Regulations for the government of the United States Navy (1865)

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ARTICLE XIV.

Convoys.

704 The Commanding Officer of a vessel ordered to afford convoy to merchant vessels, is to arrange with their masters such signals as will enable him to regulate movements, and them to communicate wants ; and he will give them in writing, or in print, such directions for their government as may be necessary for their protection. Should , it be expedient to provide them with secret instructions or signals, he will enjoin upon each master not to inform any person of the same, and not to allow an enemy, in the event of capture, to become possessed of the same.

705 He shall take a list of the names of the vessels under his convoy, specifying their rig, the places to which they belong and are bound, the date of their joining, and the names of their masters, owners, and supercargoes, a copy of which he is to transmit to the Secretary of the Navy ; and on his arrival in port he is to send another list to the Secretary of the Navy, setting forth the names, &c. , of the vessels that arrived with him, and of those that did not so arrive, mentioning, with regard to the latter, the time and supposed cause of their separation.

706 Before taking under his convoy a vessel bound to a belligerent port, he shall require satisfactory proof that there are no articles of contraband on board ; and without such proof he is not to take her under his convoy, or afford her protection en route against a belligerent claim, unless specially directed.

707 An officer charged with a convoy must be very vigilant in guarding against attack or surprise, and if attacked he must defend it. He must never weaken the convoying force by detaching a part of it to go in chase beyond signal distance, nor must he himself separate from the convoy, unless such course would be the means of preserving it from an enemy.

708 He shall adopt all possible measures to prevent the separation of the convoy, and may direct such vessels to repeat his signals as he may deem proper.

709 He will make report to the Secretary of the Navy of the name of any vessel, and of the master, who shall disobey the instructions or signals for the convoy, or leave the convoy without permission, or otherwise misbehave, stating the particulars of his misconduct, so that insurance offices may be informed of the same.

710 Whenever the master of any vessel under convoy shall willfully or repeatedly neglect or refuse to conform to the instructions or signals of the Commanding Officer of the convoying force, the said Commanding Officer may refuse him any further protection, and be released from any further responsibility for the safety of the vessel.

711 When different convoys shall sail at the same time, or shall meet at sea, they shall sail together as long as their course shall be in the same direction ; but the different convoys shall be kept as distinct from each other as circumstances will allow.

712 While two convoys continue together, the senior Officer commands the whole ; and the vessels of the convoying forces will wear different distinguishing flags, for the information of the respective convoys.

713 The Commanding Officer is enjoined not to receive, or suffer any person under his authority to receive, under any pretence, any fee, reward, or gratuity, from any owner or master, or other person, for the protection afforded.

714 Vessels-of-war of the United States are not to take under their convoy the vessels of any power at war with another with which the United States is at peace, nor the vessels of a neutral power, unless specially ordered so to do, or some very particular circumstances should occur to render it expedient and proper, of which they are to advise the Navy Department at the earliest possible moment.

715 The Commanding Officer of a vessel of the Navy, about to sail from a foreign port during war, or when it is probable that war will soon occur, is, if the nature of the orders under which he is acting will permit, to give timely information to the merchant vessels of the United States lying therein of the day of his intended departure, and to take under his protection all such bound the same way as may be desirous and ready to accompany him ; and he is also to take under his protection any other vessels of the United States that he may fall in with on the passage, which may desire it, and conduct them in safety as far as his course and theirs are the same.

716 No lights are to be carried at night by either the public or private vessels of a convoy, except by the authority of the officer who may command it. If he directs any one or more of these vessels to carry one or more of them, they are to do so.

717 The Commanding Officer of a convoy is not to permit the vessels under his protection to be searched or detained by any belligerent or other cruiser.

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