May 22, 1863, The New York Herald
Sailing Exercises on Board the Sloop Marion.
Our Naval Academy Correspondence.
NEWPORT, R.I., May 20, 1863.
The day dawned upon us calm and beautiful; but the clouds bespoke for us a breeze early in the day, while the atmosphere here promised us a fine day for the exercise of the young gentlemen in the various evolutions on board ship.
At nine o’clock the board convened at the Aquidneck House, and proceeded to the wharf, accompanied by several ladies, where they embarked on board of the steam tender Fanny, and started for the sailing sloop-of-war Marion. A more propitious day could not have been selected, and as we glided over the smooth and spacious waters of the harbor every one felt invigorated by the freshness and purity of the air. A delightful sail of a few minutes brought us to the Marion, which lay at anchor off the breakwater, with the first, second and third classes of midshipmen on board, who were to be exercised in practical seamanship.
On reaching the vessel the blue flag of the Admiral was hoisted at the mizen, a guard drawn up to receive us, and, amid the roll of the drum and shrill whistle of the boatswain at the gangway the distinguished party was ushered on board.
The midshipmen were dressed in neat blue flannel jumpers, or overshirts, and looked ruddy and hearty, and as if they would be able to surprise some of their visitors with their proficiency in the details of handling a vessel. The deck was in charge of Midshipman Cooper, whose commanding tone and officerlike actions won the esteem of the entire party of visitors.
After the party was fairly on board, all hands were called to “hoist anchor,” the messenger was placed, and the chain brought to in true sailor style. At the words […..] round,” the flier gave a tune and time to the midshipmen at the capstan, who soon brought up the chain to a shackle, which was to be slipped at the proper time.
Orders were now given to loose the sails, and as nimble as cats the young gentlemen mounted the hammock nettings, and, at the words […..] aloft,” the rigging was instantly blackened with the sprightly fellows, who went to their stations aloft in fine style. Sails were loosed, sheeted home and hoisted up in a surprisingly short space of time, the cable slipped and the yards trimmed so that only a very few minutes had elapsed after the party came on board before the ship was fairly under weigh, with everything set, from courses to royals. The ship was unmoored, sail made and the battery secured with the least confusion or noise one can imagine. One midshipman gave the orders, which were executed entirely by other midshipmen. Their stations are the same as sailors on board of men-of-war, comprising master-at-arms, ships’ corporal, coxswains, quartermasters, quartergunners, captains of forecastle, tops, afterguard and of the hold, messenger boys, &c. In this way they learn practically the duties devolving upon those who fill those places in actual service.
But to return to the cruise – short, it is true, but none the less interesting. After running up the channel so as to clear a ledge of rocks, the yards were braced up and the ship brought to the wind on a bowline, and, standing over as far as the water would permit, she was tacked, which evolution was done in a truly fine manner. We then stood over on that tack until the proximity of them land made it necessary to “come about” again, when she was again put in stays. Just as she came up head to the wind she refused to go further, and the ship acted as if she desired to […..] in irons,” but by the skilful management of the midshipman in charge the vessel was caused to make a stern board and the yards braced up on the desired tack. The performance of this evolution gave the highest satisfaction to all of the visitors who were acquainted with nautical movements.
Various evolutions were gone through with skill and with a rapidity quite in keeping with the true idea of man-of-war style. In time the royals were clewed up and furled, then the topgallant sails were handed and the flying gib stowed. A few short tacks brought us up to the vicinity of Fort Adams, when, the wind being favorable, the yards were checked in and all hands called to […..] topsails.” The halyards, bracers, reeftackler and buntlines men manned the yards, squared in, halyards stacked away and reeftackles hauled out, buntlines hauled up, booms triced up, and the youngsters laid aloft and put one reef in each of the topsails. This exercise was quickly and skilfully executed, and showed that they have been schooled for storm as well as for sunshine.
The reader must bear in mind that practical seamanship cannot be learned from a book and nothing but actual service on deck and aloft will or can ever make a true seaman; and when it is borne in mind that the severity of the winter prevents much of outdoor drill, the performances of the midshipmen this morning go to show that they themselves are interested in their professional studies, and that their instructors are men well qualified for their position and are desirous to make those under their care proficient in their profession.
This fact is illustrated by an incident which occurred today. Commodore Hitchcock, through the handling of the spanker, lost his cap overboard. A boat was called away, and in an incredibly short space of time the port quarter boat, fully manned, was lowered and despatched to pick up the article. Had it been a person instead of a cap the result would have been the same. It was saved. Thus this trifling incident served to show how readily the vessel was to […..] to lower the boat and the evolution necessary to again pick up the boat.
After a pleasant sail around Goat Island we returned to our anchorage, anchoring under sail. All hands were called to muster, and, forming on the port side of the quarter deck, Admiral Goldsborough addressed them in a few words, in which he complimented them highly for their office like bearing and skillful seamanship. He urged upon them the desire to cultivate the advantages which they were now enabled to embrace, and in behalf of the Board of Visitors thanked them for the excellent esprit du corps which they had manifested.
The visitors now embarked in the tender and proceeded to the city, and as she rounded under the bow of the Marion the midshipmen manned the rigging and gave three hearty cheers, which were returned by those on board of the little steamer.
This little cruise has been full of interest to all who were present as it shows how thorough has been the instruction imparted to those young officers, and what rapid headway they have made in seamanship.
I learn that during the winter the sloop-of-war John Adams has been stripped to a girt line, and then everything put […..] taunto” by these same youngsters, and she is a model ship for neat rigging work.
The course of instruction in practical seamanship combines the following details: – Mode of docking and undocking vessels, heaving them down for repairs, storage of ballast, water, provisions, ammunition, sails and other stores, getting on board and placing masts, spars, rigging, sails, armament, boats and other articles of equipment, berthing the crew, stationing the ship’s company, unmooring ship, getting under weigh, anchoring and mooring, the use of springs, keeping the ship from fouling her anchors, clearing hawse, use of sounding lead, the helm, steering, tacking, wearing, making and shortening sail under all circumstances, warping, towing, management of vessels and boats to save men who have fallen overboard, or to rescue persons from vessels at sea, and a host of other details which I have not the space to mention at this time.
Every care and attention is given to make our midshipmen the best naval officers in the world, and if I am any judge, I saw several today who will no doubt ere long make for themselves an undying name.
We are to have a drill with howitzers this afternoon; but it may not be over in time for me to mail the particulars.