Instructions and Standing Orders for the Government and Discipline of the Ships of War

Whereas an Uniform system of discipline established in this Squadron, would be productive of many essential Benefits; the subsequent Regulations prepared in that view, are to be conformed to, and Continued in force 'till further Order.

I

Every Ship is to be provided with a Publick Orderly Book wherein is to be Entered all Orders and directions issued for the current daily services; likewise such parts of all General Orders given from time to time and extracts of these Instructions, as may be necessary for the Instruction of the inferior Officers, and Ship's Companys in the duties required of them; for which purpose the Officers summoned by signal on board the Admiral, or Commander of any Division, whereof they make a Part are to attend with the Orderly Book of the Ships to which they belong, to transcribe from that of the Admiral or other Commanding Officer's Ship, such Orders & directions as are then to be givenout.

The Orderly Book to be kept on the Quarter Deck, Subject to the inspection of every Person belonging to the Ship —

II

The Petty Officers & Seamen of the Ship's Company, are to be formed into two or three divisions, according to the Complement and Classes of the Ship; each Division to be under the inspection of a Lieutenant, & subdivided into Squads, with a Midshipman appointed to each, who are respectively to be responsible for the good Order & discipline of the Men entrusted to their Care. In forming these divisions & subdivisions, regard is to be had to make them as convenient as may be to the Mens Stations, in the Quarter & Watch Bills, & to their Berths; and each Officer is to keep an exact list of the Names of the Men in their divisions & Squads, noticing thereon their several stations & number of their hammock: and the like references are to be made on the Watch &Quarter Bills, to their division or Squad, for the more ready calling them to their duty, or being able to account for their absence—

In Port they are to Call the Men over by the said lists, morning & evening, at such hours as the Captain of the Ship shall appoint, and finding any Absent or faulty, report it to the Commanding Officer on board at the time; & to enable them to perform this part of their duty with regularity, notice is always to be given them when any man under their Care has leave of Absence, or otherwise, or for what time, that they may attend to the time of his return—

III

The Marines and Soldiers are to be put into divisions under their Proper Officers, as in the Preceding Article—

At Sea their relieves & tours of duty (except when placed as Centry) are to be the same as the seamens' but in Port when the more necessary services of the Ship and their Number will admit of it, they are to. be divided into three Guards, and to mount for twenty four hours, or a shorter time as the Captain of the Ship sees fit; They are always to mount their Guard in their Uniforms, and after sunset, the Centinels are to give the Word, All's Well, every ten Minutes or quarter of an hour, beginning with the one on the starboard side of the Poop, repeating it forward on that side, and round back again on the Larboard; In case of not being answered the Centinel who repeated the word last to alarm the Guard.—

The Centinels are to challenge all boats coming to, or passing near the Ship in the Night: And not permitt any to come on board, nor any Persons to enter, or go from the Ship after sunset and before sunrise without leave first obtained from the Officer of the Watch; They are not to suffer any noise to be made on their Posts other than what is necessary in the business of the Ship; and in Case of any Misdemeanor or Neglect of Duty, they are to be regularly relieved before any Punishment is inflicted on them upon that account—

The Marines are not to be forced to go aloft, nor, on the other hand, are they to be restrained from rendering themselves expert in a seamen's duty, at proper Opportunitys agreeable to the Standing Instructions—

IV

It is recommended to the Captains to form their Ships' Companys at three Watches at Sea, whenever their Number, health, abilitys & diligence will admit of that Indulgence, especially the Petty Officers, that they may execute their duty with greater Punctuallity and exactness whilst it is their turn to be upon the Watch: In order to facilitate this arrangement, the Admiral has the Intention to give timely notice whenever he is about to Tack, or to make any other alteration that may require more Assistance—

V

Cleanliness & wholesome Air between decks, being of the utmost Consequence to health, every convenient means of Preserving, and obtaining those important requisites, are to be used: The upper deck washed daily, the lower deck twice, or Oftner, & the Orlop at least once a Week, the Weather and other necessary services admitting thereof—

The Beams & Plank over the sick Berths are to be occasionally washed with Vinegar; these Also to be fumigated once a Month or oftner in damp Weather, by burning tar with a logger head, or fireing small quantitys of gunpowder, if the sick are in a State to Admit their being moved up from between decks; as it will be necessary the Ports & Hatches should be Closed during these Operations—

The Wind sails are to be kept down the hatches in day time; and the ventilators worked uninterruptedly, night and day —

The Hammocoes are to be got up in fine weather and stowed in the nettings, or constantly lashed up when not occupied; and no greather Number of Chests, or other incumbrances, allowed between decks, to interrupt the free Circulation of Air, than what are absolutely necessary for the requisite accomodation of the Ship's Company —

The times of washing the lower & orlop decks, fumigating the Ship, and every other means taken for the preservation of health, are to be set down in the log book; or the reasons why they were omitted—

VI

As a sufficient quantity of dry, warm cloathing, to afford the men a change when needfull, will much contribute to the beneficial Purposes before mentioned, it is highly necessary an accurate account should be had of the several articles each man is furnished with as well as to prevent thefts & frauds. The Lieutenants having command of divisions are always there­ fore to take a muster of the cloathing of each man under the degree of a Petty Officer in their respective divisions, as soon as may be after the Ship puts to Sea, and cause an entry to be made thereof in a book provided for that Purpose. Every casual alteration by loss, exchange, purchase, or donation is to be noticed therein; that it may be had recourse to for comparing the claimant's demand on any Complaint of theft, to ascertain the facts: And the men for whose peculiar benefit this regulation is calculated, should be exhorted to punctuallity in giving notice of such alterations to their Officers, for the mutual Justification of all Parties—

No Person is to appropriate to his own use any cloaths, of what kind soever, negligently left about the decks, under pretence of not being able to find an Owner for them; But he is to bring such Cloathing to the Officer of the Watch, for his directions in the disposal of it. And if it is discovered to be in his Possession for any other intent, it shall be deemed a theft, and the Offender punished accordingly—

The Midshipmen are to examine the cloathing of their respective Squads weekly; to take care that the men keep themselves clean; that they do not lose or otherwise dispose of their necessary cloathing; and that their hammocks are scrubbed & washed at proper intervals: For which Purpose the ordering up a certain number every morning in succession, will probably be necessary. They are to make due reports on these heads to the Commanding Lieutenants of their divisions—

The Lieutenants are to see the Midshipmen carefully perform this part of their duty, and acquaint their Captains from time to time what necessary cloathing each man wants; that orders may be given for supplying them, as far as it may be done consistent with the General Instructions concerning slops —

On the First Muster of the Cloathing the Lieutenants are to direct such Part thereof as may be requisite for the Men at Sea, to be stowed in their hammocks; that there may be no Occasion to keep between decks a greater Number of Chests than are absolutely necessary —

VII

Whenever boats are sent from the Ship on duty, or otherwise, care should be taken that none go in them but the regular boats Crews; or such others as shall be appointed by the commanding Officer, instead of anyone sick or absent; and it is Particularly recommended to the respective Officers, not to keep nor suffer the Boats to remain on Shore longer than is absolutely necessary, and never after dark, which is too frequently the cause of desertion —

When boats are sent for water or Stores, the Officer of whatever Rankhe be, who is sent in the charge of them, is to stay and attend Punctually to that duty, and be carefull to keep the men together; and so soon as they have got in their lading, he is to proceed directly, (wind & tide permitting) back to the Ship. The touching on Shore and letting the Men leave the Boat, is generally productive of the embezlement of Stores, if they have any in, and other irregularitys—

Upon all Occasions where boats are sent on any service, in the execution of which they may expect opposition, care shu'd be taken to furnish them with Proper Arms and Ammunition, & likewise with water & Provisions, if they are likely to be absent for so long a time, as to make it necessary for the men to have refreshment—

Particular Attention should be had, never to suffer the boats to lye beating alongside the Ship, but always to keep them moored astern, with proper boat keepers, &the fenders out, & at night to hoist them in, having a boat on each side, with the tackles on her, ready to be put into the Water, on any emergency—

VIII

A Midshipman of the Watch to inspect between decks once at least every hour during the Night, to see no tobacco is smoaked, or lights burning in any Part of the Ship, but such as are allowed; that the Centinels are not negligent on their Posts and that the Ventilators are worked —

IX

A Mate or Midshipman is to attend the several Warrant Officers to their storerooms, when any stores are wanted, to prevent accidents by carelessness and inattention to the Lights: And the Warrant Officers respectively are strictly enjoined not to receive or lodge in their Storerooms, any Spirituous Liquors, or other Articles whatsoever, except the Stores com­ mitted to their Charge, for the Service of the Ship —

X

A Constant lookout is to be kept at the Mast heads while at Sea, or in any other situation where it may be necessary to watch the approach or passage of Strange Ships: The Men appointed to this duty are generally to be relieved every half hour: But in case they are the first discoverers of any such Ship or the land, then, by way of reward, they are to be relieved immediately: As on the Contrary, they are to be kept up for double duty, if, through their neglect, such discovery is first made from any other Part of the Ship —

The Midshipmen of the Watch, or other discreet Persons, are to be successively charged with looking out for Signals from the Admiral's or any other Ship; And no Signals are to be made but on very extraordinary and urgent Occasions without the previous knowledge & direction of the Commander of the Ship —

XI

The Lieutenant of the Watch is to see marked in the logbook all Signals; every Change of Sail; the Proportion of leeway the Ship shall in his judgement make; and all other observations & occurences that may happen while he is in Charge of the Ship, by day or night, and attest such entrys with the initial letters of his Name —

XII

The Ship's Companys are to be exercised at all convenient times with the Great Guns & Small arms, untill they become expert in the Use & Management of them agreeable to their several Stations in the Quarter Bills. And the sooner to perfect them, this is to be practiced every day at sea in fair Weather when at third Watch by a certain Number off duty, but when at watch and watch, confined to those on duty. When the Seamen quartered to the Great Guns have acquired a compleat knowledge of that part of their duty, they are to be instructed in the use of small arms, and lists kept of those so qualified, in readiness to make a report of their Number to the Admiral when called upon—

The Captains are at liberty to fire in the exercise of the small arms when they see fit. But are never to use Powder or Ball in that of the Great Guns without an Order or Signal from the Admiral—                                ·

XIII

It is expected the Captains will take every opportunity when fitting or getting ready for sea, and all other seasonable times, to accustom their raw men to go aloft, and to have them instructed & Practiced in the several dutys incident to fitting or working a Ship, that they may be qualified, as soon as possible, to do the duty of Able Seamen; For this hand they are at liberty to loose, hand, furl, or unbend a Course, or topsail when they see fit, without regarding the Admiral's example in those instances: They will with the same view also be permitted to change a topmast or topsail yard then aloft; first signifying such their desire to the Admiral, and no Particular [signal] occuring to the contrary —

XIV

A Sufficient Number of Guns are to be kept loaded with Powder only, for making Signals, and False Fires and Signal Lanthorns always brought up, and Placed ready for that purpose at the Close of Day. When Signals are made in the Night, care is to be taken to keep the Lan thorns covered till Placed; and then to show all the Lights at once: Spare ones are to be in readiness to replace any that may be blown out, and when the Signal is taken in, they are to be covered again. The utmost care is also to be taken (especially in Flag Ships) when any Signal is to be made that no other Lights, except the distinguishing ones, be seen from any other Part of the Ship, nor any carried about uncovered when sailing or cruizing at Sea; in order to Prevent the Inconveniences which might arise, by such lightsbeing mistaken for a Signal —

XV

As it is highly Proper all the Ships should be keptin a Constant State of readiness for Action, Particularly to prevent any surprize in the Night, it is strongly recommended to the several Captains to see the Officers in their different departments, have every thing depending on them in that state: Slings for the yards, Puddings, Dolphins, preventer Braces, and Stoppers, ready to apply at the shortest notice; fire buckets at hand, Spare tiller fitted, wings clear, fire booms Placed conveniently for use, passages to the Magazines always clear before night, after Platform in state to receive the wounded, a Sufficient Number of Lanthorns prepared; & that the Casks of Drinking Water (disposed in proper Places for the refreshment of the men at their Quarters in time of Action) be kept Constantly filled and in good Condition—

Spare Arms, Spikes, Ammunition, &c should at all times be ready, & carefully disposed for the seamen quartered on the upper deck & forecastle, for either boarding or being boarded, and Great advantage may be derived from the use of fine Sennet splinter nettings, when time & materials can be had for making them—

When at Anchor the Bow Chace should be loaded with grape shot, and broad axes always laid at hand to cut; and Slip buoys put on the Cable to slip whenever directed so to do—

XVI

On Discovery of Strange ships in the night, the Officer of the Watch is to make it known to the Captain, without loss of time: but if they are seen near, & suddenly, his first attention is to be directed to get the Ship immediately under Command, by filling sail without delay if before lying to; making more, or less sail, as shall be requisite to keep her disengaged, untill duly Prepared for Action, or that he receives the Captain's further Orders thereon. In such exigency he is to give Notice of his discovery by a Midshipman to his Commander, and the other Principal Officers of the Ship, according to the directions which he shall have received in that respect—

XVII

On the beat to Arms, or other general call of the Ship's Company to Quarters in the Night, it is meant that the divisions of the Ship's Company, not of the watch, with the commissioned and inferior Officers appropriated to them, should attend to see the crows, handspikes, rammers, sponges, Powder horns, Priming "wires, or tubes, and shot, & Wads provided and properly placed for the Guns on the lower deck; the Guns unlashed, but not run out; the tackles bighted in lengths, and laid along by the side of them; match carefully disposed in the tubs; one lighted lanthorn hung up behind each Gun amidships; and a Provision of sand or cinders to strew upon the decks, in a small [tub] placed between every two Guns—

The Marine Serjeants are to provide spare ammunition for the Marine quarters, and the grenades; taking care to have them properly covered; and separately secured —

The Ship's steward, and his mates, or other persons appointed to act with him under the Surgeons directions, should be charged with the Care of placing, at the same time, lights for his occasions—

Particular men quartered at each gun below and aloft, instead of Boys, who are not of trust to be relied on for this important duty, should be appointed and noted in the several lists, to receive from those charged with the distribution of them, the proper number of Cartridges in cases, for their respective guns; which cases should be placed on the opposite side to that on which it is expected to engage, and moved over, from time to time, in the progress of the Action, as occasion may require. The men so appointed should be made sensible, by a proper intimation, of the consequence of this service confided to their special discretion & care.

It is recommended, for an invariable practice in action, (more especially during the night) to be provided to make as many discharges as can be prudently attempted, on the first junction with the enemy; not only on account of the impression a vigorous effort of this kind cannot fail to make from a Ship well placed, but as the difference of drift in any two Ships, and the difficulty of keeping their Stations from damage to their rigging are such, as quickly to separate them to a distance from each other, and render their subsequent discharges precarious, or of no effect —

A very particular attention is necessary to be had to the lower deck Ports in Squally weather, or on occasion of putting in stays, or hauling to the wind suddenly in time of Action; the Officers on the lower decks should be timely informed of the Captain's intentions thereon, for their Govern­ment accordingly; and the Benefits of frequent use in the lashing and secureing in exercise, by the men quartered to them, will be sensibly experienced on these occurences —

XVIII

It is to be observed, that it is not meant, by anything before mentioned, to restrain the Captains from making such special arrangements and pro­ visions for the better discipline and good government of their Ships, as they see occasion to establish; the details, in either instance, where it has been touched upon in these instructions, have been introduced rather with an explanatory meaning than to a complete and circumstantial limitation—

Nevertheless with respect to the Provisions unnoticed; as, (amongst others) for preventing excess in the use of spirituous liquors, or the necessary appointment of the Men to different stations for working the Ship, left to be added; it is the object of these instructions to have the details, in all cases, expressed in the orderly Book as full as the nature of them will admit, for the Information of Persons concerned; that no Plea of Ignorance, or want of sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the Particular dutys required of them, may with reason be alledged in excuse of any omission or misconduct therein—

XIX

Whenever a demand is made for stores at any of the dock yards or Ports where naval officers are established, the warrant officers in whose department it is, are to accompany it with an abstract of their supplys, expence, and remains; that the officer of such yard or Port may be enabled to judge of the regularity of the demand, before it is comply'd with, and particular attention is to be had that no conversion be made, of Stores, to other purposes than those for which they were intended, without a written order; nor any fallacious expence of them set down in the expence books. As however meritorious the intention of such practices may have been, they have given rise to much complaint in the Publick Offices, of abuses committed under those pretexts, and therefore it is necessary for the Kings service they should be suppressed —

And the respective Warrant Officers are to take notice that if any of the Stores under their care shall be misapplied, damaged, or wasted, for want of their representing to their Captain, or Commanding Officer, any­ thing that might have prevented it, the same will be considered as a notorious breach of their duty, and they will be made to answer for it accordingly —

XX

All suitable opportunitys are to be taken for keeping the ships complete in their stores, water, & Provisions, up to the time expressed in the last Orders the Captains have received in that respect; without waiting for other instructions therein—

As the advancement of the Public service requires an equitable partici­ pation of the Aids, whether in men or Stores, that can be spared for the benefit of this armament; it is with confidence inferred, that the Captains will not suffer any errors in the returns made of men or Stores, or Qualitys or sufficiencies of either to escape their notice & correction—

Given on board His Majestys Ship Eagle off New York 8th day of June 1777

To the Honble Captain Wm Cornwallis, Commander of His Majesty's Ship Isis. By Command of the Vice Admiral Joseph Davies