Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-09-19
TpunLlc-No. 1G9. 1

January, eighteen hundred rud sixty.three
Approved. July IL, 1862.
TPUBLIc-NO. 1863 --..
AN ACT for the better government of the navy o
the United States
Be il enacted 5y the Senate and House Of Repre-
,entgiipes of the United States Qf America in Con
,r,ss assembled That from and after the first da,
,f September next, the following ar;icl ~ b.
adopted and put in force for the government o
tbe navy Of the United States:
ARTICLE /.
The commanders of nll fleets, squadrOns, nava
stations an vessels belonging 10 the navy at,
strictly enioined aud required to show in them
selves II good example Of virtue, hunor, patriot
ram. and subt rdiuntlon; to beNgilaiit ininspect
lng the conduct Of all who may be placed unie
their command TO guard against aud suppres
nll ui44Olule and immoral practices, and To cor
,,rl All who may be guilty OF them according Il
the laws and regulations OF the navy, upon pain
Of such punishment ~ IL general court martial
may think proper To lhtlct
ARTICLE >.
The commanders oi vessels aud naval stations
10 which cbaplains are attached, shall cause
divine service to be performed on Sunday, when
ever the weather aud other circumstances will nl-
low it Ia he done and 1t is earnestly recon-
mendel to all otiicers seamen, and others IN the
naval service diligently TO attend nj every per-
iulmance OF the worship Of Almighty God Any
,ne,eient or uubecoinng behavior during divine
.elyice shall he punished Ms il general OF sum
mary court martial shall dilect
ARTICLE g.
The punishment Of death, on such other punish
nrni as n court-martial shal adjudgc, may lie
infected ON any person in the naval strvce-
huI abb or IN la
~ unite with any mutinous assembly, or know
aug of the sume, or Of any intended .mutiny, shall
not forthwith communicate IL TO his superior or
commanding tthcer. or being witness to or pre-
tent At, any mutinJ, shall not do his utmost to
suppress il
Second. Or shall diaohey the lawful orders of
lis superior Nilicer, or strike, Or assault. or at
Tempt or threaten to strike or assault him, while
III tie execution Of the duties vi his office
Third Or shall give, hold, or entertain my
intercourse or intelligence to or with any enemy
uf rebel, without leave from the presldent Of the
tinted States, the Secretary OF the Navy, the
comnnnder n-chef OF the fleet or the comman-
der Of Il squadron; nr, in case Of Il vessel acting
-ngly, from his commanding officer;
Fourth Or shall desert. or entce others to
desert To nn enemy or rebel
Fifth, Or shall receive any message or letter
nom an enemy or rebel, or be aware Of the TN
lul to take the enriest opportunity to inform his
superior or commanding officer thereof;
sixth ur shall, III time Of war; desert or be
tray his iiust, or enice or aid others to desert
% betIay their trust, or shall sleep upon Ills
watch, or leave his station before regularly re-
heyed;
Seventh Or shall Intentionally or willully
7uer amy vessel Vi the navy to be stranded Or
rnn upon rocks or shoals, or improperly ha1arded
np hall AyiltliV mr. unItrinuslV iuiura auV vessel
ii The navy, or any part Of her tackle, armameui
ur equpmcul whereby the safety Of the vessel
shall be ha2arded, or the lives OF the crew ex-
poseL to danger, or shall set on fire or otherwise
uolawlully destroy amy public property not then
ia the possession Of mn enemy, pirate, or rebel
Eighth. Or shall strike, or attempt TO strike,
the flag to an enemy rebel without proper au-
liority or when engaged in battle, shall ireacher-
ously yield or pusidanimousy cry for quarter;
Niuth. Or shall IN time of battle display cuwnr-
lice, negligence, or disailecliou, or withdraw
hom or keep out OF danger to which he shou,d
expose himself; or shu desert bis duty or sta.
ion, or cniice others 10 do so or shall not
properly observe the orders of his commanding
uleer and use his utmost eXertions to carry
them into execution when ordered TO prepare for
liin III, OF when actuGlly engaged iu battle, or
while in sight OF an enemy
Tenth Or when commanding fleet, squadron
vessel acting singy, shall, upon the probabili.
ty OF Nh engagement, or on sight oil any ARMED
vessel of an enemy or rebel, neglect TO prepare
aud clear his ship for action; or shall not upon
signu for battle. use his utmost exeriions to JOIN
III bulte, or shall fail to encourage, in his own
person, his inferior ollicers ami men to fight
courAgeously or shall not do his utmost to over
tube and capture or dostrny any vessel which ia
hls duty to encounter; OF shall not afford all
practicable relief and assistance To vessels be-
longing TO the United states or their allies when
engaged in battle.
ARTICLE H.
Spies, and oil persons who shall come OF be
found in the capacity Of spies, or who shnil bring
or deliver any seduuing letter or message from
an enemy or rebel, or endtavor to corrupt any
peraon in the navy to hetrAy his trust, shal suffer
death or such other punishment as n court-mat-
lml shall adjudge.
AHTIcLE g.
The crime of murder, when committed by an
oficer. seaman, marine, or other person belong
mg to any public ship or yessel of the United
states, without tho territorial jurisdiction Of the
same may be punished with dealh by the sea
fence Of Il court martial.
ARTICLE 6.
ln any case where a naval court martial is au
thoraed to adjudge the punishment Of death it
may sentence the person convicted TO mprison-
and such sentence of imprisonment aud hard
abor may be carried into execution in any prison
or ptnientiary under the control Of the United
states, or the use Of which shall be allowed by
the legislature of State and persons convicted
by court.martGl and imprisoned in the prison
or penitenllnry of any State or Territory shall
in all respects he subject 10 the same discipline
and treatment and under the same control us
eonyicts sentenced by the Courts Of the State or
Territory in which such prison or penltentiary is
situated,
ARTiCLR Z.
such punishment ns IL court martial shall ad-
Judge may he inflicted OH any person in the
navy:
FIRST. Who shall he guilty of cruelty, oppres-
sion, or matreatment of those subject u his
orders;
Second. Or shall be guilty of prOfane swearing,
alaehoud drunkenness, gambling, fraud, theft,
or any other scandal0ns conduct tending 10 the
destruction Of good morals;
Third. 0r shall quarrel with, strike, or assault
any other person in the navy or USE provoking
or reproachful words, gestures, or menaces, Or
cndeavor to foment quarrels between other per
suns in the navy, or send or accept challenge
to fight duel or act as second in duel
Fourth. Or shall treat with contempt his su-
perior officer or be disrespectful 10 him in Ian
yuage or department whilst in the execution OF
his ollict; or shall join in or nbet auy combina-
ton 10 weaken the lawful authority Of, or lessen
the respect due to his commanding officer;
Fifth Or shall be negligent or careless in
1teyiug orders, or culpably inefficient in tine
performance Of duty
Sixth. Or shall knowingly make or sign, OF
shall ad abet, direct, or procure the making or
signing of any false muster, or shall execute, or
attempt or oOuntenauce any fraud against the
llntted Etotaa or ahalI Wngtp. embeZZle. n