The people of New York turned out to give us a rousing welcome.
It was a welcome we shall never forget—a welcome that made us forget all hardships, all dangers. Whatever pride we may have had in our achievements was drowned in that thunderous greeting; we were humbled, for real heroes could hardly have deserved such a reception.
The Mayor stood in front of the City Hall and reviewed us, and later we were reviewed by the President himself, at Madison Square.
As the head of the column turned down Twenty-sixth Street, heading to our old receiving ship the "New Hampshire," the band struck up "Home, Sweet Home." The men still marched with heads erect and eyes to the front, but many of those eyes were dimmed with a moisture that almost prevented their owners from seeing the long, homeward-bound pennant that floated from the masthead of the old frigate.
As for the greeting given by mothers and sisters and relatives of every degree and by friends assembled on the "New Hampshire," that is one experience that cannot be described; it must be felt to be appreciated. Suffice it that every member of the New York Naval Battalion felt amply repaid for the hardships endured and the sacrifices made in the service of Old Glory. And if the occasion should again arise for the calling out of the Naval Reserves of the First New York Battalion, they, together with their comrades, the Naval Reserve Battalions of other cities, will cheerfully don their "clean whites" and respond to muster.
"Pipe down!"
The Naval Militia is a volunteer organization made up of certain patriotic citizens of the United States, who conceived the idea that the country could be served by its sons as well in the naval branch of the National Defence as in the military. The subject of a naval volunteer force had been agitated for several years, but it was not until the latter part of June, 1891, that the first enlistments were made.
Since that time the success of the organization has been continuous and most gratifying, and it has required only the recent war with Spain to prove that its value to the country at large cannot be overestimated. At the outbreak of hostilities, the strength of the Naval Militia throughout the country was 4,445 officers and enlisted men, but the rush of recruits incidental to the opening of the war vastly increased that number.
The scope of the organization is naturally limited to those States bordering on the seacoast and the Great Lakes, but the interest taken in it to-day by the people is widespread and emphatic. The existence of this interest was amply proved by the enthusiastic welcome tendered the returning crews of the "Badger," "Dixie," "Prairie," "Yosemite," and "Yankee" by the citizens of the cities more closely concerned, and by the country at large.
In a report made to Secretary Long in 1897 by Theodore Roosevelt, then Assistant Secretary of the Navy, these prophetic words were used:
"The rapidity with which modern wars are decided renders it imperative to have men who can be ready for immediate use, and outside of the regular navy these men are only to be found in the Naval Militia of the various States. If a body of naval militia is able to get at its head some first-class man who is a graduate of Annapolis; if it puts under him as commissioned officers, warrant officers, and petty officers men who have worked their way up from grade to grade, year after year, and who have fitted themselves for the higher positions by the zeal and painstaking care with which they have performed their duties in the lower places; and if the landsmen, ordinary seamen, and seamen go in resolutely to do real work and learn their duties so that they can perform them as well as the regulars aboard our warships, taking pride in their performance accordingly as they are really difficult—such an organization will, in course of time, reach a point where it could be employed immediately in the event of war.
"Most of the Naval Militia are now in condition to render immediate service of a very valuable kind in what may be called the second line of defence. They could operate signal stations, help handle torpedoes and mines, officer and man auxiliary cruisers, and assist in the defence of points which are not covered by the army. There are numbers of advanced bases which do not come under the present scheme of army coast defence, and which would have to be defended, at any rate during the first weeks of war, by bodies of Naval Militia; while the knowledge they get by their incessant practice in boats on the local waters would be invaluable.
"Furthermore, the highest and best trained bodies could be used immediately on board the regular ships of war; this applies to the militia of the lakes as well as to the militia of the seacoast—and certainly no greater tribute is necessary to pay to the lake militia. Many of these naval battalions are composed of men who would not enlist in time of peace, but who, under the spur of war, would serve in any position for the first few important months."
The last sentence of the above extract is of peculiar interest, inasmuch as it proved true in every particular. The crews of the auxiliary ships manned by the Naval Militia during the Spanish-American war of 1898 were composed of men who, in civil life, were brokers, lawyers, physicians, clerks, bookkeepers, or men of independent means. They sacrificed their personal interests for the moment, and, in their patriotic zeal, accepted positions of the most menial capacity on board ship.
Prior to the outbreak of war they had entered into training with the utmost enthusiasm. The Navy Department had assigned some of the older vessels to the various naval brigades, to be used as training ships, and with these as headquarters the brigades began drilling. In addition to the regular routine, summer cruising was taken up.
The First Battalion, New York State Militia, for instance, went in a body to Fisher's Island, off the eastern end of Connecticut, and there engaged in landing parties, camping, and sham battles. On another occasion the battalion embarked on board the battleships "Massachusetts" and "Texas," each militiaman having a regular bluejacket for a running mate, and doing just as he did. The two ships cruised in the vicinity of Fisher's Island, and a programme was carried out which included instruction in the different parts of the ship in great guns and ordnance, such drills as abandon ship, arm and away boats, clear ship for action, general quarters, signalling, and in the use of torpedoes.
During one of the cruises of the Massachusetts Naval Brigade a detachment was engaged in locating signal stations on the coast from the New Hampshire State line to Cape Ann, and it was due to the efforts of this detachment that the signal stations established during the late war proved so efficient.
The Naval Militia of Maryland, Louisiana, Illinois, and other States were given opportunities for instruction in the handling of guns, the care of wounded, in infantry drill, limited artillery practice with rapid-fire batteries, and all the details of naval life, and so well did they benefit by it that the authorities at Washington announced a willingness to trust any of the warships in their sole charge.
It was to reach this pinnacle, as it may be termed, that the Naval Militia organizations of the United States had striven, and when they were finally called upon by the Government they proved their worth by boarding modern warships, doing the work of regular sailors, and fighting for their country with a degree of skill and zeal that has earned for them the commendation of their fellow-citizens.
To signal with flag or torch "wigwag":
There are butoneposition andthreemotions.
Thepositionis with the flag held vertically in front of the body; the signalman facing squarely the point to which the message is to be sent.
Thefirstor 1 is a motion to the right of the sender.
Thesecondor 2 is a motion to the left of the sender.
Thethirdor 3: the flag is dropped in front of the sender and instantly returned toposition.
The entire code is made up of these three motions—1, 2, and 3. Every letter begins and ends withposition.
"WIGWAG" CODE. UNITED STATES NAVAL CODE FOR VISUAL AND TELEGRAPHIC SIGNALLING.
ALPHABET.
A 22
B 2112
C 121
D 222
E 12
F 2221
G 2211
H 122
I 1
J 1122
K 2121
L 221
M 1221
N 11
O 21
P 1212
Q 1211
R 211
S 212
T 2
U 112
V 1222
W 1121
X 2122
Y 111
Z 2222
NUMERALS.
1 1111
2 2222
3 1112
4 2221
5 1122
6 2211
7 1222
8 2111
9 1221
0 2112
ABBREVIATIONS.
a after.
b before.
c can.
h have.
n not.
r are.
t the.
u you.
ur your.
w word.
wi with.
y why.
x x 3 = "numerals follow" or "numerals end."
sig. 3 = signature.
3 = End of word.
33 = End of sentence.
333 = End of message.
22, 22, 3 = I understand.
The complete number opposite each letter or numeral stands for that letter or numeral.
Example: The signal sent by Commodore Schley's flagship "Brooklyn" that memorable 3d of July—
T H E E N E M Y' S F L E E T
2, 122, 12 3 12, 11, 12, 1221, 111, 212 3 2221, 221, 12, 12, 2, 3
L, RLL, RL D RL, RR, RL, RLLR, RRR, LRL D LLLR, LLR, RL, RL, L, D
I S C O M I N G O U T O F
1, 212 3 121, 21, 1221, 1, 11, 2211 3 21, 112, 2 3 21, 2221
R, LRL D RLR, LR, RLLR, R, RR, LLRR D LR, RRL, L D LR, LLLR
H A R B O R.
122, 22, 211, 2112, 21, 211, 333.
RLL, LL, LRR, LRRL, LR, LRR, DDD.
R = Right = 1. L = Left = 2. D = Drop = 3.
The lights in the Ardois system—named after its inventor—sometimes called "shroud lights," are placed well up on the foremast. They are red and white electric bulbs. There are four of each placed in a line one above the other, in groups of two—- a red and white bulb together. Unlike the "wigwag" system, the whole letter is shown at once.
The code is the same as the "wigwag." One is indicated by a red light, two by white, and three by the combination, white, white, red and white.
Both systems may be mastered very easily by a little painstaking practice, and much amusement may be had through the mystification of those who do not understand it. A "wigwag" flag may be easily made by sewing a white square of muslin in the centre of a red bandana handkerchief.
The best method of learning this system is to send simple messages, looking up the letters that there is any doubt about, and correcting mistakes as you go along.
Messages sent by the navy code flags cannot be read except by the aid of the code book. There are ten numeral flags—1 to 9, and one for 0. All messages are made up by means of these ten flags headed by the code flag (whether it be geographical, telegraph, or navy list).
For instance, a line of bunting is sent up on the flagship's signal halliards. It is read from the top down. The geographical flag flies first; then follow 7, 6, 3, 8. It means that the message can be found in the geographical list, number 7638.
The repeaters are used to avoid confusion. Instead of putting two number 1 flags together, for instance, number 1 is flown with a repeater under it; second repeater repeats number 2, and so on.
PREPARATORY.—Over hoist. Prepare to execute subjoined order.
INTERROGATION.—Alone. What is that signal? or "I don't understand—repeat." Above hoist puts signal in interrogative sense.
ANSWERING.—Flown by ship receiving message indicates that signal is understood.
AFFIRMATIVE.—Alone. Yes. Above hoist puts message in affirmative or permissive sense.
NEGATIVE.—Alone. No. Above hoist puts message in negative sense.
MEAL or NUMERAL.—Alone. Crew at mess. Above or below hoist—the numeral flags are to be taken as numbers simply.
CONVOY.—Alone at fore, means naval convoy. Above hoist means use navy list.
POSITION.—In manoeuvres, hoisted by each ship as it gets into position ordered; lowered when next ship gets into place.
GUARD or GUIDE.—As its name implies—flown by guard or guide ship.
TELEGRAPH.—Use telegraph list.
DESPATCH or GEOGRAPHICAL.—Alone at fore, indicates that the ship flying it is carrying despatches. Above hoist. Use geographical list.
CORNET.—Alone. Ship about to sail. Over number. Official number of ship.
GENERAL RECALL.—Recalls all small boats.
POWDER.—Hoisted alone in port. Taking powder on board. Alone at sea. Distress.
THE INSIGNIA OF RANK OF COMMISSIONED, WARRANT, AND PETTY OFFICERS.
There are four classes of officers in the United States navy, and each has its own distinguishing mark.
The commissioned officers of the line.
The commissioned corps.
The warrant officers.
The petty officers.
The first two classes are graduates of Annapolis, or regularly commissioned by the Government. The last two are composed of enlisted men who have been promoted.
The rank device of the commissioned officers is worn on the shoulder-knot of the full dress uniform and on the collar of the service coat.
The marks are as follows:
REAR-ADMIRAL.Foul anchor with silver stars atends; and one stripe of gold lacetwo inches wide, and one of one-half inch wide above it, on sleeves.COMMODORE.A star with a foul anchor ateither side of it; and one stripeof gold lace two inches wide onsleeves.CAPTAIN.A spread eagle with foul anchorat either side. Four one-half-inchstripes of gold lace on sleeves.COMMANDER.Foul anchor with silver oak leavesat ends. Three stripes of half-inchgold lace on sleeves.
REAR-ADMIRAL.Foul anchor with silver stars atends; and one stripe of gold lacetwo inches wide, and one of one-half inch wide above it, on sleeves.COMMODORE.A star with a foul anchor ateither side of it; and one stripeof gold lace two inches wide onsleeves.CAPTAIN.A spread eagle with foul anchorat either side. Four one-half-inchstripes of gold lace on sleeves.COMMANDER.Foul anchor with silver oak leavesat ends. Three stripes of half-inchgold lace on sleeves.
LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER.—A silver foul anchor witha silver oak leaf at either end. Two stripes of half-inchgold lace with a quarter-inch stripe between.
LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER.—A silver foul anchor witha silver oak leaf at either end. Two stripes of half-inchgold lace with a quarter-inch stripe between.
LIEUTENANT.Silver foul anchor with two silverbars at either side. Two stripesof gold lace one-half inch wide onsleeves.LIEUTENANT—JUNIOR GRADE.Silver foul anchor with one silverbar at either side. Two stripesof gold lace, half and quarter-inch,on sleeves.ENSIGN.A gold foul anchor on collar orshoulder-knot and one stripe ofgold lace on sleeves.
LIEUTENANT.Silver foul anchor with two silverbars at either side. Two stripesof gold lace one-half inch wide onsleeves.LIEUTENANT—JUNIOR GRADE.Silver foul anchor with one silverbar at either side. Two stripesof gold lace, half and quarter-inch,on sleeves.ENSIGN.A gold foul anchor on collar orshoulder-knot and one stripe ofgold lace on sleeves.
The commissioned corps' devices are substituted for the anchor by staff officers, who wear the same rank devices as are prescribed for line officers with whom they have relative rank.
THE PAY CORPS.—A silver oak sprig and a narrow band of white cloth above and below the gold lace on sleeves.
THE MEDICAL CORPS.—A spread oak leaf of gold with an acorn of silver, and a band of dark maroon velvet above and below the gold lace on sleeves.
THE ENGINEER CORPS.—Four silver oak leaves, and a band of red cloth above and below the gold lace on sleeves.
All petty officers wear a rating device on the sleeve of the outer garment above the elbow. If they belong to the starboard watch the mark will be sewed on the right sleeve; if the port, on the left.
The petty officers' device always has a spread eagle above it. The specialty mark indicating to which department he belongs is just below in the angle formed by the chevrons. The chevrons indicate the class. Three chevrons, first class; two, second class, and so on. The chief petty officers have an arch of the same cloth connecting the two ends of the top chevron.
The specialty marks are as follows:
MASTER-AT-ARMSGUNNER'SMATES.SEAMANGUNNER.CHIEFYEOMAN.APOTHECARY.YEOMAN—1ST2D, AND 3DCLASS.SHIP'S PRINTERORSCHOOL-MASTER.BANDMASTER.MACHINISTS,BOILER-MAKERS,WATER-TENDERS,COPPERSMITHS,AND OILERS.CARPENTER'SMATES,PLUMBERS,AND PAINTERS.BLACKSMITH.BOATSWAIN'SMATES ANDCOXSWAINS.
MASTER-AT-ARMSGUNNER'SMATES.SEAMANGUNNER.CHIEFYEOMAN.APOTHECARY.YEOMAN—1ST2D, AND 3DCLASS.SHIP'S PRINTERORSCHOOL-MASTER.BANDMASTER.MACHINISTS,BOILER-MAKERS,WATER-TENDERS,COPPERSMITHS,AND OILERS.CARPENTER'SMATES,PLUMBERS,AND PAINTERS.BLACKSMITH.BOATSWAIN'SMATES ANDCOXSWAINS.
MASTER-AT-ARMS
GUNNER'SMATES.
SEAMANGUNNER.
CHIEFYEOMAN.
APOTHECARY.
YEOMAN—1ST2D, AND 3DCLASS.
SHIP'S PRINTERORSCHOOL-MASTER.
BANDMASTER.
MACHINISTS,BOILER-MAKERS,WATER-TENDERS,COPPERSMITHS,AND OILERS.
CARPENTER'SMATES,PLUMBERS,AND PAINTERS.
BLACKSMITH.
BOATSWAIN'SMATES ANDCOXSWAINS.
The seaman class is indicated by the rows of braid on the cuffs.
Seamen, first class or able-bodied seamen, have three rows of braid.
Seamen, second class or ordinary seamen, have two rows of braid.
Seamen, third class or landsmen, have one row of braid.
The watch mark for the enlisted men not petty officers consists of a stripe of braid on the sleeve close to the shoulder. For the seaman, white on blue clothes, blue on white clothes.
For the engineer force, red on both white and blue clothes.
The watch mark indicates the watch of which the wearer is a member. The starboard men wear it on the right arm, and the port men on the left.
The man using the "lead line" (as the sounding-line weighted with lead is called) stands on a grating that projects over the side. This is placed near enough so that the steersman can hear the man who "heaves the lead" when he calls out the number of fathoms of water. This he tells by the marks on the "lead line" as follows:
2 fathoms, twelve feet, 2 strips of leather.
3 " 3 strips of leather.
5 " white rag.
7 " red rag.
10 " leather with hole in it.
13 " 3 strips of leather or blue rag.
15 " white rag.
17 " red rag.
20 " 2 knots.
25 " 1 knot.
30 " 3 knots.
35 " 1 knot.
40 " 4 knots.
9 " are called mark.
11 " are called deeps.
The leadsman stands on his little grating and swings the lead so it just clears the water. When it is swinging well he lets it fly in the direction in which the ship is moving and then notes the depth by the strips of leather or rags. The result is shouted out so the steersman can hear and keep the vessel in the channel.
The boatswain's calls or "pipes" are very difficult to reduce to a musical scale, because the pitch of the instrument depends entirely on the amount of energy expended by the blower. The novice, after a few trials, would probably assert that the primitive little whistle had only one note—and not very much of that; but he would be surprised indeed at the volume of sound, the range, and the command over the instrument which a veteran boatswain would soon make everyday matter to him. Not only do these experts sound the regular calls with ear-piercing exactness, but actual tunes are often included in their repertoire.
The pipe or whistle is held with the bulb in the centre of the palm, the hole being towards the wrist. The lobe to which the ring and lanyard are attached, serves simply as a handle.
In the diagram given, the black line indicates the "pipe" or call; the four faint horizontal lines, the notes, and the vertical bars, the time.
The roll indicated by the wavy line in the diagram is made by rapidly opening and closing the hand. The gradual rise and fall is effected in the same way, but slowly. The rattle is done by a quick movement of the tongue.
This diagram is furnished by an old boatswain. As a rule, the calls are taught entirely by personal instruction, and it is believed that they have here been put into print for the first time. None of the ordinary manuals have ever given them, the young sailor having had to learn them by experience on shipboard.
Their importance is evident from the fact that every order aboard ship is preceded by the pipe peculiar to the command; for though the words may not be heard, the whistle can always be distinguished. Even the most lubberly landsman, with such continuous practice, soon learns the meaning of the different calls, and jumps to obey them.
1. First Captain, Second Boarder.2. Second Captain, First Boarder.3. First Loader, Second Boarder.4. Second Loader, First Boarder.5. First Shellman, Pumpman, Port guard.6. Second Shellman, Fireman, Port guard.7. First Shellman, Second Rifleman.8. Second Shellman, First Rifleman.
1. Stands at elevating gear wheel and sights and fires the gun.
2. Stands at the right and beside the breech; opens same after firing so shell can be taken out.
3. Stands at the left training wheel—i.e., the wheel that moves the gun laterally. He also loads the gun.
4. Stands at the right training wheel. He takes out the empty shell after firing, and wears heavy gloves for that purpose.
5 and 6. Stand just behind No. 2 to the right of the gun. They may be termed emergency men. They assist with the shells, carry the wounded, if any; will be called away in case of fire, and are qualified to sight and fire the gun in case the first and second captains are wounded or killed. They provide revolvers and belts for Nos. 1, 2, and 3, and belts for Nos. 5, 6, 7, and 8. They are also port guards, and defend the ports in case of close action.
7 and 8. Carry shells from the ammunition hoist to a position amidships convenient for quick transport to the gun. They are also riflemen, and may be called to protectany part of the ship from boarders or from fire on shore.