I've gone through the Fighting Instructions document without any luck in finding specifics. There were long-winded details of what the fleet should do in certain circumstances - but signals were given in the form of colored flags flown from certain locations on the commander's ship. Ships were in divisions and the divisions had numbers. Here is a little of what I found with an example of the "text"
Form Line Ahead
Form Line Abreast
Attack in succession
General Chase
General Engage
Reform Line on Me
Attack from windward
Attack from leeward
Starboard tack from the van
Starboard tack from the rear
Port tack from the van
Port tack from the rear
As the intention of a line of bearing is to keep the fleet ready to
form suddenly a line of battle, the position of the division or
squadron flags, shown with the signals for such a line, will refer to
the forming the line of battle; that division or squadron whose flag
is _uppermost_ (without considering whether it do or do not form
the van of the line of bearing) is to place itself in that station
which would become the van if the fleet should haul to the wind, and
form the line of battle; and the division whose flag is
_undermost_ is to place itself in that station in which it would
become the rear if by hauling to the wind the line of battle should be
formed.
Will keep looking for specifics.
Mike
