Part 2 of 2
In spite of all this, the popular idea of the duties of the Marine Corps is exceedingly vague. On those occasions, which have not been infrequent, when the propriety of abolishing the organization has been urged by certain members of Congress, the most ardent defenders of the Corps, while fully convinced of the necessity of its existence, have sometimes found themselves at a loss to describe its duties. Considering the peculiar circumstances of the case, such a lack of information is not surprising, for only those familiar with the value of the services of the Marines can well be acquainted with the details of the arduous and responsible duties performed by the officers and men attached to the Corps. In 1866, the National House of Representatives instructed the Committee on Naval Affairs "to consider the expediency of abolishing the Marine Corps, and transferring it to the Army, and of making provision for supplying such military force as may at any time be needed in the Navy, by detail from the Army." The Committee unanimously decided in opposition to the project, and, in their report, made use of the following language in describing the duties of the Marines: "The Marines are strictly infantry soldiers trained for service afloat. Their discipline, equipment, character, and esprit de corps being that of the soldier, they necessarily give to a ship-of-war its military character. As sentinels, they watch over the magazines, store-rooms, gangways, galleys, and all lights and fires required for the use of the ship; they guard all the public property and all prisoners of war, which at times may outnumber the crew; and at all times sustain and protect the discipline of a man-of-war by their organization, distinctive character, and peculiar training. In the ordinary duties of a ship at sea, they pull and haul in common with the rest of the crew ; and although not required to go aloft, they keep regular watch, and are most to be relied upon to man the ropes in sudden squalls, a duty the prompt discharge of which is as necessary to the safety of a ship as reefing or furling. Marines are also trained at the great gun exercise, so that in time of action they are ready to assist in manning guns or to act as a reserve force to meet the casualties of battles. These duties being natural to, and part and parcel of, the service to which they belong, their absence from the deck would have to be supplied by an equal amount of physical force; and, as some part of the crew must be kept on deck to perform these important duties, it will be readily seen why a body of well-trained men, familiar with sea life and its duties, should be preferred to soldiers drawn from the Army unaccustomed to these duties. As soldiers, they guard the ship from troubles within and from surprise without; and as part of the ship's complement, take part in most of the duties necessary to her efficiency as a man-of-war. While ashore, undergoing training as soldiers, they are not otherwise idle, but guard and protect the Navy Yards with the immense amount of public property within them, and are always ready for emergencies in adjacent cities."
In an article descriptive of the nature and value of the services of the Marines, the New York Times says: "In times of peace this Corps has saved millions of dollars to our national treasury by its faithfulness in guarding the public property in our Navy Yards and magazines. It is worthy of attention that no large fire has ever occurred at any of our Navy Yards where a guard of Marines was on duty. Had the New Ironsides been in charge of even a corporal's guard of Marines, instead of a number of irresponsible watchmen, the fire never would have occurred, and the government would not have been a loser thereby of a sum equal to the amount appropriated for the support of the entire Corps. It has been estimated that the pay of the watchmen for one year who are employed in our Navy Yards, added to the property lost through their inefficiency, would support a Marine Corps of more than double the present number of men. The difference between a well-drilled, responsible soldier as a guard and sentinel, and an irresponsible civilian, ought to be evident to all, and especially to those who have our national property under control."
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