Marines' Duties onboard Ship

Copy of Capt. Tucker's Orders to the Capt. of

Marines, Richard Palmes,

on his appointment to the Command of

the Boston Frigate

Jany. 1778

Sir,

     You being Commanding Officer of Marines on

board the Ship Boston under my Command. My

Orders are that the Commissioned & Non commissioned

Officers are to go on board with the

Men under your Command & reside there constantly

at their Duty-

     You are to be particularly careful that a

commissioned Officer does constantly lie on

board every Night-

     You are to obey such Orders as you shall receive

from me, or the Commanding Officer of

the Ship in my absence-

     The Commanding Officer of the Ship is not to

give any Marine Leave to go on shore upon their

own Occasions, if you have any reasonable Objection

thereto

     The Marines are to be exercised in the Use

of their Arms as often as you shall think proper

and are to be employed as Centinels, and upon

any other Duty & Service on board the Ship

which they shall be capable of, Such as, not on

Duty that 24 hours as Centinels, therein to be

subject to the Officers of the Ship but they

are not to be obliged to go aloft, or be beat or

punished for not shewing an Inclination to do

so, being assured the ambitious will do it without

driving, Those Marines not on immediate

duty are to he turned on Deck by a Serjeant to do

the Duty as above-

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     The Marine Arms, Cartooch Boxes, Drums, Fifes

& Accoutrements are under the immediate Inspection

of you or your Officers-

     You are to be careful that the Arms be kept in

good Order, & keep a sufficient number of cartridges

& Bails in readiness for Action, You are

welcome to go on shore when you please,

leaving such Orders with your Officers, as for

the Safety & good Order of the Ship-

     Relying wholly on your good Judgement for

the Honour and Glory of your Country in the

Defence of which, make no Doubt of your doing

your duty as a faithful Officer-

     Given under my hand on Board the Continental

Ship Boston this 20th. day of January A.D. 1778.-

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Copy of Orders given to William Jennison Lout.

of Marines June 9. 1778

          Bourdeaux, France

     As it is essentially necessary We guard against

all possible apprehensions of Danger, I in future

shall expect that the Serjeants & Corporal of

Marines be very particular in keeping a vigilant

& cautious Watch whenever they have any Centinels

under their more immediate Eye, and whenever

All hands are called to Quarters, they are to

muster all the Marines on the Quarter Deck, there

to await further Orders.-

     As soon as they are paraded, the Serjeants of each

Division, are to apply for the Keys of the Arm

Chest in order that each man may be supplied

with a Gun & Cartridge Box tilled with Cartridges,

or any other proper Weapon for Defence-

     After they are supplied with their armour, they

are to be paraded & marched to their particular

Quarters, there to be kept as closely covered

from the sight of the Enemy as possible-

     No one is allowed to speak, but the officers Commanding,

or the Serjeants, or in their Absence,

the Corporal, are most particularly to see that

every man's Gun & other accoutrements are in

the best order possible-

     If any thing should be wanted, they are immediately

to inform the commanding Officer there with The

Serjeants & Corporals are to parade

with the Main Body as soon as in Gun Shot of the

Enemy After an Engagement, or others wise-

     Every man is to return his Gun in as good Order

as when delivered to him during the time from

being called to Quarters & engaging, every man

is to pick Oakam sufficient to clean his Gun-

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     No man whether Officer or private, is suffered to

desert the post assigned him, but in case he attempts

to run, or fly from his Colours he is to

be shot upon the Spot. wherefore I hope, as the

Caution is now given, None will attempt to be in

the least disconcerted or disheartened, but act

worthy of the Glorious Cause in which they are

Engaged.

     Given under my hand on board

of the Boston June 9, 1778

Richard Palmes Capt.

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On board the Boston, Dec. 8, 1779

     Captain Samuel Tucker found

time amidst the "blowing weather" and heavy seas

to pen orders to Richard Palmes, his captain of Marines:

     As commanding officer of Marines, on board the Ship

Boston, under my command, I desire you would give your

Centry at the cabin door strict orders to keep the gangway

under the half deck, clear to the cabin door, and

allow no disturbance, under the half deck, and that no

person come into the cabin before he sends word excepting

the commission'd officers, Master Surgeon &

purser. The Centrys in the quarter deck, allow no person

to open the Arm Chests except, a Marine Officer,

or a Sergeant by their orders.

     You are to give your Sergeants, orders, to turn up the

after guard in their watch and keep them on the

quarter deck until reliev'd by the next watch. The Sergeant

never to [bel off the deck in his watch.

You are not to allow the Centrys to converse with any

person while on his post.

     You are strictly ordered to give your Sergeants orders,

in writing, and in case they break them, make report

to me, and they shall be broke.

In case of misdemeanors, in your men, make report,

and they shall be punished according to their offences

and your desires.

     You are to discipline [drill] your Marines as often as

the weather and ships business will permit.

     You will take particular care to place Centrys when

order by the commanding [officer] on board.

Concluding, Tucker exhorted Palmes to exercise

vigilance in executing the orders, and in maintain-

Ing order on board the frigate throughout the remainder of the voyage.

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