Quarterly Report of Persons Punished on board the U.S. Frigate United States

Alcohol related misconduct such as drunkenness, liquor smuggling, and “doubling the grog tub”—attempting to obtain a second daily grog ration—were some of the most common offenses on U.S. Navy ships during the 19th century. Guilty sailors, like those shown on this 1848 list from the frigate United States, were punished by flogging--whipping. Reformers trying to professionalize and humanize the Navy saw a connection between the grog ration and flogging and argued that ending both would attract more sober and industrious men to naval service.