Brig (USS Constellation)

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The brig is the ship’s jail, used for holding those who committed infractions in their duties. Executive Officers in charge of discipline often assigned brig time as part of the punishment for misconduct among the men. This was often accompanied with loss of shore leave and loss of pay. The brig isolates men from the rest of the crew and was intended to be unpleasant and uncomfortable. Depending on the severity of their offense, men were confined to the brig could also have their arms and legs placed in shackles called “double irons” and/or have their diet restricted to bread and water from a prescribed time period. On one occasion in 1863, Marine Guard private Michael Gaul, found guilty of thievery, received a sentence of thirty days in the brig in double irons on bread and water, loss of three month’s pay, and three months extra duty after his release. Many Navy personnel often took measure to make the brig as uncomfortable as possible. Yeoman Safford described how the officers and masters-at-arms made efforts to worsen brig punishments in 1863, writing, This morning Captain Stellwagen ….made a very thorough examination of every part of [the ship], not excepting the brig which is seldom without occupants. When about to enter the one which contains the “sweat boxes” better known as the “catacombs,” Mr. Low said “This is only used in cold weather.” How far from the truth! The truth is that the hottest nights are selected to put men into them for punishment, because in cool weather confinement in them is not considered punishment. I he had been disposed to tell the whole truth, he would have added, “We sometimes add a leaky bucket of lime water over the head of a prisoner to spoil his clothes and annoy him.”

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