Regulations for the government of the United States Navy (1865)

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Section 2.

Funeral Honors.

115.....On the receipt of official intelligence of the death of the President of the United States, the senior officer present shall, on the following day, cause the ensign of each vessel under his authority to be hoisted at half-mast from sunrise to sunset, and a gun to he fired by his vessel every half hour, beginning at sunrise and ending at sunset. At naval stations the same ceremonies are to be observed.

116.....On the death of a Commander of a fleet, squadron, or division, occurring at sea, the ensigns of all the vessels present, and the distinctive flag of command which he wore, shall be hoisted half- mast during the performance of the funeral ceremony, and on committing the body to the deep, the flag-ship shall fire as many minute guns as he was entitled to receive for a salute when alive, and finally, haul down his flag at the last one of these guns. If occurring in port, the ensigns and distinctive flag mentioned shall be hoisted half-mast during each day from that of his decease until sunset of the one on which the funeral service is performed, and, on sending the body to the shore, the number of minute guns indicated above is to be fired. The escort will fire three volleys of musketry over the grave.

117.....On the death of a Commodore, or any other officer commanding a vessel, occurring at sea, the ensigns of all the vessels present, and the pendant of the vessel he commanded, shall be hoisted half-mast during the performance of the funeral ceremony; and on committing the body to the deep, the vessel he commanded shall fire as many minute guns as he was entitled to receive from his superior as a return salute when alive. If occurring in port, the pendant of the vessel he commanded shall be hoisted half-mast during each day from that of his decease until sunset of the one on which the funeral service is performed; and, on sending the body to the shore, all the vessels present are to half-mast their ensigns until sunset, and the number of minute guns indicated is to be fired. The escort will fire three volleys of musketry over the grave.

118.....On the death of a Commissioned Officer, other than those already mentioned, occurring at sea, the ensigns of all the vessels present shall be hoisted half-mast during the performance of the funeral service; and, if occurring in port, said ensigns are to be so hoisted during the time that the body is being conveyed to the shore, and until the return of the funeral escort to the ship. In either case, after the funeral services three volleys of musketry are to be fired by the full marine guard.

119.....On the death of a Warrant Officer the ensigns of all the vessels present shall be hoisted half-mast during the performance of the funeral service when at sea, and, when in port, during the time that the body is being conveyed to the shore, and for one hour afterwards. In either case, three volleys of musketry are to be fired by a sergeant.s guard of fourteen men.

120.....On the death of a Staff Officer the same funeral honors are to be observed as those prescribed for a Line Officer of the same rank, except that the distinctive flag or pendant of the vessel is not to be hoisted half-mast, and that no minute guns are to be fired. If a Com- missioned Officer, three volleys of musketry are to be fired by the full marine guard.

121.....On the death of a Petty Officer, or other person of inferior rating, the ensigns of all vessels present shall be hoisted half-mast during the performance of the funeral service when at sea, and when in port, during the time that the body is being conveyed to the shore. In either case, three volleys of musketry are to be fired by a corporal.s guard, consisting of ten men in the case of a Petty Officer, and of eight men in that of a person of inferior rating.

122.....On the death of an officer, non-commissioned officer, or private of the Marine Corps, the funeral honors are to be regulated by his relative rank. In no such case are ships to half-mast their distinctive flags, or pendants, or to fire minute guns.

123.....On the death of any officer, or other person belonging to the Navy, on shore, he will be entitled to the same funeral honors, so far as circumstances will admit, as though he had died on duty at sea. As a recognition of distinguished services, the Secretary of the Navy will, in all cases, order such additional honors as in his judgment may seem appropriate.

124.....No vessel of a squadron other than that of the senior officer present, is ever to half-mast her colors until permission to do so has been obtained; but whenever the vessel of the senior officer present has her colors at half-mast, all other vessels in sight are to follow motions.

125.....Funeral honors are not to be paid before the rising nor after the setting of the sun.

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