 
 III tbo anikaU c<f bum*n wetftm, Tbi y are worlliy of the work to whlrh thry U'lunt;, 
 «litcli hu b««a iiKwt cxeelkiiUx lircwpolrd ivpofintpbloAll}', an<l dmenrlnf of itu< pbco 
 vblrb II Imu tjiVnii In Ml Vax N<«iTiuoiD'a )i<<|.].. and ('&tA>ni>lv>' Hbmry uf nillluiry pub- 
 liraUaii>i.~~AwA» DaUji JlnmlKt TratmUsr. 
 
 " It U ii«»dl#M to my any iliitix la praimi of .toMini aii a vrit«r on Iho lu^lcnrr rtf war. 
 
 " i*«ii«f«l llAixacK baa laid the profeMloiial ^oMl' r nixi Dm oiixtrnt of tnllttory hUtory 
 amice' •«]eal oblbpiUiiiia bj the M«n*lr** bo bnj* 'U'ric to llm ramu* of mllltorj llii-ratum In 
 tb* pffrpar%Uun "f ifal« vorl fur Uio prpM. Ilia nuv qualtil'-.itloiiit for tho t..-i. thna vu- 
 dcrlakrn wlU tw adtttowMcMl t'7 all 
 
 "Tlie iMi<« arllh whkb i)>. I«il !• Illoalralad by Ocnoml lUi.i i'> >. an ii"t amoni; tbo 
 lc«M of Um nxflu L.r tba imbUeaUon, vhirJi, In llili n >|m c i, faaa a value not poaacaawl by 
 th. ivi(taal ararfc. 
 
 "ll la all Imaginary a<ittHHo£n|iby '.f lb« KMI'KHOK, oa conceived and written by 
 JOMINI In the nanK ••! tbe KUPEEOI: ; and wbetber r'igardcd an a military atody or aa 
 a atady In talatory. It la equally IntemUnK to profeaalonal and unprufcRnlooal roaderL** — 
 JfaHtmal louUfjttteer. 
 
 * In ooodaaloa, ve commeiid tbis work to oar mdera, an not o«ly poiieaalng ktmI 
 inetU in llarlt tmt. In tbe pn-wat eondiUan of oar country. Involved In one of tb« k'l'i'aleiil 
 won ever known, u a mllilarx blatory of extraordinary Intereat awl valoe. The narra- 
 tive |j 80 brief and clear, and the ^tyU- ao almple and [ff-mpicooiui, tbat It will l>«> foiind 
 as It^'.'iv ^'.ing t" onprofcaalonal readen aa It la valuable \ja uillltary offloera and Btuik-nta.'* 
 —Xem York TimM. 
 
 *.* TL.> is the only Engllah tnaaUUon of tbia Important atnU-^rlcal life of the pwl 
 
D. VAN NOSTRAND S PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 npREATISE ON GrAND MILITARY OPERATIONS. 
 
 Illustrated .by a Critical and Military History of the Wars of Frederick 
 the Great. With a summary of the most important principles 
 of the Art of War. By Baron de Jomini. Illustrated by Maps 
 a:nd Plans, Translated from the French, by Col, S. B. Hola- 
 BiRD, A. D, C, U, S. Army. In two vols. Svo, and Atlas, clo. 
 $15. Half calf or Half mo. $21. Half Russia $22.50. 
 
 " It is universally agreed, that no art or acienco is more difficult than that of war ; yet 
 by an unaccountable contradiction of the human mind, those who embrace this profession 
 take little or no pains to study it. They seem to think that the knowledge of a few insig- 
 nificant and useless trifles, constitute a great officer. This art, like all others, is founded 
 on certain and fixed principles, which are by their nature invariable ; the appUcaU<m 
 of them only can be varied." 
 
 In this work these principles will be found very fully developed and illustrated by 
 immediate application to the most interesting campaigns of a great master. The theo- 
 retical and mechanical part of war may be acquired by every one who has the application 
 to study, powers of refiection, and a sound, clear common sense. 
 
 Frederick the Great has the credit of having done much for tactics. He introduced the 
 close column by division and deployments therefrom. He brought his army to a higher 
 degree of skill than any other in manoeuvring before the enemy to menace his wings or 
 threaten his flanks. 
 
 H 
 
 isTORY OF West Point: 
 
 And its Military Importance during the American Revolution ; and the 
 Origin and Progress of the United States Military Academy. By 
 Captain Edward C. Boynton, A. M., Adjutant of the Military 
 Academy. With numerous Maps and Engravings, l vol., octavo. 
 Blue cloth, $6.00 ; half mor., $7.50; full mor.,. 1 10. 
 
 " Aside from its value as an historical record, the volume under notice is an entertaining 
 guide-book to the Military Academy and its surroundings. We have 'full details of Cadet 
 life itom the day of entrance to that of graduation, together with descriptions of the build- 
 ings, grounds, and monuments. To the multitude of those who have enjoyed at "West 
 Point the combined attractions, this book will give, in its descriptive and illustrated por- 
 tion, especial pleasure."— ^oto Torh JBIvemng Post. 
 
 " The second part of the book gives the history of the Military Academy from its fonnda- 
 tion in 1802, a description of the academic buildings, and the appearance to-day of this 
 •Iways beautiful spot, with the manner of appointment of the cadets, course of stvMy, pay, 
 time of service, and much other information yearly becoming of greater value, for "West 
 Point has not yet reached its palmiest days." — Daily Advertiser. 
 
 9 
 
D. \AN NOtTRANDS FUBUCATIONi. 
 
 B 
 
 ENTONS OrJDNANCE AND GuNNERY. 
 
 A Course of Instniction in Ordnance wid Gunnery ; compiled fof 
 the use of the Cideu of the United States Military Academy, 
 by Capt. J. G. Benton, Ordnance Department, late Instructor 
 of Ordnance and Gunnery, Military AijJcmy, West Point. 
 PrindfMl Awstant to Chief of OrdnaiKc, U. S. A. Second 
 Edition, revised and enlarged, i vol., 8vo, clu, cuts. 9;.oa 
 
 "%». ttUBft mxameni tHU work t-" hiKhljr, both f t tho nitMtanca It l»ntn^n^ nnil Um 
 hl(kl7 flaUMd muiMr In wUrb It hu Iwn tnaod hj Ui« pnbllnher. Thrro !• no on* 
 book vtl^la Ibr nncvoronr milllwj nwUnRud ntDdjr, tliat rontalntmnrvtonrotniiirnd 
 It apoa lb* nl4<vt of which It trraU. Ii It m M\ ukI comploto as tho niumw r.>ni|>iiM 
 of* ila(t* mtanM «mU >dmll, «ad tho npntatlon '>r tho •uthnr u a K-Untiflo nnd fine- 
 Un] inilWtM U a RilBcloat fiurmnloo F-r tho corrpolDDM ul hli itntomiinU anil dmluo- 
 UoM, ud Uw IbonmftiiMM of hU Ubon."— Jl^^ )'. Olmrtfr. 
 
 •A Om«jiT i! : ti»T Wowt— Wo h»»» bifnro us n l"iand volnmo of nnrlj six hondrtd 
 |i*a<^ wbMi to a -taptolo ud < tliniiiUvo 'Couno of Initinuilun In OnlnoDco uid Oun- 
 DTT,' u p.. t:il«> rtAt«>«, ind itooft Into orcry dopartindit of tho i^rlisnco, Inrludlnfc Kunpow- 
 drr. i<ro)«e>l)«^ emwa, auT\MgM, nuchlnot, itnd ttnplomont% unall nnni, pxroturliny, 
 •dm'-'- orirooM*7, l«dla|r, polnUng, and illMbnrKlnR flro-arm«, dliroriDt kinds of (Iras, ft- 
 frru • f iiri*)««Utosuid oinplo)-mcDl tjf Brtlllpry. TIh-i^o severally funn cbsptor hnwlH and 
 (It* Ibomafh Infunnatloa on tiu> MlI4ocls on which l>i''.r trout. Tho mo'.t rsliubUisiHt 
 tot4«v«lla< laftimMlloii OB all th'- sbovo topics, Including the history, n)iuiufli>'tiiro, and 
 WW of small anna la bon oonoontratcd In eompact and convcnlont form, making a work of 
 nn mcrii aad standjnl ncallaiuc. 1'ha work Is obuodantly uiul rlcurly Ulustrotod."— 
 Aoto* ThftrtlUr. 
 
 I 
 
 NSTRUCTIONS FOR FlELD ArTILLERY. 
 
 Prepared by a Board of Artillery Officers. 
 
 To which is added the EvoLtmoNs of Batteries, translated from 
 the French, by Brig. -General R. Anderson, U, S. A. i vol. i zmo, 
 1 22 Plates. Clodi, $3.00. 
 
 "Warn DiPABTMBfrr. I 
 
 "Witmnofm. D. C, MitrcJi 1, l-^va. ( 
 *Thls systeni of Instruction for Field Artillery, prepared unilir clireclloo ul tbo War 
 Defiartaieat, baring been approved by the FiealiUut, is adopted fur the iostructioD of 
 troops when aettng as Held artiUety. 
 
 ** Aeoard{a:;l.r. inatmetion in the same will be girin after the nutbod pointad oat tliarr- 
 ia; and ail additiooa to or dcpartarc« from tju «xcrclae and mauteuvrt's laid down in tiia 
 •yaKm, are poiiUTely forbidden. 
 
 "EDWIN U. 8TAHT0N, 
 
 "Bacretarr of War.* 
 11 
 
I I 
 
 
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