four
until eight in the afternoon
He was not the only one to make that vow , and it was plain that Burke , the Irishman , had trouble in store for him . On our return to the `` New Hampshire , '' the battalion was placed under the regular ship 's routine . All the men were divided into two watches , starboard and port . The port watch , for instance , goes on duty at eight bells in the morning , stands four hours , and is then relieved by the starboard watch ; this routine continues day and night , except from four until eight in the afternoon , when occur the dog watches , two of them , two hours long each , stood by the port and starboard men respectively . The dog watches are necessary to secure a change in the hours of duty for each watch . From now on we were given a taste of the actual work of the service . Details were made up each morning and sent to the `` Yankee '' to assist in getting her in readiness for service .