CHAPTER XIX.

DUTIES OF MIDSHIPMEN.*

STEERAGE officers (of the line) on board ship are generally assigned to duty as officers of the forecastle, midshipmen of the quarterdeck and tops, mates of the decks, hull and hold, boat officers and junior officers of the divisions.

A midshipman may also be detailed as assistant to the navigator, or as clerk to the commanding officer; in one of the latter capacities he will probably also act as signal officer.

All junior line officers who perform the above-mentioned duties are allowed such practice in charge of the deck and in the engine room as their numbers and the nature of the cruise permits. The Navy Department defines the amount of such practice and the nature of the reports made upon the subject by commanding officers.

For navigation work required of midshipmen, see Navy Regulations.

Duties of Forecastle Officer in Port. Salute the officer to be relieved, who will return the salute. Pay strict attention while receiving any orders that may have to be passed, and after receiving all instructions, announce your willingness to relieve.

The forecastle watch is generally stood on the topgallant forecastle, if there is one; and the forecastle officer is usually held responsible for work going on, and neatness, as far aft as the main hatch.

As officer of the forecastle you must see the forward part of the ship kept clean and in good order. Do not permit the men to sit on hatch coamings, in the ports or on gun-carriages, or rest their feet on the paint-work. Do not allow wearing apparel, to lie about the deck or be stowed in improper places. Do not allow bags on deck without the permission of the officer of the deck. Do not allow the sweepers to sweep dirt down the scuppers or throw it over the ship’s side; it must be emptied in the ash chutes, or in the head. Keep shore boats clear of the forward part of the ship. Preserve order amongst the crew without interfering in their proper amusements. Do not allow any man on the forecastle after colors who is not in proper uniform;

* Present official titles, Naval Cadets and Ensigns (Junior Grade).

309

Duties in the Morning Watch. Just before all hands are called, see that the forward part of anchor watch trice up forward hammock cloths. Do not allow hammocks to be brought on deck until they are piped up. See the forward hammock stowers are in their nettings when “all hands” are called. (Hammock stowers called ten minutes before reveille.)

Have the men under topgallant forecastle turn out and lash their hammocks promptly. All hammocks must be properly lashed, clews twisted and tucked snugly under the lashing. Do not allow hammocks to be thrown on deck or on the guns. Keep a sufficient number of men on deck to haul over the hammock cloths. Take the numbers of all late hammocks and enter the names on the report book.

When Hands are Turned-to after Coffee. Have all smoking stopped and smoking lamp extinguished by the corporal of the guard; the rigging laid up and wash-deck gear gotten up. Put the sweepers promptly to work sweeping down preparatory to scrubbing clothes or the deck.

Scrub and Wash Clothes. See the order promptly obeyed, giving to the officer of the deck the names of those men who state they have no clothes to scrub. Have the white clothes scrubbed first so there may be no delay in filling the upper lines, and hurry the clothes aft when the word is passed to stop them on the line.

Duties during Cleaning Deck. See that it is thoroughly done forward, all bright wood work scrubbed, and such other parts of the ship as may be ordered. See that the galley cooks scrub the funnel; that the foretopmen clean the channels; that the forecastlemen fill the tanks, and that the captain of the head always keeps the head clean. After the deck is dried down see all the paint work, hatch coamings, port sills, &c., wiped off: Have the port lids squared by the quarter gunners, and

310

Clearing up Deck for Quarters. See that everything forward is clean and in perfect order. Do not allow ditty bags, boxes or wearing apparel to lie about or be stowed in improper places. Inspect about the manger, between the beams, over the knees, on top of capstan bars and all such places. Have the master-at-arms with you in this inspection to gather up all articles of private property and put them in the lucky bag. The inspection should be thorough, so that the executive officer following after may find everything in order.

During Meal Hours. See that the mess cooks keep the deck clean around their cloths. They are responsible if the deck is soiled, and should be made to clean it unless the real offender is known. See that the mess cooks fold their cloths once before rolling them away.

Much of the above applies to vessels with topgallant forecastles.

Spreading Awnings. See the fore and aft tackles lowered and hauled out together, and the earings hauled out together. When the men lay up and bring-to, see the awning out flat and the ends of the stops expended so that they cannot get adrift and hang down. Do not permit the practice of expending part of the stop and

311

ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF THE OFFICER OF THE FORE-CASTLE AT SEA.

He is responsible that the men forward remain on deck during their watch, and must see that the lookouts are vigilant, a bright lookout being always kept. When land, vessels, lights arid other objects of importance are seen he must promptly report them to the officer of the deck. He must see that the running lights are kept burning brightly. (The captains of the forecastle, fore and main tops attend respectively to the mast-head, port and starboard lights). He must see the head yards and sheets are kept properly trimmed, the sails well set. He must see the gear coiled down clear for running and everything in readiness to shorten sail at an instant’s notice. He should always have on watch with him a pocket station bill of the forecastlemen and fore-topmen, to become familiar with every man and his station in both those parts of the ship. He musters the whole watch when there is no midshipman of the quarterdeck, otherwise he musters only the forward part. The duty of heaving the log and filling up the columns of the log-book hourly is performed by the officer of the forecastle when there is no midshipman of the quarter-deck.

DUTIES OF MIDSHIPMAN OF THE QUARTER-DECK IN PORT.

He stands his watch on the port side of the quarter-deck. He receives and attends at the departure of all appointed and warranted officers, and attends with the officer of the deck at the reception and departure of all commanding officers. He sees that all orders of the officer of the deck connected with the of after-part of the ship are promptly executed. He must attend to the manning of all boats, being careful to observe that the crews are dressed neatly in the uniform of the day, having on their knife laniards, shoes, and cap ribbons, and that the boats are clean and in good order. He must report

312

ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF THE MIDSHIPMAN OF THE QUARTER-DECK AT SEA.

He musters the watch, petty officers and life-boats’ crews. He sees the gear clear and promptly manned when ordered. He must see that the lookouts are vigilant, and that the man stationed at the life-buoys thoroughly understands his duties. He should see that the after-part of the watch keep on deck. He should learn as soon as possible the names and stations of the men in the after-part of his watch. He musters the men at the ash whip.

Log-Book. The midshipman keeping the columns of the log-book has an important duty to perform. He must never trust to his own judgment as to the course and speed of the ship; the officer of the deck will specially direct him what to record in both these cases. The other columns shall be filled as follows: Wind-the average direction for the hour to the nearest point. Force-the average for the hour except when wishing to show the force of passing squalls; for instance, when a gentle breeze has been blowing with “moderate squalls,” it should be entered 3-7. In the column for weather symbols, every symbol must be used required to express all the changes of the weather for the hour. The various forms of clouds and the average amount of clear sky for the hour must be entered in their respective

313

DUTIES OF A MIDSHIPMAN OF A TOP.

He must go in the top when all hands are called for any exercise or duty aloft. He must preserve silence and good order aloft, and never permit any one to hail the deck. He must never hail the deck himself unless unavoidable. As soon as possible after being assigned to the top he should make himself perfectly familiar with the names, stations and qualities of each man in the top; the necessity of this is obvious. He is responsible that the men go to their stations as per Station Bill. He should never allow any changes without the authority of the executive officer, except for the time being when any important station is vacant, or for the purpose of equalizing the men on the yard arms. He must keep the men in the slings until the order “lay out,” and keep them out until the order “lay in.” When the order to man or attend the boom tricing lines is given he sees it obeyed immediately, so that all the booms shall go up or down together. When loosing sails he must see that the sails are kept well up until the order “let fall.”

When making sail he must see the gear well overhauled and lighted up.

When furling he must see that the sails are not gathered up until the order “furl.” He must see them neatly furled, gaskets passed square and gasket laniards tucked away securely. He must see that no ropes or Irish pennants are hanging from anywhere aloft.

When crossing light yards he must see the lifts and braces overhauled and properly put on, the slack of the

314

DUTIES OF THE MATE OF THE GUN-DECK.

He must turn out in port ten minutes before reveille, and at sea ten minutes before the idlers are called. He must get on deck at once, hurry up the hammock stowers, and see the men turn out promptly when “all hands” are called. The deck should be cleared of all but six bell hammocks in ten minutes. Directly the hammocks are up he must report the same to the officer of the deck and receive from him the morning orders for the gun-deck.

As soon as the hammocks are up and the cloths hauled over, the men are allowed fifteen minutes for coffee and smoking, after which the hands are turned-to and the corporal of the guard extinguishes the smoking-lamp.

The first thing to be done is to have the deck swept down, then the morning orders executed. If the deck is to be holystoned or scrubbed, he should have everything possible triced up clear of the deck, while a couple of hands from each part of the ship are getting up the wash deck gear. He should start the water, sand down, holystone around the guns, run them in and holystone underneath them.

The guns are run in by the different parts of the ship. The gun gear is scrubbed by those detailed in the divisional cleaning bill. The scuttle butt and harness casks by the berth deck cooks.* The galley platform, tables and chests by the galley cooks. The water-closets by the forecastle-

* Or the scuttle butt may be cleaned by the part of the ship in which it stands, and the harness cask by the jack-of-the-dust.

315

If the crew messes on the gun deck, when mess gear is piped he must keep the men clear of the tables or cloths until meals are piped. It is a common practice for the firemen as well as marines who have the following watch to get their meals half an hour earlier. If this system is followed he should allow the privilege only to those entitled to it, being particularly careful at sea that none of the watch on deck are below without permission. The better system is to have the firemen and marines get their meals with the deck watches at sea, and when in port for the reliefs to go on duty half an hour later.

After meals he will see mess gear cleared away. At proper time the hands will be turned-to and the smoking lamp must be extinguished.

At gun bright work he must be about to see that the deck is not soiled. After bright work he should clear the deck of everybody but cooks and sweepers, when he, assisted by the boatswain’s mate, must see the deck cleared up for inspection before quarters. He must see the deck swept down and everything put in order. Before reporting to the executive he must make a thorough inspection himself. He should examine over the knees, capstan bars, gun gear and all other articles triced up to the beams to see that those places are not used as stow holes. He must see the port lids square, the ports clean and dry, the scuppers clean, the scupper valve laniards hauled taut and all plugs in. He must see that no clothing or other articles are hanging about the deck, and have all ditty bags or boxes stowed in their proper places. He must see the battery in order, all tackles made up. He must see all chests in order and that nothing is stowed behind them, chest lids raised. He must have the gratings stowed neatly on the hatches. He must have all chairs sent below. While the executive officer is

316

The mate of the deck attends at the serving out of provisions and sees that a petty officer is also in attendance. He must also attend to the clearing out of the lucky bag, the paymaster’s clerk and ship’s writer being also present. He must every evening report the deck ready for hammocks to the officer of the deck. His daily duty extends to tattoo in port and to 8 P.M. at sea.

DUTIES OF THE MATE OF BERTH DECK AND HOLD.

Many of the duties laid down for mate of gun deck are applicable to the mate of the berth deck. The deck is kept clean and in order by the berth deck cooks under the master-at-arms. If the crew messes only on the berth deck the work of the cooks is confined exclusively to, deck. The mate should turn out at the same time as he mate of gun deck. His duties in regard to hammocks are the same. The berth deck is seldom holystoned or scrubbed with sand; it is either wiped up or scrubbed with soap and water, the deck being either painted or shellacked as a sanitary measure. It should never be more than wiped up before breakfast. The duties of the mate when cleaning the deck are the same as those of mate, of gun deck.

He must make the same preliminary inspection and have the deck ready for the inspection of the executive officer by 9:15 A.M. at the latest. He must never permit smoking on the deck. He must not allow the men to go to their bags without proper authority. When the men are called on deck he must see the deck promptly cleared and report it to the officer of the deck.

When getting underway or coming-to he must muster the berth deck cooks at the compressors. At sea he must never allow the air ports to be opened without the authority of the executive officer and the knowledge of the officer of the deck. He should never allow wet clothing to be hung about or kept on the deck.

As mate of the hold lie is responsible that the hold is kept clean and properly stowed. All barrels must be stowed on their bilges, bungs up, well chocked and with chime pieces between the heads of those that do not match. He must see that wet provisions are not stowed over dry. He must see that the old provisions are stowed over the new and nearest the hatches. He must see that the gear in frequent use, such as cat and fish, yard and stay purchases,

317

He must see the holds locked and the keys turned in to the executive officer, and report the holds locked to him at 8 P.M.

The mate of the hold is generally also given charge of the hull while in port, and should satisfy himself by frequent inspections throughout the day of the proper appearance of the ship outside, notably after drills, or the reception of stores, or after bumboats have been alongside.

DUTIES OF A MIDSHIPMAN OF A DIVISION.

He assists the officer of the division in instructing the men in all duties of the different stations, and in keeping the guns properly equipped, the supply and reserve boxes complete. He should especially see to the bright work. He should always, when not on duty, go promptly to his division at the roll and see that every one is present who is not properly excused, and that they remain until he has inspected and approved of their bright work. He must see that those detailed in the cleaning bill to clean absentees’ bright work perform the duty.

At quarters he receives the reports of the gun captains and reports the absentees to the divisional officer. He accompanies the latter in his divisional inspection, being always provided with pencil and paper to note any reports. He should also accompany him after the drill in his inspection to see that everything is properly secured and that all articles are returned to their proper places. While the divisional officer is absent making his reports he is responsible that order and silence are maintained in the division. During drills he must be active and observant that all the details are promptly and properly executed. He must keep a duplicate clothing bill carefully corrected at every monthly inspection of bags. He makes out the clothing requisition under the direction of the officer of the division. He must be present at the issuing of clothing.

DUTIES OF A MIDSHIPMAN OF A BOAT (ARMED AND EQUIPPED).

Obtain from the officer of the boat a list of the boat’s crew, with the duties of each man for arming and equipping,

318

When boats are called away armed and equipped, he should endeavor to get his boat away first, completely ready for the intended service.

The duties of a boat officer in running boats have been given elsewhere. (SEE BOATS.)

Remarks. In the absence of quarter-deck midshipmen, the officer of the forecastle is generally ordered to inspect below during night watches at sea, to write up the columns of the log, muster the watches, and in general to perform the more important duties mentioned as belonging to the quarter-deck detail.

When a light is sighted forward, the forecastle officer should be prompt in ascertaining its position and reporting its bearing and color. When a sail is sighted by day he-receives and transmits the report of its bearing and character, if made out.

In mustering the watch the men toe a seam in their own parts of the ship, weather side, and each man answers his name to his number when called, falling out and passing the mustering officer. Unless important work is going on, captains of parts of ship are sent to look up their absentees and bring them to the mast. The names of men sick or excused from watch are borne on the binnacle list, kept at the wheel.

The watch being mustered, proceed to muster the lifeboat’s crew abreast of the lee boat, the coxswain inspects both boats and falls, and reports “clear and ready for lowering.”

The result of the muster (absentees, &c.) is reported to the officer of the deck.

The marines of the watch are mustered by the non-commissioned officer of the guard.

All officers keeping watch are called at night ten minutes before the hour, usually by the quartermaster on duty, and they should be ready to relieve on the stroke of the bell.

Make it a rule not to turn over your duty to another until you have passed all orders and instructions required, and similarly not to relieve until you are furnished with all the information which ought to be given. Few things reflect more discredit upon a young officer than ignorance on any point of the instructions generally turned over in relieving.

When stationed in a top, lay aloft as soon as you come on deck and before the light yardmen are sent into the, rigging.

319

HINTS FOR NAVAL CADETS.

Correspondence. An order from the Navy Department must be acknowledged immediately on its receipt and as per form A.

When granted “leave” or placed on “waiting orders,” the post-office address of the officer must be forwarded immediately to the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation and Office of Detail.

All communications to a bureau officer should be addressed by his rank and bureau title.

When an order specifies that it shall be obeyed “immediately,” the officer receiving it must proceed to obey it within twelve (12) hours after its receipt. When it directs “without delay,” he must proceed within forty-eight (48) hours. When no time is specified or expression of haste used, he must proceed within four (4) days.

All official communications must be written on official paper. The navy regulation paper is thirteen and a half (13 1/2) inches by sixteen and a half (16 1/2) inches when open, made of linen stock, is stop ruled with twenty-four blue lines on the first and third pages only, one inch margin back and front, top and bottom.

Envelopes must also be white and of proper size to receive the paper when folded as per regulation.

In all correspondence, if the subject-matter can be completed on one page, and no communications or papers are enclosed, a half sheet only will be used; but if there are enclosures, a whole sheet is to be used and the enclosures placed between the leaves, separately numbered and referred to accordingly. Both sides of a sheet must never be written upon.

An official communication must be folded twice, parallel with the ruling. It must be endorsed on the top of the back with name and rank of the writer, place or vessel, date, and brief statement of contents, as follows:

320

When an officer is on sick leave in consequence of medical survey, he must report the state of his health to the department every fifteen days.

The uniform to be worn when reporting for duty at a naval station or on board of a vessel, and when a vessel is being placed in commission, is service dress, white gloves and sword.

THE MANNER OF REPORTING FOR DUTY ON BOARD SHIP.

He salutes the quarter-deck on reaching it. Reports to the officer of the deck that he has come on board to report for duty. The officer of the deck directs the orderly to announce him to the commanding officer. The latter directs that he be shown in the cabin. He then reports for duty, at the same time handing his orders to the commanding officer to be endorsed.

Immediately after reporting to the commanding officer, he shows his orders to the officer of the deck, who records them in the log book.

He must then report to the executive officer, who will assign him to a watch, division, boat, and station at “all hands.”

He will then write to the department that he has reported for duty in obedience to its order. The letter should be written as per form B, and forwarded through his commanding officer. Forms A and B usually accompany all orders.

FIRST DUTIES AFTER REPORTING.

As soon as he has been assigned to a watch, division, &c., by the executive officer, he must make a neat pocket copy of the watch and quarter bills complete; a cleaning and fire bill for his own division; a boat bill for his boat, with stations for the crew for arming and equipping; a general station bill for “all hands” for that part of the ship where he is stationed. This enables him promptly to muster the men at their stations in his part of the ship at any evolution.

PAY ACCOUNTS AND TRAVELING EXPENSES.

On being detached from the Academy, get copy of pay accounts from the paymaster.

You are ordered to proceed to your home, and after

321

to the paymaster of the nearest navy-yard, and request him to take up your accounts and send you a few blank receipts. When you wish a month’s pay or the sum due you, sign the receipt in blank; the paymaster will fill it out and send you a check for the amount.

Immediately on receiving orders to duty, write to the paymaster having your accounts and request him to send them to you. Accompanying your letter must be a certified copy of your last order. After reporting on board the vessel to which you are ordered, and the commanding officer has endorsed your orders, you turn them and your accounts over to the paymaster, who takes your accounts up on his books and returns you your orders after he has had a copy of them made.

21

322