Signals for the Use of the Navy of the Confederate States
for the use of
THE NAVY
of the
CONFEDERATE STATES.
1861.
RICHMOND:
Enquirer Book and Job Press.
Tyler, Wise & Allegre.
Signals.
| Nos. | ||||
| 4. | ACT | at your discretion. | ||
| 5. | ACTION | prepare for. | ||
| 6. | Action | commence. | ||
| 7. | Action | close. | ||
| 12. | Action | withdraw from. | ||
| 21. | Ahead | go and look out for danger. Having the signal for danger bent to let it be known. | ||
| 44. | Anchor | run in and. | ||
| 75. | ASSENT | or yes. | ||
| 82. | ASSISTANCE | in want of. | ||
| 128. | BOARD | the enemy. | ||
| 136. | Boats | cover, or protect. | ||
| 138. | Boats | recall your. | ||
| 129. | Boats | send one to commander-in-chief. If another ship, her pendant or number will be shown. | ||
| 146. | Boats | send, to chase. | ||
| 170. | Boilers | are damaged. The number will be shown by next signal, in numerals, if necessary. | ||
| 171. | Boilers | are leaky. | ||
| 172. | BOOKS | signal, send, on board the commander-in-chief. If on board, send for. (See no. 1056.) | ||
| 183. | BRIG | the strange sail is. | ||
| 184. | BRING-TO | on the starboard tack. | ||
| 185. | Bring-to | on the port tack. | ||
| 186. | Bring-to | to repair damages. | ||
| 186. | Bring-to | the van and centre till the rear closes. | ||
| 188. | Bring-to | the van till the centre closes. |
4
|
195.
|
BUSINESS | or enterprise, have you completed that, which you were directed to do. | ||
| 211. | Cast off | the ship or ships that you are towing. | ||
| 222. | CEASE | firing. | ||
| 282. | CHASE | the strange sail at your discretion. If separated from the fleet, rejoin as soon as possible. | ||
| 283. | Chase | to discontinue. | ||
| 300. | CHASED | I have been. | ||
| 308. | Close | to hailing distance. | ||
| 320. | COAL | I am in want of. | ||
| 329. | COLORS | show your. | ||
| 353. | Communications | I have, for the commander-in-chief. | ||
| Communications | make, by telegraph. | |||
| COMPASS | SIGNALS. | |||
| 357. | North. | |||
| 358. | N. by E. | |||
| 359. | N.N.E. | |||
| 360. | N.E. by N. | |||
| 361. | N.E. | |||
| 362. | N.E. by E. | |||
| 363. | E.N.E. | |||
| 364. | E. by N. | |||
| 365. | East. | |||
| 366. | E. by S. | |||
| 367. | E.S.E. | |||
| 368. | S.E.by E. | |||
| 369. | S.E. | |||
| 370. | S.E. by S. | |||
| 371. | S.S.E. | |||
| 372. | S. by E. | |||
| 373. | South. | |||
| 374. | S. by W. | |||
| 375. | S.S.W. | |||
| 376. | S.W. by S. | |||
| 377. | S.W. | |||
| 378. | S.W. by W. | |||
5
| 379. | W.S.W. | ||
| 380. | W. by S. | ||
| 381. | West. | ||
| 382. | W. by N. | ||
| 383. | W.N.W. | ||
| 384. | N.W. by W. | ||
| 385. | N.W. | ||
| 386. | N.W. by N. | ||
| 387. | N.N.W. | ||
| 388. | N. by W. | ||
| 389. | By the wind on the starboard tack. | ||
| 390. | By the wind on the port tack. | ||
| 391. | Before the wind. | ||
| 392. | One point. | ||
| 393. | Two points. | ||
| 394. | Three points. | ||
| 395. | Four points. | ||
| 396. | Five points. | ||
| 397. | Six points. | ||
| 398. | Seven points. | ||
| 399. | Eight points. | ||
| 400. | Nine points. | ||
| Note.- Whenever it is intended to make quarter-point compass signals, it will be done by repeating the same signal, continuing to the right hand. | |||
| 423. | COURSE | steer as will be shown by compass signal. | |
| Note.- If rate of sailing or steaming per hour is necessary, it will be shown in knots by numerals. | |||
| 424. | Course | steer the same, as the commander-in-chief. | |
| Cover | the boats. (See No. 136.) | ||
| 434. | COVERED | that all the lights of the fleet are to be kept perfectly, during the night. | |
| 448. | Damage | is repaired. | |
| DAMAGED | by shot holes between wind and water. | ||
| (See No. 494.) | |||
6
| 490. | Disabled or Damaged | is, the engine. | ||||
| 491. | Disabled or Damaged | is, the propeller. | ||||
| 492. | Disabled or Damaged | are, the paddle wheels. | ||||
| 494. | Disabled or Damaged | having a dangerous shot between | ||||
| wind and water | ||||||
| 502. | Discovering | the enemy. Compass signal will show | ||||
| the direction, and the number of, afterwards | ||||||
| by numerals if necessary. | ||||||
| 503. | Discovering | strange ships. Compass signal will show the | ||||
| direction, and the number of, if necessary. | ||||||
| 504. | DISEMBARK | your force. | ||||
| 534. | EMBARK | your forces. | ||||
| 541. | ENEMY | have you seen; direction, number, and | ||||
| character, give. | ||||||
| 542. | Enemy | how are they steering. | ||||
| 543. | Enemy | I have seen. | ||||
| 546. | Enemy | is at anchor. | ||||
| 550. | Enemy | is getting underway. | ||||
| 569. | ENEMIES | the strange ship or ships in sight are sus- | ||||
| pected to be. | ||||||
| 570. | Enemies | the strange ship or ships in sight are posi- | ||||
| tively. | ||||||
| Engine | is disabled. (See No. 490.) | |||||
| 579. | Engine | is in good order. | ||||
| 580. | Engine | is there anything wrong with your. | ||||
| 583. | EXAMINE | the strange ship or ships you are in chase | ||||
| of, or that are passing through or near the | ||||||
| fleet. If suspicious, bring them to | ||||||
| the commander-in-chief; if not, obtain | ||||||
| what intelligence you can, and return to | ||||||
| your station as soon as possible. | ||||||
| 609. | Fire | this ship is on. | ||||
| 613. | FIRES | keep up. If in a particular number of fur- | ||||
| naces, it will be shown by numerals. | ||||||
| 615. | Fires | keep banked in furnaces. | ||||
7
| 620. | FLOATS | unship. If unshipped, ship. | |
| 622. | FOLLOW | the motions of the commanding officer. | |
| 623. | Follow | do not, the motions of the commanding officer. | |
| 624. | Follow | your instructions. | |
| 665. | Go ahead. | ||
| 666. | Go ahead | slow. | |
| 667. | Go ahead | faster. | |
| 668. | Go ahead | at full power. | |
| 675. | Guns | are or have been heard in the direction to | |
| be shown by compass signal, if necessary. | |||
| HARBOR | . . . . . | run into, and anchor. (See No. 44.) | |
| HEAVE | to. (See Nos. from 184 to 188.) | ||
| 710. | INFERIOR | are the enemies' ships, to the whole fleet. | |
| 746. | KEEP | all fast. | |
| 747. | Keep | underway. | |
| Keep | within signal distance. | ||
| 761. | Land | I see. | |
| 773. | LIGHTS | carry one, during the night. | |
| 778. | LOOK | into the harbor and reconnoitre. | |
| 792. | MAKE | the best of your way into your intended port, | |
| or in the execution of your orders. | |||
| 797. | MERCHANTMEN, | are the vessels in sight. | |
| 814. | NEGATIVE | NO, NONE, or NOTHING. | |
| PADDLEWHEELS | are disabled. (See No. 492.) | ||
| 845. | PART | company. | |
| 846. | Part | company, you may not. | |
| 864. | PILOT | boat or boats in sight. | |
| 866. | Pilot | I am in want of one. | |
| 874. | POSSESSION | take, of the chase or enemy. | |
| 877. | PREPARE | for battle. | |
| 879. | Prepare | to board. | |
| 892. | PRIZE | abandon. | |
| 896. | Prize | destroy. | |
| 902. | Prize | take in tow. | |
| 903 | PROCEED | on the service assigned to you. | |
| 8 | |||
| 938. | RECONNOITRE | the enemy, and make known to the com- | |
| ander-in-chief his force, number, &c., | |||
| as soon as possible | |||
| 988. | REPEAT | signals. | |
| 1019. | Sail | to make. | |
| 1024. | Sail | to make, or carry all possible, consistent | |
| with safety. | |||
| 1029. | Sail | and steam together, keep under. | |
| 1034. | SAILS | to furl. | |
| 1051. | Ship | is the strange sail in sight. | |
| 1057. | Signal | distance, keep within. | |
| 1061. | SINKING | this ship is. | |
| 1063. | SLIP | and make sail. | |
| 1065. | SLOOP-OF-WAR | is the strange vessel. | |
| 1067. | Smoke | I see, that of a steamer. Direction will next be | |
| shown by compass signal, if necessary. | |||
| 1101. | Steam | I am unable to use. | |
| 1105. | Steam | keep under, only. | |
| 1106. | STEAMER | is, the vessel in sight. | |
| 1124. | Strange | sail, do not suffer to approach. | |
| 1125. | Strange | vessel is a friend. | |
| 1136. | SUPERIOR | are the enemy's ships, to the whole fleet. | |
| 1147. | TACK | ship. | |
| 1148. | Tack | or wear at discretion. | |
| 1164. | TACKED | that the strange or enemy's ship or ships have, and | |
| are steering as will next be shown by compass signal. | |||
| 1191. | TOW | this ship, or the ship whose pendant or number | |
| will be shown next. | |||
| 1192. | Tow | prepare to be taken in. If by a particular | |
| vessel, her pendant or number | |||
| will next be shown. When ready to be taken in tow, | |||
| the "preparatory" pendant to be hoisted at the fore. | |||
| 1198. | TOWLINE | additional one, send, to the vessel you | |
| are towing. |
9
| 1218. | UNDERWAY | to get. | |
| 1230. | Underway | that the strange or enemy's fleet, ship, | |
| or ships, are. | |||
| 1231. | UNEQUAL | that I am, to the contest. | |
| 1243. | Want | that I am in, of a medical officer. |
___________________
FOG SIGNALS.
| No. | Number of Guns | Interval in | No. of guns or | |
| or Whistles. | minutes. | whistles. | ||
| 1 | [2] | [3] | [1] | ACT at your |
| discretion. | ||||
| 3 | [2] | [3] | [3] | ANCHOR. |
The guard signal hoisted over the following numbers is to indicate that those numbers are there employed as distinguishing pennants.
The private signal of the squadron is the answering pennant over the ensign at the mast head.
No. 4 - Act at discretion
5-Action prepare for
6- " commence
7- " close
12- Withdraw from
13- Act as already ordered-
15 - Action continues
21 - Ahead go and look out for danger - having the signal for danger bent, to let it be known
ADDITIONAL SIGNALS
Nos.
22 Act as the Commander-in chief
23 Act as already ordered
24 Action _________ continue
25 Anchor ______ I am in want of
26 Anchor & Keep up steam
27 Anchor ________ weigh
28 Anchor _______ let go
29 Assistance send to this vessel or the one whose pennant or number shall be shown
44 - Anchor, run in and
45 - " I am in want of
49 - Anchor, and keep up steam
77 Ammunition I am in want of
78 Ammunition I have none
54 - Anchor with spring on cable
133 Barque the strange sail is
55 - Anchor
56 - Anchor
57 -Anchor on starboard beam of immediate Senior
58 - " " port " " " "
59 - " " Starboard. Quar. " " " "
60 - " " port " " " "
330 Comd'ng Officers come on board
331 Cover this ship or the ship whose pennant or number
" " " " " is shown.
332 Come within hail.
544 Engage the nearest of the enemys [sic] ships
545 Engage the largest of the enemy
" ships
547 Engage the smallest of the enemys
" ships
548 Engage the enemy at long range
549. Engage the enemy at short range
561 Entice the enemy under our guns
61 - Anchor ahead of immediate Senior
62 = " astern do do do
75 - Assent or Yes
77 - Ammunition -- I am in want of
82 - Assistance in want of
83-- Assistance give to vessel in distress
84 - send to vessel whose no. will be shown
128 - Board the Enemy
129 - Boat send to Comdg-in-Cheif [sic] of another
ship her no will be shown
610 Fuel I am in want of
611 Frigate the strange sail is.
612 Form the line of battle on the starboard tack.
614 Form the line of battle on the port tack.
616 Form the first order of steaming.
626 Form the 2nd order of steaming.
627 Form the 3rd order of steaming
628 Form in the order already agreed to
629 Fires start.
630 Fires put out.
136 Boats cover or protect.
680 Hulled this ship is.
137 Boats
138 Boats recall
146 Boats send to chase
170 Boilers are damaged
171 " " leakey [sic]
767 Launches the strange boats are
171 Books, signal, send on board the Comd. in Cheif [sic] if on board
send for (See No. 1056)
175. Board the enemy
762 Leaking this vessel is faster than
the pumps can clear her.
182. Barque the strange sail is
183 Brig " " " "
880 Prepare to anchor.
184 - Bring to on the Starboard tack
185 - " " " " Port "
186 - " " " to repair damages
187 - " " the van and centre till the rear closes
188 Bring to the van till the centre closes
195 - Business or Enterprise- have you completed that you have been directed to do
211 Cast off the ships or ship you are towing
222 Cease firing.
282 Chase the strange sail at your discretion. If separated from the fleet - rejoin it as
soon as possible
283 - Chase discontinue
300 - Chased I have been
320 - Coal I am in want of
329 - Colours, show your
330 - Comd-Offs. or Comdg. Off. whose no. is shown come on board
331 Come within hail
438 Danger
990 - Return to your position
1018. - Safety seek your own
880 - Prepare to anchor
680 Hulled this ship is
Signals.
450. - Detention what causes.
438. - Danger.
581. - Exercise the guns.
990. - Return to your position.
1236. - Understand I do not, the signal.
890. - Prepare to sail.
1018. - Safety seek your own.
1059. Shore run your vessel on.
13 - Act as already ordered.
15 - Action continue.
17
22 - Act as the Comdr. in chief.
24 - Action continue
27 - Anchor weigh.
28 - Anchor let go.
29 - Assistance send to this vessel, or the one whose pennant or number shall be next shown.
45 - Anchor I am in want of ,
49 - Anchor and keep at steam.
54 - Anchor with a spring on cable.
57 - Anchor on Starboard beam of immediate Senior.
58 - Anchor on Port beam of immediate Senior.
x17 - Ammunition I am in want of.
133 - Barque the strange sail is.
175 - Board the enemy.
183 - Barque the strange sail is.
330 - Comdg. Officer come on board.
332 - Cover this ship, or the vessel whose pennat [sic] on number is shown.
331 - Come within hail.
438 - Danger.
544 - Engage the nearest Enemy.
548 - Engage the Enemy at long range.
580 - Exercise small arms.
581 - Exercise the gun.
610 - Fuel I am in want.
629 - Fires start.
