Somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea, in the year 1815, Captain William M. Crane, United States Navy, commanding officer of the U.S.S. Independence, wrote a set of General Orders for his ship. In November, 1938, 123 years later, to be exact, this book was found on display in the private museum of Holman and Lutz, Inc., of Portland, Oregon, where are displayed other relics of the early American Navy. Sea chests from “Old Ironsides” and the U.S.S. Independence, and a quadrant with its instruction book and carrying case from the latter ship, are displayed with many silent memoirs of past decades.
The Order Book dated August 31, 1815, is hand sewn with a leather binding, approximately 4X8 inches in dimensions, and contains, at present, 74 pages. Sometime during its existence (perhaps many times) it has been thoroughly water- soaked, making it nearly illegible in places. Page one is inscribed as follows:
General Orders
For the government and discipline of the U. S. Ship Independence bearing the Broad Pennant of Commodore Wm. Bainbridge, Captain Wm. M. Crane, Commander, 1815.
Rules and Regulations generally applicable to the Service:
Article 1st. Having thought proper to establish the following Rules for the guidance of the officers and Ship’s company under my command, it is strictly required that no deviation whatever take place without my knowledge and concurrence, but that every person obey them in the fullest sense, together with any additional instructions that I may think proper to insert in the orderly book, for the good of the United States Navy.
The first 30 pages of the Order Book contain the General Orders establishing the ship’s routine and covering as far as possible most of the contingencies that might arise either at sea or in “harbors.” The remainder of the book is devoted to detailed instructions (with considerable repetition from the General Orders) to the First Lieutenant, Junior Lieutenant, and so on, down through the list—Sailing Master, Officer of the Watch, Marine Officer, Surgeon, Purser, Midshipmen and Mates, Boatswain, Gunner, Carpenter, Crew, and ending up with Quarters and Fire.
There is much of interest in Captain Crane’s Order Book and at least two of his ideas, as expressed therein, are as important in today’s Navy as then. Captain Crane’s orders written under the heading “On the Necessity of Adhering to one General Set of Commands,” except for the examples given, could well be used today, when he wrote:
It must be a subject of regret to every officer of experience and judgment, that no precise terms are generally made use of in carrying on the duty of the ship.
With different officers, each has his particular mode of expression, and each perhaps differs from the rest, which those who have to obey, will give continual perplexity.
In every word of command, the officer should be as concise as possible, and previous to the commencement of any evolution, he should give his orders to prepare; then as soon as regains the reply of “ready” he may commence. For example: If the courses and stay sails are to be set, give the words, “Haul aboard”—“Hoist away”-—in preference to enumerating the different sails &c by saying, “Haul on board the fore and main tack”—“Hoist away the jib, main top masts, middle & top gallant stay sails”—which would require so much breath that the duty might be almost performed in the time that that people are waiting to receive Orders.
When the hands are turned up to perform any service whatever, the attendance of every officer and petty officer is immediately expected on deck without being sent for, and the Captain directs those officers who have not any command in carrying on the duty, if on deck, that they will not impede the service by attempting to divert or engage the attention of those who have; and the officers are requested to avoid all unnecessary repetition in giving their orders; which by being expressed in a few words are more easily understood by those to whom they are given.
Discipline as it respects alertness can only be preserved by constant, and steady attention to whatever is carrying on. It is requested that the officers of the Ship will not suffer the most trifling things to go on with indifference.
The Commander expects that a mutual advantage, combined with a desire for doing his duty, will always induce the officers, seamen and marines under his command to execute their duty with cheerfulness and pay a strict attention to the discipline and subordination of the ship.
Silence in the performance of all duties is the first principle of discipline, and as such is to be particularly enforced at all times.
All officers are desired to see the sails well furled, running rigging taut, and every possible attention paid to the outward appearance of the ship, and that neatness be particularly attended to, by which the United States Ships ought to be distinguished.
Captain Crane’s disciplinary policy is as much in vogue with many commanders today as in our Navy of over 100 years ago, and while the scale of the punishments as laid down might now be considered severe, it is seen that the scale was balanced somewhat, as Captain Crane’s 65th article reads:
The alacrity of the Seamen in the performance of their duty, which reflects so much credit on their ship, and a quiet deportment when below, so essential to the happiness, both of the officers and ship’s company, will be duly notic’d, so that whoever distinguishes himself by such a line of conduct may depend on having a preference in every advancement and indulgence.
That punishment in all navies 123 years ago was undoubtedly harsh is generally well known, but that considerable thought and consideration as to the welfare of the crew was given by naval officers at that time is, I am sure, not so well known. An article from the General Order book on this subject is of interest:
The various disorders incident to people on board the ship most commonly procede from colds, acquired by wet clothes and foul air; it is therefore strictly commanded that every man who gets wet takes the first opportunity to dry his clothes, and that he never carries anything below which is wet but leaves it under the charge of the Sentinel at the cabin door, where dry tubs will be placed to receive such articles. Nothing is ever to be hung in the shrouds, or about the bow-sprit and rigging when in port; but should any person be desirous of drying his wet clothes, he will be allowed to hang lines between the fore and maine shrouds for that purpose.
It is evident from Captain Crane’s orders that the readiness of the ship for action at all times was of paramount importance. His 11th order reads:
When the ship arrives from sea, the greatest dispatch is to be used in refitting and getting ready for sea again; and until she is so, no officer or seaman is on any account to absent himself from duty. Watering the Ship must always be considered as the first service to be attended to, for which purpose, different boats crews are to be selected to relieve each other.
On the Independence on Sundays and Thursdays, the ship’s company held a personal field day:
The people are all expected, to be cleaned, shaved and dressed by 10 o’clock every Sunday morning, when they will be mustered in divisions, by the different division officers commanding them, previously to the general muster, which will take place regularly at 11 o’clock.
On Thursdays as well as Sundays, the Ship’s company is expected to be shaved, to put on clean shirts and shift their trousers.
The Ship’s company are to be ordered (on Thursdays) to mend their clothes.
On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays general quarters and drills were held:
When in Harbor or at Sea, and particular duty does not interfere, or when in company with a Senior Officer, who does not make the signal periodically, Monday Tuesday and Friday mornings are to be appropriated to the exercise of the great guns and small arms, on which day, every officer on the spot is particularly required to attend. If in harbor and weather will permit the sails are to be loosed and every evolution practiced which may occur in action at sea.
Saturdays, that day so sacred to inspection in our Navy today, were devoted to washing the ship’s company’s clothes, and we note from the Order Book that the “Ship’s Cooks are to be called at 4 o’clock to boil water for washing the ship’s company’s clothes.”
The Sailing Master was ordered to inspect below decks on Saturday morning, when he was instructed to take with him:
The carpenters and visit with the different warrant officers their respective store rooms, wings, tiers, sail room, pumps, bulkheads and examine nicely into the state of the different stores, discover if they are any suffering by leaks, damps, vermine, improper stowage or any other cause, and make his report accordingly to the Captain or commanding officer.
The custom of following the movements of the senior ship present was certainly followed to an extreme in the “Old Navy”:
When in Harbor and particular duty on board prevents the motions of the Senior Officer from being followed, a message is always to be sent specifying the reasons which so prevented it. And when a commanding officer gets underway, his motions, if the weather will permit, are to be followed till he is clear of the harbor. When a Commodore arrives in port, the Sails are to be loosened and taken in agreeably to his movements; but should any strange ship appear off the harbor, no boat is to board them, until it be ascertained that they are friends.
If in company with a Commodore or superior officer, no evolution or maneuver, such as sending down top gallant yards, striking top masts &c. must be followed without being ordered by him either by signal or example.
Perhaps quotation of Captain Crane’s 71st order would be of interest to junior officers who feel that the monthly journal required aboard ship is a fiendish regulation of modern origin:
The sea Lieutenants, master, master’s mates and midshipmen, will send into the Captain daily, the result of their days work, and the bearings and distance of the nearest land or shoals. Their Journals to be sent in for examination the first and fifteenth of every month. No excuse will be received for a deviation from this order except in case of violent storms.
Also perhaps some of our marine officers will be interested in another quotation for the same reason:
When in harbors the Marines are to be divided if possible into three parts, one of which parts to compose a guard, and to do the duty of Sentinels. They are to perform this service for a week, one to relieve each other alternately the remaining two parts to act as a working party & to assist in the ordinary duty of the ship. One Marine Officer to be constantly on board.
I am sure that most of us in the naval service have, at some time or other, wondered as to the origin of the term “binnacle list.” U. S. Navy Regulations, of course, defines the meaning of the term binnacle list in today’s Navy. We find the answer to the origin of this term in Captain Crane’s Order Book, in his instructions to the Surgeon:
The Surgeon and his assistants will always visit and attend the sick at 10 o’clock and present a written statement of their case to the 1st Lieutenant and Captain; his assistant will also place a sick list in the binnacle drawer for the inspection of the officers of the watches, as no man on any account will ever be excused from duty, without he has reported himself to the Surgeon and has his name inserted in this list.
Incidentally, this one paragraph encompasses the Captain’s entire orders to the Surgeon.
The problem of maintaining a full bag in the Navy of this period certainly was far simpler than the one which faces the modern man-of-war’s man, and for one article of clothing at least, a choice of two colors could be made. Captain Crane’s order on the subject is as follows:
The following articles of clothing are always to be kept complete, if it be possible, namely, three shirts, two jackets, one (red or white) waist coat, three pairs of trousers, two pairs of shoes, two hats or one hat and cap, and a black handkerchief.
The boarders on the Independence were evidently a distinct division by themselves separated into two sections. Captain Crane, in his order on boarders, underlines a sentence in the last paragraph where he says, “they are never to retreat unless ordered by the Commanding Officer”:
Should the Boarders be wanted; the bell will be rung when they are to repair to the gangway opposite the enemy, each provided with a cutlass & pistol and wait the orders of the commanding officer. The marines are to be ready to cover the boarders at any point from which the attack may be made.
Should it be necessary to repel boarders, the boarders will be called as usual, and when ordered the spar deck division will immediately provide themselves with a boarding pike, cutlass or battle axe, and return to their quarters, ready to repel an attack. The second division of the boarders will arrange themselves from the gangways forward; the first division from the gangway aft. The boarders will recollect that whether attacking the enemy’s ships or defending their own, they are never to retreat unless ordered by the commanding officer. At the Long Roll, the boarders are to repair to the gangway opposite to the marines, without arms to act as sail trimmers.
Evidently crews of that day tended to become involved in disputes as to which piece of beef belonged to which mess, and considerable attention was paid to insuring proper distribution of foodstuffs. Once the piece of meat or “pudding” was broken out for cutting up one certain piece of meat was allocated to a particular mess and from then on was their property:
The pursers steward will at 9 o’clock in the morning commence serving out provisions and that by messes.
A master’s mate and quarter master will always attend at the cutting up of the beef and pork.
Each mess will place their respective tallies on their beef, pork, puddings, &c on putting them into the coppers which will prevent all disputes. The ships Cooks will take up the dinner at 7 bells; when the duty of the ship will permit it, the ship’s company to go at dinner at 12 o’clock.
Officer of the deck’s messengers in the Independence were in a class by themselves and had a special insignia:
Three smart boys will be selected & put into each watch; they are to stay on the quarter deck, to carry any of the officers messages; and call the midshipmen when below, for any duty required. They should wear caps, with a winged mercury painted on them. An orderly besides the Sentinel will always be planted near the cabin door, with side arms only, to carry the captains orders and messages.
Back in 1815 it was an occasion when a man-o’-war’s man spent the night on the beach:
When an officer receives leave of absence he is to consider it for that day only, unless expressly stated to the contrary, as no person whatever is to sleep out of the ship without the captain’s leave.
A daily schedule has been made up from the information contained in the General Orders for the Independence and is given here as being of possible interest:
Daily Schedule
0500 (Summer Season)—All hands are to be turned up, boats hoisted out, decks scrubbed, etc.
0730 (Winter Season)—All hands are to be turned up.
0730—Hammocks are to be piped up. After hammocks are stowed, decks are to be swept down and the rigging made shipshape.
(Master)—“He is also in fine weather to see the cables up off the deck every morning, immediately after the hammocks are piped up, to prevent their being rubbed or injured by people walking over them, they are to be covered with old hammocks, or platted as far as the main hatch way.”
0730—The day mate will get the spirits up for mixing the peoples grog.
0750—“The hands will be turned up, ‘up top gallant yards’. Every man will repair to his station, and every officer is expected to attend on deck. At the word ‘Sway across,’ the yards will be crossed. The bell struck and the colors hoisted at the same time, after which, the yards will be squared, and the people go to breakfast, …”
0800—One half hour allotted for breakfast.
0900—“ ... a boat is to be ready at nine o’clock, every morning to carry any person on shore who may have permission; . . . .” 0900—“The pursers steward will at 9 o’clock in the morning commence serving out provisions and that by messes.”
1000—“The Surgeon and his assistants will always visit and attend the sick at 10 o’clock, ...”
1200—Pipe to dinner, one hour allowed. “The crew to dine precisely at 12 o’clock.”
1300—“The wardroom & Steerage at 1 o’clock.”
1300—“Another boat to go at one,” (see 0900).
1400—“The Cabin at 2 o’clock.” (to dine). Decks to be swept down after dinner. “They [the sweepers] are always to be ordered to discharge the dirt from the lee side of the ship.”
1600—All hands knocked off, grog mixed, spirits struck below and the decks swept.
Send third boat ashore “in sufficient time before sunset to admit of her returning to the ship at that time.”
All lights and fires extinguished at the setting of the watch in the evening except those in the wardroom which are to be put out at 10 o’clock.
One Hour Before Sunset—“One hour before sun set the hands will be piped to supper, after which the seamen & marines will be mustered at quarters, and everything seen ready for action in the night; the hammocks will then be piped down except in chase.”
Sunset—“Whenever the yards, top gallant masts, or top masts are struck, and also at sun set every evening, the master is to examine the cable tiers, sheets and spare anchors, stoppers, &c, to see they are properly clear for running and report the same to the Captain or commanding officer.” Sunset—“At sun set the top gallant yards will be sent down, the decks swept, the keys of the store rooms returned, and the hammocks piped down.”
Sunset—“He [the carpenter] is to keep a sufficient number of shot plugs made, and everything at hand and ready every night for action, which is to be reported at sun set, . . . .”