University of Virginia Library

46. The Rear Admiral as Midship-man
By MIDSHIPMAN SAMUEL RHOADES FRANKLIN (1841)

I WAS appointed an acting midshipman in the navy by Secretary Paulding, on the 18th day of February, 1841. In those days the appointments were thus made; and if the commanding officer with whom an, acting midshipman served made a favorable report on his aptitude for the service, at the end of six months a warrant was given to him creating him midshipman. He was then what was called a warrant officer, but not a commissioned officer,—a most important distinction at that time, for there was an impassable gulf between those two classes, to which all can testify who have gone through the mill. The warrant man was often made to feel by the commission man that he was not only an inferior officer, but an inferior being altogether.

There was no such thing as a Naval School deserving the name. Midshipmen were sent to the Naval Asylum at Philadelphia (a sort of sailors' home) after six years' service, and there made a kind of preparation for examination, but there was no organization. They did as they pleased,—studied or idled, as

suited their whims. There was a professor of mathematics, and also a professor of French ; there was no discipline.

In the spring of 1841 I was ordered to the Receiving-Ship North Carolina at New York. This line-of-battle ship was utilized for the purpose of receiving on board enlisted men, who were detained there until they were drafted for some sea-going. ship. On board the Old North, as we used to call her, there was a professor of mathematics of the name of Ward, and there was some pretence of having school, but it did not amount to much. All that I remember is that I was taught some expressions, such as "diff.,""lat.," and "departure,"but I do not think I had the most remote idea what they meant. I have never forgotten how the professor, when twelve o'clock was sounded, always sent for his plate of ship's soup, which was served to the crew, and how he smacked his lips and enjoyed it, which, indeed, we all did, for I remember how exceedingly good it was.

There were two messes for the midshipmen on board the North Carolina,—one, the gun-room mess, as it was called, and the other the steerage mess. I was assigned to the steerage, where we lived like pigs. The gun-room was far more respectable. Things became so bad in the steerage that it was finally abandoned, and we were transferred to the gun-room, much to my delight. I formed friendships there that were continued throughout my service, and my whole condition was very much changed for the better.

During the summer months the ship was anchored off the Battery, and, to some extent, the duties were much the same as those performed in a regular

cruiser. We had our watches to keep and our duties to perform, but there was not much to point her out as a war machine. There had been a long Peace, and such training as now takes place on board our ships of war was not even dreamed of then. Indeed, there was comparatively little of it in our regular cruisers.

I made several ineffectual attempts during the summer to get orders to sea. Finally in September, I was ordered to the Frigate United States, which was fitting out at the Norfolk Navy Yard.

I reported at the Norfolk Yard to Commodore Warrington early in October, and, as the ship was not yet ready to receive the officers and crew, remained for several days at French's Hotel. I never shall forget how good the Lynn Haven Bay oysters tasted, when the negro waiters produced them before me, with the exclamation, "Navy officers very fond of oysters!"and I remember to have enjoyed my few days of case there very much indeed. I met at the hotel my future messmates, who were to be my close companions for three years. There we formed our plans for messing, and discussed the coming cruise with that enthusiasm which belongs to youth alone.

We were not permitted long to enjoy our ease. Orders came for us to prepare on board the frigate, and we were placed in our proper messes in the steerage, had our places in watches and divisions assigned to us, and soon settled down to regular work. I was put in the larboard mess,— somehow, for what reason I do not know, regarded as the swell place.

After many trials and vicissitudes, we finally settled

down to the regular routine of a man-of-war. We elected a caterer of the mess, and lived comfortably enough for the time. Our trials came on with the night, for, as I have said, our mess-room, which was our bed-room also, was about large enough fairly to accommodate two people, yet twelve of us were huddled together in this apartment like so many pigs in a pen. Our hammocks, instead of lying loose to the sport of the wind, formed a sort of continuous sheet of canvas, dotted over with mattresses. We could neither turn in or out of them without disturbing our neighbors, causing growling and quarrelling which often led to serious consequences. I think there was but one basin for the morning toilet,-at the most, two,— but we made the best of our inconveniences, and accepted the situation with a good grace. Ranged around this luxurious apartment were the lockers for our clothes. They were not ample, but we accommodated ourselves to their capacity, and managed to get on with small wardrobes. We were permitted to go on shore occasionally, when we laid in our private stores, books for our journals, our quadrants, etc.