What powder monkeys did aboard sailing warships

What was a powder monkey in naval history?

Powder monkeys were boys selected to carry gunpowder from a warship's magazines to its gun decks during action.

Powder monkeys carried charges from magazines deep in a sailing warship to the gun crews above. They were selected because they were small, nimble, and fast. Those qualities helped them move through confined passages without obstructing crews working the guns. Keeping the guns supplied required powder to move quickly through those crowded spaces.