FORM NO. 15. Letter to be given to Prize Master by a Commanding Officer making a seizure or capture. U.S. S. OFF SIR: You will take charge of the of port of 186, by and proceed with the said prize to the and there deliver her, with the accompanying papers, (which were all that were found on board,) and the persons sent as witnesses, to the Judge of the United States District Court or to the United States Prize Commissioners at that place, taking his or their receipt for the same. You will not deliver either the vessel, the papers, or the witnesses to the order of any other person or parties, unless directed to act otherwise by the Navy Department or Flag Officer commanding the squadron to which you are attached. On your arrival at you will immediately report in person to the Commanding or Senior Navy Officer of the navy yard or station thereat, and show him these instructions; and you will report also, by letter, to the Secretary of the Navy, stating in full the particulars of your passage home, and transmit to him, through the Commandant or Senior Officer, the names of the officers and men composing your prize crew, and any communications for the Department with which you may be charged. You will, on your arrival, allow no person to leave the vessel without permission from the Commandant of the station, nor go on shore yourself except on your necessary duty. You will not sleep out of the vessel while in charge, nor allow any but official boats to approach, and only official persons on duty to come on board. You will, without delay, after reporting, call upon the United States District Attorney at show him these instructions, which are issued by order of the Secretary of the Navy, and give him all the information in your power respecting the circumstances connected with the capture of the You will then report, and show these instructions to the Naval Prize Commissioner of the district, who is hereby directed to ascertain and notify you of the earliest date at which your attendance shall no this paper. longer be required by the court, and to indorse the notification on You will, on being discharged from attendance, if not in the mean time instructed, and whenever you need instructions respecting yourself, officers, or prize crew, immediately report to the Commandant of the nearest yard or station or Senior Officer for such instructions. You will particularly bear in mind and strictly observe the injunctions of the law and of the Department respecting captured property or persons under your charge, and recollect that you will be held rigorously responsible for any mismanagement of the trust confided to you. You, your officers and prize crew, are hereby detached from the and you will be careful to apply for and take with you their pay accounts and your own, to be presented to the Paymaster of the yard or station at or nearest to the port to which you are ordered. The sea-pay of yourself and officers will continue while in charge of the prize or under the orders of a Flag Officer or Senior Navy Officer afloat; but your name will not be borne on the books of the vessel from which you are detached, and you will not be entitled to share in prizes made by such vessel after your detachment. To Commanding the U. S. CIRCULAR. The attention of Commanding Officers in the Navy is called to the following extract, in relation to their duties, from the 25th article, section 16th, of the act of July 16, 1862, for the better government of the Navy : "He shall, whenever he orders officers and men to take charge of a prize and proceed to the United States, and whenever officers and men are sent from his ship, for whatever cause, take care that each mau be furnished with a complete statement of his account, specifying the date of his enlistment and the period and terms of his service, which account shall be signed by the Commanding Officer and Purser." These requirements must be strictly complied with, and, in addition, duplicate statements must be forwarded to the Paymaster of the vessel or station to which the men are sent, together with a descriptive list of the men sent, according to the form here annexed: I respectfully make application for an examination as to my qualifi * This blank to be filled up with the position the applicant desires to obtain, as Master's Mate, Sailmaker, Carpenter, Gunner, Boatswain, Third Assistant Engineer, Assistant Civil Engineer, Assistant Naval Constructor, Assistant Paymaster, or Assistant Surgeon. No professional examination being required of candidates for the office of Chaplain, or Professor of Mathematics, except at the Naval Academy, their application will be the same as the above, striking out the words, "examination as to my qualifications for." FORM NO. 17. 186 . TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY: I I hereby acknowledge the receipt of an appointment (or warrant or commission) as in the Navy of the United States, dated 186, and inform the Department of my acceptance of the same. enclose herewith the oath of allegiance, duly signed and certified. Very respectfully, U. S. Navy. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That hereafter every person elected or appointed to any office of honor or profit under the Government of the United States, either in the civil, military, or naval departments of the public service, excepting the President of the United States, shall, before entering upon the duties of such office, and before being entitled to any of the salary or other emoluments thereof, take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation : "I, A. B., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I have never voluntarily borne arms against the United States since I have been a citizen thereof; that I have voluntarily given no aid, countenance, counsel, or encouragement to persons engaged in armed hostility thereto; that I have neither sought, nor accepted, nor attempted to exercise the functions of any office whatever, under any authority or pretended authority in hostility to the United States; that I have not yielded a voluntary support to any pretended government, authority, power, or constitution within the United States, hostile or inimical thereto. And I do further swear (or affirm) that, to the best of my knowledge and ability, I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion ; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God." Which said oath, so taken and signed, shall be preserved among the files of the court, house of Congress, or department to which the said office may appertain. And any person who shall falsely take the said oath shall be guilty of perjury, and on conviction, in addition to the penalties now prescribed for the offience, shall be deprived of his office and rendered incapable forever after of holding any office or place under the United States FORM NO. 18. Article of agreement for I do hereby agree to enter the Navy of the United States as and to repair on board such vessel and at such time as may be ordered, and to remain in said capacity till the expiration of the service of the vessel, unless sooner discharged by the proper authority, or under the provisions of paragraph No. 250 of the Regulations of the Navy. I do oblige and subject myself during my service as to comply with and be obedient to such laws, regulations, and discipline of the Navy as are or that may be established by Congress or other competent authority. Witness. NOTE.-The Medical Officer will testify (on the reverse) to the physical fitness of the person selected; or, if he exhibit defects, they are to be noted. FORM NO. 19. Surveys. U. S. S. 18 SIR: respectfully request that a survey may be ordered upon the below-mentioned articles in my department, which I believe to be Respectfully, Το Commanding. |