{"id":"01KG8AMFC6DJZAXPFRCPJTRK78","cid":"bafkreifcjciwr5t5huimjr35zahbwxspbxhzhkagkca63ebzvyv7xxhq4u","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":2550,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:36.270Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 1","source_file":"01KG89J19NC56FFGBCM2SWEZZY","start_line":2498,"text":"CHAPTER XVI.\r\nGENERAL TRAINING IN A MAN-OF-WAR.\r\n\r\n\r\nTo a quiet, contemplative character, averse to uproar, undue exercise\r\nof his bodily members, and all kind of useless confusion, nothing can\r\nbe more distressing than a proceeding in all men-of-war called\r\n“_general quarters_.” And well may it be so called, since it amounts to\r\na general drawing and quartering of all the parties concerned.\r\n\r\nAs the specific object for which a man-of-war is built and put into\r\ncommission is to fight and fire off cannon, it is, of course, deemed\r\nindispensable that the crew should be duly instructed in the art and\r\nmystery involved. Hence these “general quarters,” which is a mustering\r\nof all hands to their stations at the guns on the several decks, and a\r\nsort of sham-fight with an imaginary foe.\r\n\r\nThe summons is given by the ship’s drummer, who strikes a peculiar\r\nbeat—short, broken, rolling, shuffling—like the sound made by the march\r\ninto battle of iron-heeled grenadiers. It is a regular tune, with a\r\nfine song composed to it; the words of the chorus, being most\r\nartistically arranged, may give some idea of the air:\r\n\r\n    “Hearts of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men,\r\n     We always are ready, steady, boys, steady,\r\n     To fight and to conquer, again and again.”\r\n\r\n\r\nIn warm weather this pastime at the guns is exceedingly unpleasant, to\r\nsay the least, and throws a quiet man into a violent passion and\r\nperspiration. For one, I ever abominated it.\r\n\r\nI have a heart like Julius Caesar, and upon occasions would fight like\r\nCaius Marcius Coriolanus. If my beloved and for ever glorious country\r\nshould be ever in jeopardy from invaders, let Congress put me on a\r\nwar-horse, in the van-guard, and _then_ see how I will acquit myself.\r\nBut to toil and sweat in a fictitious encounter; to squander the\r\nprecious breath of my precious body in a ridiculous fight of shams and\r\npretensions; to hurry about the decks, pretending to carry the killed\r\nand wounded below; to be told that I must consider the ship blowing up,\r\nin order to exercise myself in presence of mind, and prepare for a real\r\nexplosion; all this I despise, as beneath a true tar and man of valour.\r\n\r\nThese were my sentiments at the time, and these remain my sentiments\r\nstill; but as, while on board the frigate, my liberty of thought did\r\nnot extend to liberty of expression, I was obliged to keep these\r\nsentiments to myself; though, indeed, I had some thoughts of addressing\r\na letter, marked _Private and Confidential_, to his Honour the\r\nCommodore, on the subject.\r\n\r\nMy station at the batteries was at one of the thirty-two-pound\r\ncarronades, on the starboard side of the quarter-deck.[1]\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 1"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJQ3RR4R8SYRASCT3K24X","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J19NC56FFGBCM2SWEZZY","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AMFC66F5VYB101F971Y2A","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:38.278Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:44.516Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}