The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-02-03
[cIRcULAa.l

lcIRcULAR.
Navy Department, March 3d. 1880.
SIR II send you herewith copy of re-
solution Of the Senate Of the United States Of
the first instant, calling for information relative
TO the necessity for employing marines on
board our vessels of war, and whether seamen
could not be uselully substituted in their place,
&c, and have to request that you will, in con-
iormity with the terms of the resolution, fur
nish ME with your opinion in writing, upon the
different points embraced by it as early as
practicable.
am, respectfully, sir,
/ Your obcdient servant,
JoHN BRANCH.
| Com. CHARLES STEWART,
United States Navy, Washington City,
| (coPY.)
| In Senate of the United States,
March |, 1880
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Navy
be directed to furnish TO this House, informa-
ton on the following subjects:
| Whether tits necessary to the armed equip
ment Of vessel Of war, that marines should
compose part Of its military force.
| Or whether marines may not be usefully
| dispensed with, and portion Of the seamen
be instructed in the use Of small arms, and
perform all duties which can be required Of
marines, either in battle or i'll ordinary SER
vice.
Whether seamen are not now instructed and
practised in the use of small arms /; and gene
rally, any information which may elucidate
the inquiry whether marines can or can not
be benefcially dispensed with on board of our
public vessels of war.
Whether the petty officers and seamen who
have been in service, but from age or slight
disabilities, are rendered unfit for the active
duties of their calling on ship board can be
usefully and safely employed as guards at the
navy stations, in lieu Of the marines now as
signed to that duty.
| And farther, that the Secretary OF the Ma
Wy obtain from the officers composing the Ma
Wy Board, and other naval officers OF rank
now in the scat of Government, their opinions
in writing on the foregoing Subjects to be
transmitted with his report to the Senate
Attest
Signed, WALTER LowRIE.
Washington, March 8, $780,
SIR Il have had the honor to receive
your letter of the third instant, covering a
resolution of the Senate of the United States
relative to the marine corps requiring infor-
nation ON the following points
FIRST Whether it is necessary that ina
rines should compose part of the military
force of ship of war 7"
70 this answer, that | do conceive them
proper, and necessary, TO constitute a part Of
the crew ola ship of war.
Second "Whether marines may not use
fully be dispensed with, and portion of the
seamen be instructed i'll the use of small arms,
and perform all the duties which may be re-
CURED Of marines in battle, or on ordinary
service :"
TO this answer, that for the mere purpo-
ses of battle, perhaps the seamen might be
instructed, in limited degree, in the use of
small arms.
Third "Wheher seamen are not now
instructed and practised in the use of small
arms !"
TO this answer, that portion of the crew
(other than the marines) are now, and always
have been, instructed and practised in the
use of small arms but that instruction and
practice is very limited, as it necessarily
must be.
Fourth. "Whether the petty officers and
scamen who have been in service, but, from
age or slight disabilities are rendered unfit
for the active duties of their calling on ship
board can be usefully and safely employed as
guards at the navy stations, in lieu of ma
rines :"
TO this | answer, think not but as |
have never had any command or control over
a navy yard or station, cannot speak to this
question from actual experience. The fore
going answers would seem to comprise all
the honorable the Senate Of the United States
require on this subject and it would not have
been proper to 90 farther, were II not for that
part of their third question, requiring also any
general information in calculation of the OBJ
lect of the resolution, "whether marines can
or cannot, be benciicially dispensed with on
board our public ships OF war; Under this
clause, would beg leave TO remark, that the
marines are the only portion of the crew OF a
ship Of war that is wholly military, and the
only part which could be rendered such, by
the nature of the service, as well as the ma
ture of those comprising the other classes II,
then, il is at all desirable or useful to have a
portion of the force of ship of war wholly
and completely military, that portion must be
composed of regularly organized infantry
for this reason-that the sea officers, from
their employments and occupations in ships
of war, differ materially from military officers
because the ideas and general habits Of sail
ors unfit them, in great measure, for infantry
soldiers and because the limited space IN Q
.... ,,r,,l1 ,,y,t admit nf thar