and by three or four men.

It must be apparent to every officer that both the rapidity and the
accuracy of fire to be obtained from guns in vessels at sea, must
depend, in a great degree, upon the care which may be taken to explain
to the men the best mode of performing their respective parts of the
exercise, and the particular object for which each part is intended,
and especially on such frequency of exercise and target-firing as will
make the men perfectly familiar with their prescribed duties. The
importance of this instruction, which may decide whether an action
shall result in victory or defeat, will, it is hoped, insure due
attention to it from all officers, and especially from the officers of
divisions at quarters.

THE GUNS ON ONE SIDE BEING MANNED,
TO CHANGE SIDES,
OR BOTH SIDES BEING MANNED,
TO MAN ONE SIDE ONLY;
COMMAND.
"MAN THE STARBOARD (OR PORT) GUNS!"

235. Whenever this or any other order is given which requires all the
men suddenly to leave the gun which they are working, they are not to
do so until it is properly loaded, and well secured by hauling taut
the side and train tackles, and hitching their falls around the straps
of the inner blocks; nor on lower decks of ships-of-the-line till the
ports are down and secured by their lanyards. A strict compliance with
this injunction is indispensable to guard against excessive or
imperfect loading and other accidents.

When these precautions have been duly taken, the men will shift over
in obedience to the command.

EXERCISE OF BROADSIDE-GUNS, ON BOTH SIDES AT ONCE,
BY MANNING ALTERNATE GUNS WITH FULL CREWS.

236. In the event of being required to fight both sides, it is
generally conceded that a more effective fire is maintained by
handling alternate guns with full crews.

In this case the preparatory order will be given:

"SILENCE! MAN BOTH SIDES, EVERY OTHER GUN WITH FULL CREWS."

Upon which the guns' crews of the guns of the starboard watch will man
the odd-numbered guns on the starboard side, and the guns' crews of
the port watch will man the even-numbered guns on the port side, and
the exercise will be the same as prescribed for "broadside guns on one
side only."

MANNING ALL THE GUNS.

GENERAL REMARKS.

237. Arrangements have been made to enable each gun's crew to work
together and fire alternately a pair of guns on the same side of the
deck. Experience, however, s