In addition to the regular routine, summer cruising was taken up.
The First Battalion, New York State Militia, for instance, went in a body to Fisher's Island, off the eastern end of Connecticut, and there engaged in landing parties, camping, and sham battles.

On another occasion the battalion embarked on board the battleships "Massachusetts" and "Texas," each militiaman having a regular bluejacket for a running mate, and doing just as he did.

The two ships cruised in the vicinity of Fisher's Island, and a programme was carried out which included instruction in the different parts of the ship in great guns and ordnance, such drills as abandon ship, arm and away boats, clear ship for action, general quarters, signalling, and in the use of torpedoes.
During one of the cruises of the Massachusetts Naval Brigade a detachment was engaged in locating signal stations on the coast from the New Hampshire State line to Cape Ann, and it was due to the efforts of this detachment that the signal stations established during the late war proved so efficient.
The Naval Militia of Maryland, Louisiana, Illinois, and other States were given opportunities for instruction in the handling of guns, the care of wounded, in infantry drill, limited artillery practice with rapid-fire batteries, and all the details of naval life, and so well did they benefit by it that the authorities at Washington announced a willingness to trust any of the warships in their sole charge.
It was to reach this pinnacle, as it may be termed, that the Naval Militia organizations of the United States had striven, and when they were finally called upon by the Government they proved their worth by boarding modern warships, doing the work of regular sailors, and fighting for their country with a degree of skill and zeal that has earned for them the commendation of their fellow-citizens.
UNITED STATES NAVAL CODE FOR VISUAL SIGNALLING.
To signal with flag or torch "wigwag": There are but _one_ position and _three_ motions.
The _position_ is with the flag held vertically in front of the body; the signalman facing squarely the point to which the message is to be sent.
APPENDIX The _first_ or 1 is a motion to the right of the sender.
The _second_ or 2 is a motion to the left of the sender.
The _third_ or 3: the flag is dropped in front of the sender and instantly returned to _position_.
The entire code is made up of these three motions--1, 2, and 3.

Every letter begins and ends with _position_.
"WIGWAG" CODE.

UNITED STATES NAVAL CODE FOR VISUAL AND TELEGRAPHIC SIGNALLING.
ALPHABET.
A 22 B 2112 C 121 D 222 E 12 F 2221 G 2211 H 122 I 1 J 1122 K 2121 L 221 M 1221 N 11 O 21 P 1212 Q 1211 R 211 S 212 T 2 U 112 V 1222 W 1121 X 2122 Y 111 Z 2222 NUMERALS.
1 1111 2 2222 3 1112 4 2221 5 1122 6 2211 7 1222 8 2111 9 1221 0 2112 ABBREVIATIONS.
a after.
b before.
c can.
h have.
n not.
r are.
t the.
u you.
ur your.
w word.
wi with.
y why.
x x 3 = "numerals follow" or "numerals end." sig.