REGULATIONS FOR THE NAVY OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES, 1862.

 

CHAPTER 7.

 

 COMMANDERS OF SQUADRONS AND DIVISIONS OF FLEETS.

 

 ARTICLE 1.

 

They are responsible to commander-in-chief.

 

The commanders of squadrons under a commander-in-chief will be held responsible to him for the efficiency, discipline, and management of the vessels under their immediate command.

 

ARTICLE 2.

 

Reports, returns, and requisitions, to whom and how made.

 

All reports, returns, and requisitions from vessels belonging to squadrons or divisions of a fleet must be made to their respective commanding officers, and by the commanders of divisions or ships to commanders of squadrons, and receive their approval or remarks before they are transmitted to the captain of the fleet or to the commander-in-chief.

 

ARTICLE 3.

 

Commanders of squadrons or divisions may correct mistakes or the negligence of ships in another squadron, &c.

 

The commander of one squadron or division may correct, by signal or otherwise, any mistake or negligence of ships in another squadron or division, when it is probable they cannot be distinctly seen by the commander of the squadron or division to which they belong, or whenever, being in the presence of an enemy, the officer commanding that squadron or division does not himself immediately correct such negligence or mistake; and in battle he shall carefully observe the conduct of all ships which may be near to him, that, if required, he may report on it.

 

ARTICLE 4.

 

If he sees a vessel avoiding battle he may take the measures the case requires.

 

If a commander of a squadron or division should, during battle, perceive any vessel of a squadron or division commanded by an officer of inferior rank or junior to himself evidently avoiding battle, or not doing his duty, he shall make proper signals to him, or take such other measures as the case may require, and give the earliest information of his proceedings to the commander-in-chief.

 

ARTICLE 5.

 

To inspect vessels before going to sea and on returning to port.

 

Commanders of squadrons and divisions shall, when practicable, inspect the vessels under their command immediately before going to sea and after their return into port, and at other times, when it can be done, as often as once a quarter, or whenever the commander-in-chief may direct; and shall make reports in writing to him of the state of their efficiency, preparation for battle and discipline, in such form as is or may be prescribed by the department.

 

ARTICLE 6.

 

To make all necessary signals when the commander-in-chief does not manoeuvre the fleet in detail.

 

Whenever the commander-in-chief shall not declare his intention of manoeuvring the fleet in detail, it shall be the duty of the commanders of squadrons and divisions to make all the signals which may be necessary to regulate the movements of their squadrons or divisions, so as to carry into execution any general evolution, or to preserve any prescribed position that may have been ordered by the commander-in-chief.

 

ARTICLE 7.

 

Reports, after battle, of the conduct of officers.

 

They will, after battle, call upon the captains for written reports of the conduct of the officers, and the state and condition of the vessels under their command, and will forward such reports, with full remarks of their own, to the commander-in-chief through the prescribed channel.

 

ARTICLE 8.

 

Orders to the commander of the vessel in which commander of division is embarked.

 

The captain or commanding officer of a vessel in which the commander-in-chief of a squadron, or the commander of a squadron or division, but not commanding in chief, shall be embarked, will be particularly careful to conform strictly to all orders he may receive from such superior officer respecting the management of the vessel, the sail to be carried, and all matters which may regulate or influence the movements of the vessels of the squadron; and such superior officer will communicate all his orders which may relate to the vessel in which he is embarked immediately to the commanding officer of such vessel, unless the urgency of the case should require an order to be given directly to the officer of the deck, in which case the commanding officer of the vessel is to be immediately notified.

 

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