2.

Correspondence Commanders of fleets, squadrons, or stations, and all other officers having of Commanders- a regular correspondence with the Navy Department, will number their in-Chief, &c., to be letters; a new series commencing on the 1st of January of each year.

numbered.

Rate of vessel to be noted.

When reference

3.

In all communications dated on shipboard the rate of the vessel will be placed after her name, and if at sea, the latitude and longitude are to be stated.

4.

The dates of all circulars, orders, telegrams, or letters, to which reference to Department's is made in corresponding with the Department or any of its Bureaus, must correspondence is be distinctly quoted, and this rule is to be observed in forwarding triplicate bills, bills of lading, and invoices, the date of the order or orders being written across the face in red ink.

made, dates are to be quoted.

5.

Translations of All letters or documents transmitted in a foreign language are, when posforeign corre sible, to be accompanied by translations. spondence.

Duplicates of important correspondence from

6.

Commanders-in-Chief and other officers abroad are to forward, by different conveyances, duplicates, and, if necessary, triplicates of all the important abroad to be sent letters they write, either to the Secretary of the Navy or to any of the Bureaus, by different con- and on these occasions they are to state at the top of each letter, in red ink, when and by what conveyance the original was sent.

veyances.

Address of Com

7.

Officers commanding foreign stations will be addressed officially in cormanders-in-Chief respondence as commanding United States Naval force of the station to on foreign stations. which they are assigned, viz:

Communications

Rear-Admiral

U. S. Navy,
Commanding U. S. Naval Force on

8

Station.

No

Every person in the Navy making a communication of any kind to the to be forwarded Secretary of the Navy, to a Bureau, to a Commander-in-Chief, or to any through Com- authority other than his Commanding Officer, will send the same unsealed to manding Officer. his Commanding Officer, to be by him remarked upon and forwarded. communication in writing is to be regarded as official which is not forwarded through the prescribed channels, having the indorsement of the Commanding Officer, and, if to the Navy Department or a Bureau, the indorsement also of the Commander-in-Chief. All periodical returns, requisitions, and vouchers, excepting such only as are to be transmitted direct by a Pay Officer to the Fourth Auditor of the Treasury, and all papers requiring the action of the Commander-in-Chief will be forwarded by Commanding Officers to the Chief of Staff, who, where requisite, will refer them to the Fleet Officers, who will certify their being correct and return them to the Chief of Staff, for transmission by him to the Commander-in-Chief, with such remarks as he may deem appropriate.

Obligations

nications.

9

to All officers through whom communications from inferiors are to be forforward commu- warded to higher authority will forward the same, if couched in respectful language, as soon after being received as practicable, and will invariably state their opinions in writing, by indorsement or otherwise, in relation to every subject presented for decision.

10.

warded.'

"for

The term "forwarded" is only to be indorsed upon such papers as require Explanation of no action from the Department or other authority, and they may be trans- the term mitted, under the indorsement of the Chief of Staff or of the secretary, by order of the senior officer present.

11.

No officer left temporarily in the place of a Commander-in-Chief or of a No title to be Commandant of a yard or station is to allow himself to be addressed by any assumed from temhigher title than that of his commission, nor is he to subscribe himself other- porary command. wise than, after his rank, as the senior officer present.

12.

All communications, orders, bills, requisitions, and papers which, by law or regulation, are to be signed, approved, or forwarded by the Commanding Officer of any ship, navy-yard, or station must be actually signed by such officer; and, in case of his absence, if of such a character, duration, or extent as to leave the ship, navy-yard, or station practically in command of the Line-Officer next in rank, they will be signed by the Line-Officer in command for the time being as Captain or Commander, as may be, commanding.

13.

An actual signature required.

Should explana

Any officer of the Navy who may be required to take official action, under any regulation of the Department or any law governing or referring thereto, tion of the meanwho may desire instructions or explanation as to the force, meaning, or ing of a law or regulation be deeffect of such law or regulation, will address his official communication of sired. inquiry to the Navy Department.

14.

nications to the

of other

or

All official communications to the heads or officers of other Departments Official commumust be addressed through the Navy Department, excepting those of PayOfficers to the accounting-officers of the Treasury. Any official question of, Departments, or appeal from, any order or action of the Department by any officer of the appeal from the Navy should be addressed to the President, as the common superior, and be Navy Department forwarded through the Navy Department, except in case of its refusal or failure to forward, when they may be addressed directly.

15.

warding commu

The general routine to be observed in forwarding communications, or in Routine to be submitting requisitions or reports, is as follows: Commanders of vessels observed in forto transmit them to the Commander of the division to which they belong; nications. Commanders of divisions to the Commander of fleet or squadron; Commanders of squadrons to the Commander-in-Chief; Commander-in-Chief to the Navy Department. Fleet-Officers will forward all communications through the Chief of Staff. The senior Marine Officer will forward all reports or returns from the several vessels through the Chief of Staff. Should he be in command of the guard of the vessel in which he is serving, all reports or returns relating to that vessel will be forwarded through his Commanding Officer. If there be no Commanders of divisions, Commanders of vessels will transmit communications to the Commander-in-Chief of the fleet or squadron; and if there be no Commander-in-Chief other than the Commander of the squadron, he will refer such as may be necessary to the Navy Department.

16.

In case vessels of a fleet or squadron are separated from the Commanderin-Chief, then, in the absence of their divisional Commander, the senior officer present is to be regarded in the light of a Commander of a division.

Vessels separated from Commander-in-Chief.

Vessel acting

singly.

Where the same

17.

In case of a vessel acting singly, and being alone, her Commanding Officer is, of his own authority, to dispose of requisitions and reports, and to be the medium of reference to the Navy Department; but if not alone, the senior officer present is to discharge those functions.

18.

Should any communication be made to the Secretary of the Navy and at communication is the same time to a Bureau, the person forwarding such duplicates will state partment and to a the same in his communication.

made to the De

Bureau.

Reports to be

19.

When officers are separated from the Commander-in-Chief, and informasent direct, when. tion is likely to be delayed by transmission through the latter, reports will be sent directly to the Department and copies to the Commander-in-Chief.

Acknowledg

20.

The receipt of all communications, except acknowledgments or other comment of communi- munications requiring neither action nor reply, from the Secretary of the Navy, or from any Bureau of the Navy Department, is to be immediately acknowledged.

cations.

In the absence

reau.

21.

There are established in the Navy Department the following Bureaus : 1. Bureau of Yards and Docks.

2. Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting.

3. Bureau of Navigation.

4. Bureau of Ordnance.

5. Bureau of Construction and Repair.
6. Bureau of Steam-Engineering.
7. Bureau of Provisions and Clothing.
8. Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.

22.

All orders, circulars, and instructions issued by a Chief of Bureau will relate solely to subjects with which his Bureau is specially charged.

23.

In case of the actual absence of the Chief of a Bureau, the communicaof a Chief of Bu- tions, orders, bills, requisitions, and papers required to be signed by him can only be signed by the Acting Chief of such Bureau, especially appointed by the President according to law, or by the Secretary of the Navy, or person acting as such by authority of the President.

Communications

24.

Communications relating solely to subjects with which a Bureau is relating solely to intrusted are to be addressed to the Chief of that Bureau. a Bureau.

25.

Persons belong- All persons belonging to the Navy are forbidden to publish, or cause or pering to the Navy mit to be published, directly or indirectly, any official instructions, reports, or forbidden to publish. letters, or to furnish copies of the same to any person, without the permission of the Department.

Officers forbid

den commenting,

&c.

26.

Officers are prohibited from commenting, in their private correspondence, upon the operations or condition of the vessel or squadron to which they may be attached, or from giving any information of their destination or intended operations.

27.

Officers must enter, in proper books, copies of all the official letters they Copies to be kept write, and file and preserve all official documents. The date of the receipts of official correand acknowledgments of all documents must be written on their face.

28.

Letter-books containing copies of all orders given or official letters written, and the originals of all letters received on public service at the different yards and shore-stations, by the Commanding Officer, must be left at those yards and stations, and preserved; Commanding Officers may take copies of all orders or letters which they may receive or write.

29.

All correspondence with private parties on public business by any official of a yard or station, except by the Commandant, is prohibited.

30.

spondence.

Letter-books.

Correspondence with private parties on public busi

ness.

Reports after

All reports from the Executive Officer, Officers of Divisions, Engineer, Surgeon, Paymaster, or any other person, made to the Commanding Officer of a battle. vessel after battle, or any important service, shall be forwarded to the Navy Department, but such Commanding Officer will retain copies.

31.

Copies of orders and instructions issued by a Commander-in-Chief, and of Copies of orders, all official correspondence of public interest, shall be sent to the Navy Depart- &c., by Commander-in-Chiefto

ment.

32.

be

of

No application for a revocation or modification of orders from any officer Applications for of the Navy, ordered to report for duty, will be considered or replied to until a revocation such officer, if able to travel, has reported in obedience to such order.

33.

orders.

All telegrams of a personal nature, such as applications for detachment, Telegrams. for orders, extensions of leave, &c., must be paid for by the parties sending them; telegrams sent by officers at Government expense must be as brief as possible.

34.

Postage-stamps required for official purposes by officers attached to yards, Postage-stamps. stations, and vessels belonging to the stations, will be procured by requisition on the Secretary of the Navy by the Commandant; and for ships in commission in home ports, by the Commanding Officer of the ship. Purchasing Pay Officers and officers not attached to stations, but on duty, will procure stamps by requisition in like manner. Commandants will make requisition in season for each quarter's supply, and will have charge of their distribution. A report will be made at the end of each quarter of their expenditure, and of the number and denomination then on hand.

35.

If blank forms

Such forms, indicated in the Book of Regulations, as may not be furnished in blank by the Department or its Bureaus, are to be prepared in manuscript are not furnished. by those who are required to use them.

36.

Commanding Officers will indorse upon the orders of all officers reporting Indorsing for duty the date of their reporting.

ports.

re

Tow not to be

taken unless

Vessels of war

CHAPTER XVIII.

TOWING AND PILOTS.

1.

Mercantile steamers are not to be hired to tow any United States vessels in or out of port unless circumstances render it necessary for their safety, to prevent injurious delay, or when ordered on special or urgent service.

2.

Steamers of war are never to be used for towing unless when necessary not to tow unless in battle, or to engage therein, or to enter or depart from a port during a calm or other impediment, or to relieve vessels in distress at sea, or by special order.

Pilots may be taken.

3.

Ships of war may take State pilots when it is deemed necessary, and pay them such rates as the laws of the States respectively authorize. Pilots will not be called on board until the ship is ready to proceed to sea, and will be paid only from that time. In coming from sea, the pilot will be disFor the employ-charged as soon as his services are no longer necessary. Coast-pilots may ment of coast- be employed when approved by the Secretary of the Navy or the Compilots, the ap-mander-in-Chief of a squadron. Their pay is to be governed by the direct retary of the Navy I decision of the Department, and no allowance will be given them for local or of the Com- pilotage. During the stay of a pilot on board he will be furnished with a mander-in-Chief cot or hammock, and bedding, and a suitable place for sleeping. He will take his meals at the wardroom table, or in such other mess as the Commanding Officer may direct.

proval of the Sec

required.

Unlicensed pilots

4.

No unlicensed pilot is to be employed excepting in cases of necessity, not to be employed when regular and licensed pilots cannot be obtained; in such instances especial caution is to be observed by the Commanding and Navigating Officers of the vessel.

unless

sage in a vessel of

CHAPTER XIX.

TRANSPORTS AND CONVOY.

SECTION I.-Transports.

1.

Apartments of Officers of the Army, when ordered to take passage in vessels of war, officers of the will, if General Officers, live with the Commander of the fleet or squadron, Army taking pas should his flag be hoisted on the vessel; otherwise, such General Officers, and all Field-Officers by commission, will live in the apartments of the Commanding Officer of the vessel; and all other officers, of regiments or corps, with the Wardroom Officers, but without interfering with the sleeping apartments of the officers of the Navy.

war.

Apartments, &c.,

2.

When officers of the Army are embarked with troops in a ship comof officers of the manded and officered by officers of the Navy, the latter will occupy the Army in transapartments allotted to them, and separate accommodations will be proports. vided for the use of the officers of the Army and those under their command, and the officers of the Army will mess together, and not with the officers of the Navy, unless otherwise agreed upon, with the sanction of the Commanding Officer of the vessel and of the troops.