Reminiscences of Two Years in the United States Navy

by John M. Batten

The officers of the U.S. Steamer Valley City were as follows: Acting Master Commanding, John A. J. Brooks; Acting Ensign and Executive Officer, Milton Webster; Acting Master's Mates, Charles F. O'Neill and John Maddock; Acting Assistant Paymaster, J. Woodville Sands; Acting Assistant Surgeon, John M. Batten; Engineers—Second Assistant in charge, James M. Battin; Acting Third Assistant, John Minton; Acting Master and Pilot, John A. Wilson.

Captain J. A. J. Brooks was a North Carolinian by birth, and was acquainted with the waters and people of North Carolina. He was a full-sized man of fine figure, 35 years of age, brown piercing eyes, light hair, and in general appearance a fine-looking officer. He was brave, and ever on the alert. Many nights whilst the Valley City was laying at the mouth of Roanoke river watching for the rebel ram Albemarle, I found Captain Brooks at all hours on deck—I often wondered when he slept. In battle he was cool and brave. Under his command the Valley City was considered, by the Confederates in that vicinity, a terror to the waters of North Carolina.

It was on the Valley City, whilst in a fight at Elizabeth, N.C., a man sat over the opened end of a barrel of powder to prevent it from being ignited, after an enemy's shell had entered and exploded in the powder magazine, and thus saved the vessel. The man was immediately promoted to a gunner.

At many places to which the Valley City steamed, Captain Brooks would be anxious to ascertain how many Confederates there were in the locality. Upon asking some colored people, who were always assembled to greet us, how many rebels there were at a certain locality, they would make the following reply: "I don't know, sah; but dar is a right smaht number dar." Upon pressing them for a more definite answer they would repeat, "I don't know, massa; but dar is a right smaht number dar."

The Valley City, and I believe all naval vessels, were directed to go ahead, fast, slow, or stop, or back fast or slow, by a bell hung in the engine room connected with the pilot-house by a wire which was pulled by the pilot. One bell was to start; two bells, go ahead slow; four bells, go ahead fast; and one bell to stop (that is when the vessel was in motion); three bells back; two bells, back slow; and four bells, back fast.

The time of day was noted by means of a bell, as follows: One bell, 12½ o'clock, p.m.; two bells, 1 o'clock, p.m.; three bells, 1½ o'clock, p.m.; four bells, 2 o'clock, p.m.; five bells, 2½ o'clock, p.m.; six bells, 3 o'clock, p.m.; seven bells, 3½ o'clock, p.m.; and eight bells, 4 o'clock, p, m.; then, one bell, 4½ o'clock, p.m., and so on till 8 o'clock, p.m.; then, one bell, 8½ o'clock, p.m., and so on till 12 o'clock, p.m.; thus the time during the first twelve hours of the following day was noted, and in the same way any succeeding twelve hours.

Each watch remained on duty four hours, say from 12 o'clock m. until 4 o'clock p.m., when it was relieved by another watch, which would remain on duty until 8 o'clock p.m., when this watch was again relieved by another watch, which would remain on duty four hours, or until 12 o'clock p.m.

It would be an officer's duty on arriving aboard his own or another vessel, to salute the quarter-deck by taking off his hat, even if there were nobody on the deck. All who were on the deck would return the salute also, by taking their hats off. An officer arriving on board his own vessel would always report to the captain of the vessel, as follows: "Captain, I report myself aboard, sir." The captain would reply: "Aye, aye, sir."

Some very dark nights the Captain, in order to time the crew and officers of the Valley City in getting to their quarters, would spring the rattle for general quarters; and such a time there would be in getting out of our berths, and going to general quarters! The whole affair would be very amusing, and sometimes ridiculous.

The small boats attached to a man-of-war are the Captain's gig, dingy, cutters and launches. The man who guides or commands one of these small boats is known as the coxswain. A small boat is manned by seven to fifteen men, according to the size of the boat. The coxswain's command, if he wants to turn sharp to the left or port, is "Hold water port, give way strong starboard." If he wishes to turn sharp to the right or starboard, his command would be, "Hold water starboard, give way strong port." In rowing alongside of a vessel, when the boat had sufficient headway to carry it alongside, the coxswain commands the men to drop their oars. There are many other commands given by the coxswain, but it is unnecessary to name them in this place.