REGULATIONS FOR THE NAVY OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES, 1862.

CHAPTER 48.

 CONVOYS.

 ARTICLE 1.

Written directions and signals to be prepared.

The commanding officer of a vessel who shall be appointed to convoy the trade of the Confederate States, shall give the necessary printed or written directions and signals to the master of each vessel which is to sail under his protection.

ARTICLE 2.

List of vessels under convoy.

He shall take a list of the vessels under his convoy, specifying their names and descriptions, the places where bound and to which they belong, the names of their masters, their owners or supercargoes, if any, and transmit a copy of the same to the Secretary of the Navy, with date of their joining the convoy.

ARTICLE 3.

Contraband articles.

Before he shall take under his convoy any vessel bound to a belligerent port, he shall require satisfactory proof that there are no articles on board such vessel of a contraband nature; and without such satisfactory evidence he shall not be bound to take such vessel under his convoy, or to give her any protection against the other belligerent nation, unless specially directed.

ARTICLE 4.   

Vigilance in defending from attack or surprise.

Every officer charged with a convoy must be very vigilant in defending it from attack or surprise, and must never weaken the convoying force by detaching a part in chase beyond signal distance, nor must he separate from the convoy, unless such separation shall be the best means of preserving a convoy from an enemy.

ARTICLE 5.

Separation to be prevented.

He shall adopt all possible measures to prevent the separation of the convoy, and may direct such vessels to repeat his signals as he may deem proper.

ARTICLE 6.

Different convoys sailing at the same time.

When different convoys shall sail at the same time, or shall meet at sea, they shall sail together so long as their course shall be in the same direction; but the different convoys shall be kept as distinct from each other as circumstances will allow.

ARTICLE 7.

Delinquent vessels to be reported.

He will make report to the Secretary of the Navy of the name of any vessel, and of the master, who shall disobey the instructions or signals for the convoy, or leave the convoy without permission, or otherwise misbehave, stating the particulars of his misconduct, so that insurance offices may be informed of the same.

ARTICLE 8.

Masters disobeying orders to be refused further protection.

Whenever the master of any vessel under convoy shall willfully or repeatedly neglect or refuse to conform to the instructions or signals of the commanding officer of the convoying force, the said commanding officer may refuse him any further protection, and be released from any further responsibility for the safety of the vessel.

-------------------