2d
Port-tackleman the 2d Captain, and so on throughout.

If it should be desired to take, at first, a man from the middle of
the crew of the gun, or even still further towards the muzzle, to do
the duties of 1st Captain, then it must be done under the supposition
that all the men preceding him in the order above mentioned have
already been exercised in those duties, and the men are then to take
their stands accordingly.

After the guns' crews have been well trained by giving the words of
command, it will be expedient to exercise them without giving the
several detailed commands, by directing them to "load and fire!" At
this command the different individuals should, each in proper order of
time, silently perform his prescribed duties of sponging, loading,
running out, training, and pointing, the Captain of the gun regulating
the elevation and depression, by raising or lowering his hand, and by
holding it horizontally and steady when the gun is "well;" and in
pointing, by moving his hand to "right" or "left" as the gun requires
to be trained, and by bringing it down to his side when it is "well."
Before firing, he is to throw his hand well up as a signal for the men
to "drop tackles," and is to give the word "fire" when he pulls the
lock-string.

When casualties occur at the guns, the Captain of the gun will order
"close up," and then equalize the crew on each side. If the Powderman
is disabled the highest number takes his place.

234. Whenever the crew of a gun becomes so greatly reduced in action
that men enough are not left to work the piece, it may be fired while
partially run in. In such case, however, the breeching should be
frapped forward of the carriage, the ends crossed under the muzzle or
otherwise arranged so as to keep the muzzle outside of the port; the
side-tackles left loose; the chocking-quoins placed square up against
the outer part of the front trucks; the train-tackle hauled taut, the
end of the fall passed through the train-bolt and well secured, and
wet swabs placed up against the forward part of the rear trucks and
sprinkled with sand or ashes. After three or four rounds the
train-tackle should be re-secured; the chocking-quoins will require
re-placing after each fire. The greatest possible care should be taken
to guard against accident from fire, and minimum charges of powder
used.

Experiment proves that a gun may be fired in this manner without
injury to the ship's side or the breeching,